BOXING NOTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 61, 23 August 1940, Page 23

BOXING NOTES

Gildo’s Hands + Activity At Burnham + Bad Beating For Bath HE result of the Hutchinson-Gildo contest in Wellington, with the decision going to the latter, places the score even. In Australia they met twice for a win a-piece, and in the Dominion they have met three times for a victory each and a draw. The bout was a good clever contest but the continual in-fighting was not exactly appreciated by fans in general. Incidents are looked for by spectators but there were none in this bout although there was plenty of science. * * * It is not generally known that Gildo has had considerable trouble with his hands. Against Jarvis in Wellington, his right fist went back on him during the second round and it proved a big handicap when he fought Hutchinson in Auckland a fortnight later. Against the negro in Wellington, Gildo was noticed to be nursing his right from the second round, and after the bout complained that both his hands had been slightly hurt. a * * A few of the old-timers seen at the ringside on the occasion of the " dark town" bout in Wellington were Son Tall, Invercargill; Geoff Watchorn of Palmerston North, and veteran Jim Griffin of Hawke’s Bay. * * * At Burnham Camp there is considerable activity in the boxing line. Tommy Fairhall, ex-Australian champion, takes a big hand in coaching and there is much enthusiasm among the men. Three boxers, Williams, Hodson and Puddie, of the 6th Field Ambulance, are said to be holding their own. % ** * Vic Caltaux experienced no trouble in disposing of Henry Robertson when the pair met at Hamilton. " Robbie" bit off a little more than he could chew when he decided to tackle the welter champion. % * * Dick Branch, Auckland’s well-known and popular amateur middle-weight champion, is taking out a professional licence. Like most of his pals, Branch is heading for camp but expects to secure a few fights prior to going abroad. In normal times Branch would have cut a figure in the boxing business in the Dominion. * * Champion light-weight Lance-Corporal Jack Jarvis, was offered a contest with Clarrie Rayner in the latter's home town, Blenheim. The light-weight title was to be the prize in the bag but Jarvis considered the chance of losing the title for a £45 purse, split 60-40, was no inducement. Eo * * An endeavour is being made to revive the extinct Invercargill Boxing Associa-

tion, which went out of existence after Striking a sticky patch last season as the result of the stand collapsing at one of the tourneys. As a visitor from the distant south said: " You can’t keep good sports down and the show will go on again in the not far distant future." * * % Carmen Bath, who has been mentioned as an opponent for the Alabama Kid in the Dominion, took a bad beating from Ron Richards a few weeks ago in the

Brisbane ring. Bath, it was said, had been suffering from influenza, but his showing is said to have been such as to suggest that he would not create a sensation in New Zealand. * *% * Boxers forgather at places other than the ringside, and in Wellington recently Trainer Hedberg staged a big dance for boxers and their friends. It was a good night’s entertainment for the boys and while they did a lot of "footwork"

during the evening and were " knocked down" to others in attendance, all succeeded in going the distance. * * * Southerners will remember Hockey Bennell who fought under contract in Invercargill some years ago and then, because he suffered from the cold, went back to sunny Sydney. Still recognised as the welter title holder in Australia, Hockey proved that you can’t always count on form when he was knocked out by one Jack Brander at the Leichhardt stadium some weeks ago.