GLOVED GLADIATORS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 216, 12 October 1929, Page 12

GLOVED GLADIATORS

HECTOR LECKIE'S GREAT WIN NAPIER'S BIG BATTLE ■

(Notes by "Uppercut".)

'Wliat mnv be tenned the big news of this lveek's boxing budget is tbe fact that Hector Leckie is now lightweight cbampioix of New Zealaud, and in winning tbe title, lie absolutely confounded critics by scoring a knock-out win over Glen Leslie, of Auckland. Wben Lec-kie fougbt 111 Napier a year or two back, I10 quite failed to leave an impression 011 tbose who saw him, and since tlien, lie did notbing to get bimself into tbe limeligbt until recently, wben be knocked out Jim Cotterill. Tlie latter, however, was regarded as only a second rater, so not much store was set by Leckie's win. WOUI.b TRY' HIM OUT When be was matched witb Leslie, it was fully expected that Leckie would lie given- a good try out, and in fact there were many wbo quite expected that tbe Aucklander would emerge victorious, for be had given Tommy Donovan a pretty liard and close contest. At any rate, a knock-out was certainlv not expected, so oue is forccd to tlie conclusion that Leckie has vastly impro-ved 011 tbe form he displayed wben at Napier. Even so, oue would not regard tbe new cbampion as a real cliampion in action, and it will be very interesting to see what liappens wben be meets Tommy DoinoA-an at Stratford on -Saturclay nigbt next. Tf he can score a win over tbe Taranaki man, he will surely be in tbo boom. jjf 5{i DONOV AN-GRIFF1THS I11 tbe meantime Tommy Donovan meets Tommy Griffitbs at New Plymouth to-nigbt, and in this con'test more tban passing interest is being taken, for it is Donovans first contest since his long spell. and Griffitbs' first since his return from Australia. ,It should be auite an interesting fixtiire. GREATEST FOR YEARS Everything now appears to be set for the greatest contest New Zealand has seen for many, many years. This of course refers to tbe clash • between Jobnnie Leckie and Billy Grime, wliicb takes place at Napier on November 9. Grime is due in. Napier at the end of the present montb, and tbe illness of Leckie's wife is prevent'ing bim from taking up his residence in Napier just at present. As soon as Mrs Leckie recovers, howeverj be will be coming tbrougb and all his training will be done in tbe sea-side city. ' It is safe to say that no contest in New Zealand in recent

year 5 has created the interest that this bout is creating, and wben the two go into tbe ring in November, tbe hardest job in tbe world will be to find a vacant seat in tbe theatre. And all will agree that the Napier Boxing Association will fully deserve the success which looks like coming its way. A WELLINGTON OPINION In some divisions, New Zeaband has some very strong aua capable fighters ; in others, the class is clecidedly poor. Take the middle and welter divisions, beaded by_ Artie Hay. There are few in either weight who can boast class. Nobocly will ever convince me that the dual cbampion is a wortby one. I have not admired his style of fighting and in tbe face of his recent vietories over Purdy and McDonald, I do not feel disposed to recall my statement. Hay beat sbadows of Purdy and McDonald. If Ted Morgan ever manages to get down to 9.9 (as be might), then goodness be witb his opponent ! f * NOT SURPRISING A report from Australia states that tbe New Zealander, George Modrich, is experiencing difficulty in securing a fight following on his bad sliowing against Varidel. Tbe wonder is that Modrich was able to get even one contest. He cet'tainly would not be matched up in liis country — not in Hawke's Bay at any rate. # * * COLIN BELL AGAIN - It's a long call since tbe time Colin Bell defeated Tom Heeney. Bell was then in his prime, but to-day be has reaclied the stag© when I10 should be content as a looker-on. Evidently this role doe8 not 'appeal to Bell, for be is very anxious to get a crack at Pat Redmond, the giant Australian heavvweigbt, wbo recently upset Blackie Miller. Redmond is still turning tbe scales at over 16 stone. Colin Bell's age, by tbe way, is given at 48, so if he can come back and beat tbe giant Redmond, it will be some job. * * * CHASING TED MORGAN Apparently Ted Morgan' s win over 'Steve Hughes has put, hhn_ in tbe boom, for several associations are anxious to get him matched up with Artie Hay. Both Greymouth and Gisborne are after this particular con.test, but Wellington reports state that Morgan will not be chasing Hay yet awhile, as Hav will have tod big a pull 01a bim in bo-tb weiglit and experience.