PETE SARRON’S FAULTS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 454, 23 June 1937, Page 4

PETE SARRON’S FAULTS

FAMOUS FIGHT RECALLED Libel Action As Sequel The cable news from Johannetburg that Pete Sarron, feather-weight! champion boxer of the world, had been disqualified in the first round of a 10-round bout against Lew Mlzier for using a low blow, recalls a previous, disqualification of Sarron when he wa* in New Zealand seven years ago. Sarron was not then a world champion, but was the hero of over seventy professional fights when he met Tommy Donovan, the populer railway fireman, of Waitara, at Western Park, New Plymouth, on the afternoon of March 15, 1930. There was a huge crowd to the content, the official report giving he number who paid for admission as 4679, while the receipts amounted to over £lBOO. A newspaper report of the fight 4 stated that Sarron was cautioned by the referee (Mr D. Meale, of Auckland) several times for questionab’e tactics. For instance, in the Fixth round, the referee, spoke sharply to Sarron: “That hit was low, auother time out!” In the seventh round the referee again reprimanded Sarron, saying: “One more of those and you’re out!*

After sharp exchanges, Sarron landed a body blow which floored Donovan. zit caused Donovan to hold his ttomach and wince with pnin. but bo rose Immediately, only to be sent down for 8. When Donovan rose. Sarron rushed and drove rights to the head, which put Donovan down again. The Sensation. Then came the *en»ation r . Referee Meale moved over to Donovan and assisted him to rise, after which he held up Don. ovan's arm in token of victory as the result of a foul. Officially Mr Meale stated that he had warned Sarron about rabbitpunching previously, and had no option but to award the fight to Donovan, The report continued; The scene was changed, and in a moment the ring was swarmed. Groans, cheers, ; and hoots, greeted the referee’s • de- ' cision, and the arena buzzed with ex- [ c-tement Sarron immediately left | the ring, and his head was bowed. It J was plain We was deeply affected. I Cheers greeted him as he moved to : his tent outside the ringside seatt', • being followed by a growing throng jot sympathisers. There was a rally ! of the police, and the white helmets ' bobbed, amongst the crowd as cheer | after cheer rent the ir. A little while ■ later. Sarron wat taken bodily from I Ills quarters and "chaired" for a fcw : yards, but the police quickly sup- : pressed the movement, which held j ugly possibilities, and might easily • have developed into a riot among tne | two factions of partisans. Lib®! Action as Sequel.

! There was a sequel that did not re- ■ eeive as much publicity as the fight, i It was in the nature ot a threaten -d Supreme Court action for libel. A claim of £5OO was made by a firm ot •ooiicitors in Wellington on behalf ot Sarron for damages for libel from Sir Walter Carncrots, M.L.C., and his son, Mr Claude W. Carncross. proprietors of the Argus newspaper, published at Eltham. The alleged libel was contained in the words of the paper report as follows. : “As Sarron failed to heed ReiferJk Meale's warnings against illegal ta^ - tics, no other conclusion could t>» come to than that he was out ito win by any and every means tn his power —in other words, if not by fair means, at any rate by foul." The case did not come before the ' Judge, however. Following negotiations between the partiee. a final settlement was arrived at prior to the date fixed for the hearing The sum of £5O Is said to have been sufficient to soothe Sarron's injured feelings and all that the public learned wat that the case had been settled out Of Court. Many people * would have liked to have heard the Judge's opinion of the libel and the amount he considered should bo awarded for the alleged damagj lo the reputation of a professional pugilist.