BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1921, Page 11

BOXING.

LETTER FROM SNOWY BAKER

GOOD FIGHTERS SCARCE.

The following interesting communication was written by Snowy Baker at Los Angeles, on July 28, to the Sydney Referee.

“The world-wide bout of interest. Dempsey v. Carpentier, is well over. There has been practically no aftermath to this event similar to other worldwide battles. Nobody, even to get his name into print, yelled ‘Fake!’ It seems that 75 per cent, of Americans of both sexes wanted the Frenchman to win. Dempsey, apart from the fight fans, is declared an unpopular champion; this, mostly because the American Legion, a similar body to our Returned Soldiers’ Association, have condemned him.

“Personally he seems a mighty finefellow, and quite a wonderful fighter. “Carpentier has been matched with Tommy Gibbons for some time in October. 1 think Gibbons will win if the battle js ever staged. [lt has already been declared off bv Carpentier.— W.F.C.J

“The prospect of big money for the big battles only, has brought past champions out of moth-ball retirement. Mike Gibbons, an elder brother of Tommy, has come back and won several scraps one after the other. Leach Cross tried it, but only got a couple of wins to his credit when some young husky pug knocked him out of bounds. Veteran Freddie Welsh is a winning comebacker. JACK JOHNSON RELEASED. “Our old dusky friend, Jack Johnson, released from a year in prison, expected Jack Dempsey for a world-title tilt, but the champion draws the color line, and Jack is l compelled to fight his lanky brother,' black Harry Wills. Wills is a marvel. If Wills is not compelled to ‘box easy,’ Jack should be knocked over the goal. Wills, as you know, religiously kept away from arguing with champion Dempsey. Jack Kearns, always astute, is wise in not liking this long son of Ham in the ring with his principal, Dempsey. “Sports are wondering how much money Dempsey will actually get out of his Carpentier scrap. “A different taxation officer nails the title-holder and his manager for a parcel of his earnings day after day. The cartoonists are shewing Jack, cadging a dollar, entering the poor house, and so on following taxation. Wilson, the recognised world’s middle champion, does not stand high as a fighter with American followers. They say it’s ‘crepe for Wilson,’ and ‘by request, no flowers,’ the moment veteran Mike Gibbons gets him in the ring. GOOD FIGHTING SCARCE. “Good fighters are few and far between in Yankee Land to-day, just as in other countries. So-called amateur fourround bouts only are permitted in this city, Los Angeles. Jack Doyle lias an , arena just outside the city limits. He , stages 8 or 9 four-round scraps Tuesday and Friday nights. Jack is a good , promoter. Sitting at the ringside he compels the boys to mix it, otherwise they ■ are put out of the game. Shade (Billy Shade’s brother), Bert Colina, and young , George, are the three best. They would please Sydney. Jack Munro is considering them. “The only other scraps held in this , city are monthly amateur goes at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. As a mein- , ber, I always witness these events. The old-time Sydney athlete, Pat Higgins, is referee. A REMARKABLE CLUB. “I wonder when a similar athletic club will be built in Sydney. This building is eleven storeys, has a 33 yards ' marble swimming bath on the seventh floor. A perfectly equipped gym, with 22,500 square feet‘floor space. Two floors are devoted to residential quarters. It has one of the best and most elaborate dining rooms in America. There are 6000 members. Entrance fee is £25, and 24s monthly dues. The gym. boxing rings, swimming pool, etc.’ are free. All meals moderate in price. Such a ’ club would be perfect in Sydney. This ' one was built by bond holders. In 1914 I bought a block of land in Phillip-st., Sydney, 100 x 125 -feet, for this purpose, but was not allowed to erect such a club during war time. I think it is an ideal scheme for a keen ‘bunch of Sydney sports who want a good investment. BUCK JUMP RIDING MATCH. “I take a pride in telling that I was matched last week at a charity wild west show to ride a buckjumper in my Australian saddle against the American cowboys in their Western saddles. They gave me a pretty touch outlaw, and flank roped him into the bargain. Much to my joy, and stiffness for days after. I rode him to a finish, and was not allowed to use a bridle, only a hackamore. Hoot Gibson, Buck Jones, and Tom Mix were riding on American saddles. They all rode their horses out, so the event was declared a draw.

NEPHEW OF JACK MUNRO. “A young Irish gentleman whose name is given as Munro, and says he is a nephew of Jack Munro, is around these parts declaring he has a eommission to book boxers for Stadiums Ltd. Quite a number of young duds are said to have been signed to go to Australia

in consequence. I still retain my original financial interest in Stadiums Ltd., and consequently am doubly keen regarding the good names of Stadiums Ltd., and Manager Jack Munro, which stands high to-day in the minds of boxers who count. The sporting Press and public generally arc not affected by the actions of this young fellow. 1 have advised the one or two good boys who have approached me to do business only with Stadiums Ltd. and Manager Munro or his authorised agent. “Forgot to tell you that I had a chat with Jack Dempsey after his fight. He said, ‘The Frenchman hit me harder than any man since I’ve been in the game.’ “Please covey my regards to the many boxing boys with whom I had pleasant association during past years.”

DEMPSEY AND AUSTRALIA. ‘Jack Dempsey came along to the studio yesterday to chat on the possibilities of a trip through Australia. Manager Kearns is in New York, and expected in this city next week. In the 1 mexintime Dempsew is anxious to open negotiations and get all information. A private Australian syndicate has been in touch with him, with the object of his tourig our sunny continent. Jack, referred to a published cable communication Carpentier received from Stadiums Ltd. just prior to the big match. He thinks a proposition something along those lines would look interesting to him and Kearns iust now. If there is any fur-

ther development on this scheme I will 1 cable .Tuck Munro next week. [This ' probably refers to the cablegram cent by Mr. John Wren, offering to back Billy Shade against the Dempsey-Car-pentier winner for £lO,OOO aside.W.F.C.] “Steve Stenhouse, the Australian bike* and motor cycle rider, is in Lo<s Angeles with a high-clase bantamweight, George Sollis by name. Steve i<s anxious to take him to Australia. He is writing Stadiums direct. Saw Frank Picato yesterdtiy. He looks well, and is working, quite a good job, with an iron foundry. Frank sends his regards to the boxing , boys. "There are droves of young boxe’s anxious to go to Australia; but headquarters must take care in the picking. A crop of lemons, as Americans express it, is much easier to pick than good ones. The good ones will take ge:ting, but they are available.” AMERICAN TITLE-HOLDERS. Here is a list of the heavyweight champions of America and the years each held the title; Jacob Hyer . z 1816-1820 ) Tom Hyer 1841-1847 ! John Morrissey 1853-1858 j John C. Heenan .......... 1858-1861 | Joe Coburn 1862-1864 j Bill Davis 1864-1865 | James Dunn 1865-1866 | Mike McCoole 1866-1869 Charles Gallagher 1869-1869 Tom Allen 1869-1876 Joe Gross 1876-1880 Paddy Ryan ISSO-18S2 John L. Sullivan 1882-1892 Janie* J. Corbett ]892-' n R97 Robert Fitzsihimons 1897,-1899 James J. Jeffries 1899-1905 Tommy Burns 1906-190 S Jack Johnston 1908-1915 Je.-.s Willard 1915-1919 Jack Dempsey 1919-1921