BRITISH BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 4

BRITISH BOXING

UNLUCKY J. McAVOY POSSIBLE BOOTS LIST LONDON, Jan. 9. In 1937, Jock McAvoy broke his neck while riding a horse. In 1938 he broke a leg, and just when it was better, and he was ready to fight, he fractured his wrist. Now he is down with diphtheria. He was in the midst of training to fight Ginger Sadd, of Norwich, when he was rushed to the hospital with diphtheria. Although McAvoy spends most of his time in the ring with cruiserweights, he can still make list. 61bs. The trouble with McAvoy is that he is miles ahead of any other middleweight, says the Sydney Referee’s -London correspondent. That is why he is forced to take on cruiserweights. He is anxious to meet Harvey, but Harvey is sidestepping. In the meantime, promoters are chasing Harvey around the town with offers to fight Braddock. Braddock is asking for £5OOO and has been offered £3OOO to meet Harvey. Tommy Farr has been offered £3OOO and £3500 to meet the winner of Harvey-Braddock, if it ever comes off. In the meantime, there is a trifle of £750 due to the British Boxing Board of Control by Tommy Farr. An attempt is being made to invest these proposed fights with all the prestige of world championships. The public will not be deceived. Proposed Harvey-Braddock I’ ight. Donald Duck has as much chance of appearing in the ring against Joe Louis as some of the boxing promoters have of staging a Harvey-Brad-dock contest : n London. There are not mote, if that many, than half-a-dozen boxing promoters in England who can s'gn a four-figure cheque and those who can have no. said a word about the proposed fight between Harvey and BradOck. Despite offers of £3OOO to Braddock and a similar amount to Farr, wit'.i one promoter raising the ante to £3500, nobodv has seen the money, nor have they seen ary offer in writing or even on a cable form. So all hope for a big figlu in London this summer is for the time being abandoned; Meantime Len Harvey, described by the British Press as heavy and light-heavyweight champion of the British Empire, has this to say: “There has been ar abundance of offers for my services. The leading promoters in the country have shown tremendous activity in an effort to find me an opponent for my next fight. Tommy Farr, Max Baer, James Braddock, Bob Pastor, Larry Gains, and Al Delaney have in turn been 'ggested, but so far nothing has come about. “After taking a leaf out of the book of Brer Fox by ‘layin’ low and saying nuthing’,’ I think it is now time to make a definite move. Rather than throw away the substance for the shadow, I am prepared to come to terms quickly for a match that shows some distinct prospect of maturing. “I may wail on endlessly for one of the suggested American fighters to respond to a tempting offer from a British promoter, and, in so doing, not only waste valuable time, but stand the risk ot missing the boat altogether. I want to fight regularly. I ha’" therefore, intimated to several promoters that I am prepared to meet Larry Gains, either at the end of February or at the beginning ot March, but not later. I want to fight Larry for the Empire title, and believe the Board of Control would sanction such a match as carrying with it the vacant championship.” W. J. Ahearne’s Comments. Until Harvey meets and defeats Ambrose Palmer (unless he has definitely retired) and Ron Richards, he is nothing more than champion of Great Britain. After all, Australia is part of the British Empire. I’ve seen both Gains and Harvey in action. Gains is 37 years of age, and is still able to beat novices. Richards would knock him cold. Harvey js 31 and is a cagy-unattrac-tive fighter, but a good one. He’d give Ron a heap of bother unless Ron could hang a right on his jaw and I doubt if he could do that. Syd Hulls, English promoter, bid £4OOO with the option of 50 per cent, of the gate for the Harvey v. Gains contest. Not bad money for old roosters of 30-odd.