THE BOXING RING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 668, 21 May 1929, Page 13

THE BOXING RING

NOTES FROM NEAR

E>Y “LEFT COUNT&R-*

Purdy has been having a rest foUovvmg his bout with La Salle, put he has now settled down to training again and has asked for a bout with Mollette, the coloured American welter-weight, who recently arrived in Sydney. Lachie Macdonald has gone’ into solid training in Sydney and is keen t 0 a He expects to get a match with Haines or the American, Meyer Grace. He has also, with the aid of trainer Pat Connors, been trying to get a tilt at Ted Monson for the middle-weight title. Answer to Critics Australian critics who stated that Hilly Grimes’s showing against Johnny Leckie proved that he had finished his career as a champion must have been silenced to a large extent when the Australian easily defeated the American. Sammy Shack, at Sydney on Saturday evening. Grime may or may not be finished as a champion, but he is evidently determined to fight as long as the promoters will match him. Shack is not a champion by any means, but his defeat by Grime proves that the Australian can still fight despite the adverse comments of the critics. Hay Defeats O’Brien In his first appearance in New Zealandd Roy O’Brien met defeat at the hands of Artie Hay when the pair met at Dunedin on Saturday evening. The report states that Hay did not appear to be extended at any stage and won easily. Hay is one of the best fighters in New Zealand, buit his style is not spectacular enough for him to be a great crowd-pleaser. O’Brien may nave need of a fight to get him into condition, but it is most likely that his style left him open to Hay’s long left, and he did not get a chance to get in close, where it is reported he does his most effective work. A' better idea of O’Brien’s capabilities will be gained when lie meets Jim Broadfoot, the fast-footed Aucklander, at Palmerston North on June 3. Contests in Auckland on June 3 The Northern Boxing Association’s programme for June 3 has been definitely settled and on that date Hatton will clash with Boyle and Taylor with Hurne. The Hatton-Boyle contest should be a really clever bout with plenty of hard punching to keep the fans attentive. Hatton has only disappointed on one occasion and that was when he faced Johnny Leckie. However, on previous occasions he has proved his mettle and his friends are confident that he can defeat Boyle. The Australian is equally confident and some who have seen him in action in the gymnasium, a fortnight before the bout, are sure that he has the beating of Hatton. In three rounds with Taylor last evening he showed that he was fast, with a fine defence and with a sound knowledge of the art of evasion. He did not make any attempt at hard fighting, evidently out of consideration for Taylor’s light weight, but he showed that he knew how to punch straight and his build lends the idea that he packs a hard punch.

Boyle has' been named as an Australian but lie informed the writer that he is New Zealand-born and first saw the light of day at Blenheim. He was taken to Australia at the age of two and although he has made trips to New Zealand lie has spent most of his life in the Commonwealth. He has not figured in any international affairs but he has met and defeated some good men. He counts as one of his best performances a knock-out victory over Joe Moore,, who travelled 15 rounds with Jack Robcrs, the New castle knock-out king. Boyle also defeated Loo Winch, feather-weight champion of Tasmania. He has been a pupil «of Charlie Peoples, who needs no introduction to New Zealand fight fans, and in 34 starts has collected the

decision on 27 occasions, losing liye times anti drawing twice. Eighteen pf his wins have been by the short route. He claims that he has never been knocked out. Questioned about his defeat by Donovan, Boyle strenuously denied that he was knocked out, but persisted that he was counted out while he was appealing for a foul. He would like to have another shot at Donovan whom he is certain he can defeat. While in Australia Boyle was instructor in boxing at St. Stanislaus Boys’ College, where iie had 55 boys under his control, if he cannot get any further matches in New Zealand he intends making tracks for America. Me has had a cabled offer from an American manager but has not committed himself to any engagement. Nevertheless he intends to waste no time in getting to the land of the dollar, where he thinks he will be able to make good. ITe has signed articles to meet Hatton at 9st 31b under penalty of £lO forfeit, and he is training nightly at the city fire station gymnasium. The Taylor-Hurne battle promises to be one of the best bouts between the little fellows yet seen in this city. Taylor is well known as a fast, clever, hard-hitting little fighter and his performances against those of his own weight have proved him to be one of the best in Australia or New Zealand, although he has not been so successful against the feather-weights, which was hardly to be expected. Hurne, by his performances in Auckland at the New Zealand championships last year, when he won the bantam-weight title,

showed himself a clever boxer. ITe Was undoubtedly the best seen in action during the tournament and he deserved the Jamieson Belt for the most scientific boxer, which was awarded to him. His clash with Taylor, who is an ex-New Zealand champion at the same weight, should be of more than passing interest. This will bo Hurne’s first fight as a professional.