BOXING NOTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 83, 24 January 1941, Page 13

BOXING NOTES

HE last has not been heard of the Alabama Kid and Strickland, for negotiations are in hand for a return bout, to be held under the auspices of the Wellington Boxing Association. Both men are to fight in Wellington, and at the time these notes were written prospects were bright. Actually the American was due to leave the Dominion on January 17, but with the prospect of a contest within three weeks or a month it was reasonably accepted that his time would be extended. Both men are in training. * * * Alan Westbury, welterweight champion of Australia, is expected to arrive in the Dominion shortly and as a preliminary to the big fight he may be engaged to meet Johnny Hutchinson. * * * Cliff Hanham, middle and light heavyweight of New Zealand, is now residing in Wellington. He assisted Strickland in his training for the Palmerston North battle, and will be training with him again if the Wellington fixture becomes definite. * * * Charlie Lucas, who has been in New Zealand for some months past and who. helped the Manawatu Association run its big show on Boxing Day, has returned to Australia. He intends to do some ground work in arranging a Ron Richards-Maurice Strickland fight, either in Auckland or Sydney. Ba a * Mr. Munro, who manages Richards, is quite willing for Richards to visit New Zealand and meet Strickland for the Australasian title, but at the sams time considers that Sydney is the proper place for such a bout to take place. oe * * The old Rushcutter Bay stadium has been the scene of many historic fights, and it is considered that a record crowd would patronise a bout between the two champions. For an Australian match Strickland has been offered a £500 guarantee and transportation for three, or, as an alternative, 2712 per cent. of the takings. ok * * All going well, the New Zealander is likely to make some good money during 1941, as win or lose with Richards, there would most likely be a return bout. * * % Mr. Lucas is one who thinks that the time is ripe for private promotion in New Zealand and he maintains that until the rules provide for this boxing will remain in the doldrums in this country. Licensing promoters under the direct control of the Boxing Council would enable boxing to progress on a scale unprecedented in New Zealand, he claims. * * ‘ The recent bout between Henneberry and Richards at the Sydney stadium was the ninth meeting of the pair. Henneberry has won three of the contests. Many think another meeting would appeal to the public, but it is questionable. This pair have made a small fortune apiece just fighting each other; now new blood is wanted, and that’s why Strickland is being angled for.