'STRANGER THAN FICTION'

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 909, 28 February 1930, Page 13

'STRANGER THAN FICTION'

SARRON INCIDENT AT NEW PLYMOUTH AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT From Our Own Correspondent NEW PLYMOUTH, Today^ Stranger than fiction and probably without precedent in the boxing world are the facts and developments featuring attempts by the Taranaki Boxing Association to stage a fight between Pete Sarron, American boxer, who. has suffered no defeats in New Zealand, and Tommy Donovan, of Waitara. The latest development was the decision of the association to take legal action when Sarron’s hand was found to be bruised and overtures for a definite understanding miscarried. Sa-rron arrived at New Plymouth bareheaded and empty-handed to elbow his way through a large and curious crowd on the station platform. He had been subject to the sanction of the law and escorted to New Plymouth to guarantee his appearance to a civil claim by the Taranaki Boxing Association. No official of the association welcomed Sarron, but the crowd gave him a cheer as it awakened just in time to glimpse him as he entered a « taxi-cab. His solicitor, Mr. C. B. O'Donnell, of Wellington, arrived late that night and entered, into conference with the association’s solicitor next day, when an amicable settlement was reached and the action for damages was withdrawn. The fight is to take place on March 15, Sarron undertaking to appear in New Plymouth a week before that date as a guarantee of good faith. AN INJURED HAND Tho whole trouble, said Sarroil’s solicitor, had hinged upon the injury t.o Sarron’s hand which, from an X-ray photograph, showed a bruising of the bones. The medical report had been emphatic that Sarron should take s rest. The reason the required bond of £275 had not been given to guarantee tho appearance of Sarron was that a condition was imposed that the guarantor should lose his money in the event of Sarron not being able to appear through physical unfitness. The reason that Sarron had asked for 25 per cent, of the gate money was that he wanted insurance, in effect, in the event of his hand being permanently injured in the fight. “The Taranaki Association misled me,” said Sarron in an interview upon his arrival. “The arrangement was that the fight should take place under cover before an audience of 1,200, but the Taranaki Association then endeavoured to stage the fight in the open before an unlimited crowd. Then I had trouble with my hand and wanted a percentage basis. I have never been treated like this in my life before.”