THE BOXING RING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 656, 7 May 1929, Page 13

THE BOXING RING

Notes From Far and Near

By

"LEFT COUNTER”

The Wellington Association is staging an amateur tournament on May 20, the amateurs being given pride of place because of the scarcity of professionals. Leckie Again Once again Johnny Leckie has fought to victory, giving him three wins in three starts in Australia. His latest victim was Claude Wilson, the American feather-weight, whom he defeated in Melbourne a fortnight ago. Alter the New Zealander had defeated Wilson the first time, Pete Sarron, the American bantam-weight, and a companion of Wilson’s, stated that he would like to tight Leckie. He considered that a bantam-weight would get a lot of credit for beating a boy like Leckie. A Possible Visitor It is just possible that Jack Haines, an Australian boxer of exceptional promise, may come to New Zealand. Mr. E. J. O’Donoghue, New Zealand champion snooker player, and a keen follower of boxing, who is a personal friend of Haines,

has been endeavouring to persuade th© Australian to come to Auckland. Haines is under contract to Stadiums, L t d.. although it should expire very soon and allow him to appear here. It has been written of Haines by critics competent to judge, that he is perhaps th© finest all-rofind Australian boxer

and fighter of the period, combining clever boxing with a knock-out punch, and hopes that he j will one day reach world championship j rank are confidently entertained in Australia. Fidel La Barba said that Haines was the most promising Australian be had seen during his stay there. If such a boxer visited New Zealand he can be sure of fights, even though there are rio high-class performers here at present. Lonsdale Records Established When Harry Corbett and Johnny Cuthbert met at the National Sporting Club for the Lonsdale feather-weight belt recently, the contest was of 15 rounds, and was declared a draw. To the casual follower of boxing this statement does not appear to be anything out of the ordinary; but nevertheless, two records were set up that night. The bout was the first Lonsdale Belt contest to be contested over 15 rounds Instead of 20, and for the time such a contest was declared a draw.

New Opponent for Broadfoot Jim Broadfoot. who has been matched to fight at Palmerston North on June 3 or 4, has commenced training at the City Fire Station. He will have a new opponent this time in Roy’ O'Brien, a good second-rate Australian middle-weight who arrived in New Zealand recently. O'Brien’s first New Zealand appearance will be against Artie Hay, at Dunedin, on May is. Originally Hay was to fight Paul at Dunedin on May 11, but Paul wanted a larger purse, so the fight was cancelled and the bout for May IS arranged. It is hard to understand Paul turning down a C 100 purse considering the few fighters and fights in New Zealand at the present time, and he would not have collected as much for a fight in Australia had he been there, as the star boxers are not making very much money.

Mickey Walker, middle-weight champion of the world, has been offered 75,000 dollars to fight Alex Ireland, the British champion in England this month.

According to a report from England, Jimmy Wilde has a brother fighting for a living. His name is Ernest and, like his world-famous brother, he packs a devastating punch.

Opponents Scarce British heavy-weights did not relish the idea of fighting Ted Sandwina and the German-American could not get fights. To uphold the British tradition Roland Todd, ex-middle-weight champion of Great Britain, stepped into the breach and faced Sandwina. The weight handicap was too much for the Englishman and the referee stopped the bout in the fourth round. Auckland Prospects The Auckland Town Hall has been booked for June 3. so it is likely that fans in this city will se a fight on that date. The match committee of the Northern Boxing Association will meet on Thursday and the question of the match and suitable men will be discussed. The whole committee of the association met last evening and subcommittees were appointed. Tip For Amateurs The time is drawing near for amateur boxers, and would-be amateur boxers, to get themselves into trim for the amateur championships. The tournament is some time off yet, and it is not suggested that intending competitors should start hard training, but an evening or two a week in the gymnasium makes all the difference to young boxers, instead of waiting until a fortnight before the competition and then training solidly. Clamour for More As all the world knows, Phil Scott is an actor now as well us a boxer, and ho has been appearing in the play “Is Zat So?” However, when he appeared at Grimsby, a fishing town near Hull, his audience clamoured for more boxing than there was in the play. They wanted an exhibition bout as well. Consequently, Scott bad to give a sparring exhibition with a local performer ; at each of the towns to be visited on the tour. Scott's Doings "When passing through Paris recentlx on his way to Denmark, Knute Hansen, the American heavy-weight, who knocked out Phil Scott in one round, said lie would like to meet Scott in a return battle in England some time this month. Scott accounted for the German heavy-weight champion Ludwig Haymann, on points in 15 rounds, in London last week, which is really only a mediocre performance. Should Hansen and Scott meet it will be interesting to see if the American can repeat the dose. Competition Farce The competition arranged by the Federation Francaise de Boxe to find a challenger for Georges Carpentier, who, although he .has retired from the ring is still the French title-holder, turned out a farce. On the evening] the semi-finals were to be fought only , one boxer presented himself ready for | the action, and because it takes two to j make a fight, no fighting was seen. The j lone one. Marcel Xilles, will probably ; be named champion, as Carpentier does ; not intend to defend the title. Xilles is 35 years of age, and he was knocked out by Carpentier in eight rounds in 1923.