BOXING NOTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 25, 15 December 1939, Page 38

BOXING NOTES

HE season’s activities are waning, but Vic Caltaux still finds opportunity to show his wares. At Gisborne a whirlwind contest ended when Caltaux knocked out Jack Davis in the fourth round. % * * Another Auckland boxer who is now in camp is " Porky" Neale. At Ngaruawahia he is keeping himself and many of his pals very fit. a P % Undoubtedly Pete Sarron had the most remarkable mascot of any boxer in history. In his early days in the ring Pete was accompanied on the road by a pig which he named " Little Nell." During many of Sarron’s fights before he came to Australia and New Zealand, "Nell," from a point of vantage at the ringside, watched her master. She is said to have grunted vigorously every time Sarron showed more than ordinary ferocity. * i %* Irishman Maurice Costello is disappointed in the lack of opponents in New Zealand and intends moving on soon, He intends to visit America, where fights are more plentiful. % * * Gene Tunney was the only heavyweight champion of the world to retire from the ring undefeated. Jim Jeffries retired when still in possession of the title, but he was tempted to make a "come back." Jeff had rusted consider ably during his lay off and was just "chicken feed" for Jack, Johnson. % * A dip into the past always discovers a memory of "Ironbark" Jimmy Haggerty, of Timaru, who fought all the best opponents offering in Australia and New Zealand. Jimmy was often victorious in hard battles, but lost his life on the Peninsula during the biggest fight of all.