RING AND MAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1060, 26 August 1930, Page 13

RING AND MAT

Notes FteoM Far anb near By " LEFT COUNTEi

The only bout on the fight programme at the present time is a return contest between Johnny Leckie and Tommy Donovan at New Plymouth, on September 6. Leckie won the previous contest on a knockout in 12 rounds. * * * The Northern Association has no professional bout in view; but it is likely that a match will be arranged before long. Officials of tho association seem to be pleased with the success of the team at the New Zealand championships. Unfortunate Occurrence The Auckland boxing community will join with the writer in extending sympathy to the relatives of P. Rush, of Blenheim, who died in hospital after collapsing in the ring during the championship meeting at Palmerston North. Mr. W. J. Hammill, manager of the Auckland team, states that the young man’s death was not the result of boxing. He was sitting in his corner at the end of a quiet round in which there were no hard knocks when he suddenly collapsed. It was an unfortunate occurrance and thankfully a rare one. Credit to Auckland ‘‘The conduct of the boys both in and out of the ring was excellent and they were a credit to the Northern Boxing Association,” Mr. W. J. Hammill, told the writer. ‘‘There were record entries for the tournament, yrhich was a great success and marked by plenty of brilliant boxing." ‘‘The trainer, Mr. Eugene Donovan, deserves the highest praise. He put every one of the boys into the ring fit and well and left nothing to be desired. The assistant trainer. Mr. J. Hiffy gave valuable assistance." * * + Bruno and Purdie Win Two Aucklanders were successful. F. Bruno won the fly-weight division and R. Purdie, last year’s bantam-weight champion, won the feather-weight title and the Jamieson Belt for the most scientific boxer at the tournament. Commenting last week on the prospects of the Auckland team, the writer stated that Bruno would probably find his lack of weight a big handicap against the heavier men of the division. But the little fellow came through with colours flying and fought like a real champion to win the honour. It was expected that Purdy, in proper fighting trim, would carry off the feather-weight division.

Thumb-nail Sketches Hero are brief sketches of the work of the members of the team, supplied by Mr. Hammill. F. Bruno, fly-weight.—Bruno was a little marvel. Ho fought with both hands from gong to gong, and in the final beat a man of 26 years of age who said afterward that it was a pleasure to be beaten by such a fine little fighter. In his earlier fights, Bruno defeated Higgs, of Wellington and Roebuck, of Taranki, who was awarded the medal for the best loser. In the final against Thomson of Christchurch, the crowd was on its feet screaming with excitement. Bruno was the most popular boy of the tournament.

W. Purdie, bantam-weight.—Purdie met J. Richmond, of Otago, 1928 flyweight champion, but lost after making a great recovery after being knocked down. R. Purdie, feather-weight.—Purdie’s work was pretty to watch. He fought much better than he did in tho Auckland championships and his contest with Johns in the final was good to see. Purdie was rightly awarded the belt for the most scientific boxer.

R. Martin, light-weight.—Martin clearly outpointed Thomas, of Marlborough, but the decision was given against him. It was one of the worst decisions I have ever seen, and was commented upon throughout the tournament.

D. Cleverley, welter-weight.—Clev-orley had a hard fight in his first appearance. He won, but when he met Lowe, of Otago, who subsequently won the title, in another contest the same evening, he had no strength left and retired.

H. Neale, middle-weight.—Neale won his first two fights, but was beaten in tho semi-final in a close contest with Bagrie, of Southland, who won the class.

R. Cowan, light-heavy-weight Cowan did not fight up to form and was beaten by C. Galt, Southland, who formerly fought in Auckland.

P. McCarthny, heavy-weight.—Mc-Carthny scored a knockout in his first light and after giving Gardner, who subsequently won the class, a willing go, he stopped one on the point and lost on a technical knockout.

Congratulations to both winners and losers, to manager and to trainers. Auckland had the most success at the tournament with two wins, while Hawke’s Bay, Wellington. Otago, Southland, Taumarunui and Christchurch registered one each.

Logan and the Turk Auckland’s next matchwill probably bo between Kara Pasha and Walter Logan. The Auckland Ex-Service-men’s Union is endeavouring to arrange the bout for either next Saturday or next Monday. This should provide a hard tussle, as both men have shown themselves to be hard wrestlers. The Turk has twice beaten Tom Alley, who was out-wrestled by Logan before winning with a slam. On their showings tho Turk and Logan should be evenly matched.

Kilonis or Naylor? Who wrestled Hyatt in one of the amateur preliminaries on Saturday

evening? Was it Kilonis or Naylor? The announced said it was Naylor and it looked like Naylor, but the antics were those of Kilonis. There is an interesting explanation. Tho methods of “Cave-man” John Kilonis became a byword in wrestling circles here nearly two years ago, and on leaving Auckland ho presented Naylor with n pair of tights, the green ones which, together with a pair of purple shorts, Naylor wears in the ring. Some of the spirit of Kilonis must have remained in those tights, for whenever Naylor pulls them on he feels like a caveman. But he does not’hunt round for a club (or a chair as Kilonis was wont to do), but rushes in and flings himself at his opponent, tackles the referee, pulls faces at opponent, referee or crowd, and generally acts up to the best standards of the Greek. It is reported that there Is no truth in the rumour that Naylor intends taking the nom de guerre of “Young John Kilonis.” Rather does he prefer to imitate him under his own name.

Crucifix Arguments “I believe he had the crucifix; but some people I have talked to say that he did not, though others say that he did.” This statement was made by Walter Logan, in discussing whether Tom Alley had him trussed up in the crucifix in the bout on Saturday evening. “I that Alley did have the hold on me, and that I broke it, and if he puts it on me again I will break it. Alley made the statement last year that he would give £IOO to anybody who could break the hold, and I am going to try to get that money.” The gate receipts for the match were not very large, but the regular wrestling fans who failed to attend missed one of the best contests seen this year. Logan proved himself a match for anybody in New Zealand, and although he lost, it was a case of the winner losing. He outwrestled Alley in practically every round, and had tho Mormon in some very difficult positions; but Alley has not been 4 wrestling for many years for nothing, and he played for an opening, feinted Logan into grasping him round the body and then pulled off a perfect back-loop-slam, flying winglock, or reverse body-slam, whichever name is preferred, to score the evening fall and end the match. It was a pity that Logan could not recover in time to Continue, but few and far between are the men who can come back after they have been knocked out by that dangerous slam. Alley intends having a rest, as he is still suffering from an injury to a leg. He certainly needs a rest, as in his last two matches he has not shown anything like the form for which he is so well known. When Alley was announced as light-heavy-weight champion of the world on Saturday evening, some of the crowd made that highbrow noise commonly known as the “raspberry." However, Alley carries the gold belt carrying with it the light-heavy-weight title, so it seems that his claim is justified. There has been no screams in the American papers that Alley has eloped with some other wrestler’s property. Regarding whether or not Alley had', the crucifix on Saturday evening, it is a matter of opinion; but tho writer does not consider that it could be called a crucifix. Rather it was a double-arm scissors or a full Nelscn with the legs. A crucifix is a lull Nelson with the legs with one arm barred, this bar pulling the shoulder up and out and dislocating a man’s shoulder if the pressure is applied. Last year, in the first contest of that season. Alley defeated “Farmer” Vance with tho hold, and the latter had his* shoulder under treatment for some days afterward. Later in the season Eklund submitted to the hold, and this season, in Wellington, Kara Pasha submitted. In the bout in Auckland with Alley, the Turk got locked in a full Nelson with the legs: but Alley’s injured knee prevented him from getting pressure to bear, although Pasha was still locked in the hold at the gong. It seemed that a similar state of affairs existed on Saturday, that Alley could not get the necessary pressure to bear on account of his knee injury, and Logan. who is stronger than the Turk, worked around until he managed to break the hold. Even if the hold was not the crucifix, Logan was in an unenviable position, and tho way lie fought and broke aroused the enthusiasm of the crowd.

Hall’s Sulphur and Sarsaparilla Salts.—A great Spring and Summer Tonic, in the form an an effervescing and delightful drink. Large bottle posted for 3s.—E. W. Hall, 117 Armagh Street, Christchurch.—2.