BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1926, Page 4

BOXING

THE GAME AT HOME SUCCESS OF BARBER (By Eugene Corri —Special for the News.) London, Oct. 14. If there was ever any doubt, aboat the wisdom of Alf Barber going over to professionalism that doubt, has surely been dispelled. Barber is a Brighton, man. and at the beginning of the week established himself as a fly-weight of high degree by the manner in which he defeated Franck Maurier, one of the ganiest little fellows ever reared by Sheffield. Barber is something more than at boxer. He is a most business-like tighter; he can take as well as receive punishment. His infighting is distinctly .above the average, and his stamina is simply wonderful. He has a left hook that any champion would be proud of. And he has also an especially heavy right. I have to confess that he surprised me as ho must have surprised the many Yorkshiremen who had places at the ring side. Barber could not have been put through a more severe test, and he could not have come out with more credit to himself and those who had trained him for the contest. For fifteen rounds he fought at racing speed against a youth who is splendidly near to championship class. He gave more than he received. That is why, of course, lie was tlie winner. He took punches to which many men would have gone under. Even in the 12th round he caught a regular snorter that sent him sprawling on his back. But Maurier, though he was always hitting tremendously hard, could not slow him down. It was in every way a fine fight to watch, and one of the best that we have seen at the National Club for a very long time. No wonder those who were privileged, to sec it are asking when - Barber will be put on at headquarters against Elky Clark for the fly-weight belt.

WIIA-T ABOUT ELKY CLARK?

What would happen if the two met, is, of course, a matter for speculation, but although I am all against trying the promising youngster too highly, I am distinctly in favour of the Brighton boy being given an opportunity to reach for the title that is in the keeping of Claik. Barber has clearly made out a claim to a match for the championship. He is the nearest approach to Clark in this country, lam sure. And what time the Scot is waiting for a call to America to take a crack at La Barbara, he must be found employment here. And now Milligan is through with Ted Moore we should be soo hearihg that the middle-weight champion has been linked up with Frank Moody, who profesees to be simply itching to fight him. It is a long time since we saw Moody in our ring, and I am keen to discover whether he has profited to a greater degree by his long stay in America than Moore seems to have done. I took a hand in the refereeing at the Club last Monday night, and was in charge of a bout between the Mexborough light-weight, Bert Priestly, and Les Burns, of Marylebone. Priestly, 1 understand, suffered cruelly from trainsickness on his' way to town, and it was feared that he would be unable to do himself justice. For neary half-a-dozen rounds he made no great showing, but from that stage he boxed and fought in a way that won for him the highest praise from all those at the ring side. During the last four rounds his boxing and fighting were altogether too much for the London lad, and at the end I made him out to be a very good winner. Few provincials have within recent times made a more favourable impression than did Priestly. He is a very good boy and one of which Mexborougti need well be proud. He met quite an accomplished youth in Burns, and at the close I felt that it was as Ifftle as I could do to compliment both of them, I must see Priestly again. There is a future for him, lam sure. Dean, a fellow-townsman of Priestly, was not of the same class. He had little to commend him, beyond his pluck and he was clearly outpointed by a Poplar youth with the rare fighting name of King. THE N.S.C.'S POLICY.

The policy of the National Sporting Club in offering provincial boxers an opportunity to show their paces in London calle for the warmest approbation, and I hope that right through the season as many as possible will be brought to town. The month will be wound up by a bout between Tom Heeney, the New Zealander, and Jack Stanley, the 'Deptford heavyweight, for £59 aside. After this we shold be hearing of Phil Scott. It is time that he got into action again. I hope that he is not going to miss his chances. The talk about going to America does him credit, but, if I were he, I should make it known that, if there is a prospect of a fair job at home, I would take it without rasing any question or putting any obstacle in the way. I am all for getting a» much work for Seott as possible, whether here or on the other side, for I have not lost faith in Scott. Tlie film of the Dempsey-Tunney fight, which was shown during the week, leaves no doubt as to the better man. Dempsey was losing nearly all the time, and so far as one may judge by moving pictures, he seemed to know that hie number was up. I could scarcely believe that tho Dempsey I saw on the screen was the man I saw batter Carpentier. His downfall was completo.