BOXING NOTES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 89, 7 March 1941, Page 11

BOXING NOTES

HE Alabama Kid had his licence revoked by the New Zealand Boxing Council for a breach of his contract with the Manawatu Boxing Association. As a consequence " Al" is unable to engage in further contests in the Dominion, and it is likely that he will be leaving shortly for "fresh fields and pastures new." * % * Maurice Strickland has accepted the ‘offer of Harry Miller, manager of Stadiums Ltd., to take part in a contest with the American, Carmen Barth, in Sydney. He has prospects of other contests in ‘Australia. Having proved himself a doughty opponent for any heavy-weight Strickland should prove a head-liner in Australia. Under the terms of his agreement he will be in a position to accept either a guarantee or a percentage of the gross takings in any fights in which he takes part. Mr. Miller is optimistic that the New Zealander will become the outstanding heavy-weight in Australia and revive the boxing business which of late has shown signs of waning. The possibility of importing some _. heavy-weights from America is already being discussed. By ue % For giving Strickland and the Alabama Kid guarantees instead of observing the rule which stipulates that boxers shall divide the purse on a 60-40 basis, the Manawatu Boxing Association was fined £5-which is the maximum penaltyand was also censured by the New Zealand Boxing Council at its recent meeting. * xe As Johnny Hutchinson has left the Dominion, and both Young Gildo and the Alabama Kid are to leave this month, boxers will be as scarce as kiwis when Strickland also hits the trail for Australia. Prospects are that there will be "nothing doing on the boxing front" this season. % F Es Friends of Billy Enwright, of Invercargill, are eager that a bout should be arranged for him before he enters camp shortly. The Southerner is a well performed "mitt-man" and any bout in which he engages is sure to prove an attraction. But where is one to find an opponent for him? Bg * * Old-timer Jim Barron, whose death is announced, was one of Australia’s most brilliant boxers in the 90’s. Former lightweight champion, Barron who began boxing in 1889 and had his last contest in 1902, lost only six decisions during his career in the ring. It was in 1891 that he scored a knock-out victory over Billy Murphy in three rounds. * * BS Many followers of boxing during the past decade are prone to believe that Carnera was the super heavy-weight of all time, but, as a matter of fact he could not claim to be the giant of the fight game. Old records reveal that Charlie Freeman, the first American champion (1820) was seven feet three inches in height and weighed 330 in the bare skin. Then there was a certain Joe Sullivan who broke in among the lesser lights a matter of 35 years ago, He stood eight feet six inches in his ‘socks but was of the willowy type-a regular bean-stalk.