GLOVED GLADIATORS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 55, 5 April 1930, Page 13

GLOVED GLADIATORS

HATS OFF. .TO DONOVAN MORGAN AND BLOOM (Notes hy "Uppercut.")

Hats off to Tommy Donovan, the fighting fireman from Waitara. Jn defeatiixg Pete Sarron at Wellington on Saturday it is safe to say that he surprised the world. When Sarron was disqualified against Donovan when they met at New Plymouth a bi^ howl went up that Sarron was rohbed. of the decision, and the majority of eompetent boxing writers agree that the American was wrongly dealt with. At the same time, all agreed that in that eontest Sarron had Donovan at his mercy in the seventh round, and that only the gong would have allowed Donovan to recover from the punishment he received. It is stated that when Sarron was actually disqualified oply seven seconds of the round were left, so that Donovan would probably have weathered out the round. What might have happened subsequently is left to the imagination, but it is clear that the majority of fans thought that Sarron more or less played with Donovan and that in the return the verdiet would only go one way. A BIG FAVOURITE It was these facts which caused Sarron to be such a betting favourite in the Wellington match, and last Saturday it was not a case of who would win, but how many rounds it would go, and odds were freelv laid in Wellington that Sarron would win witliin seven rounds. Now, of course, everyone knows that •the eontest went the full 15 ro-unds of hectic battling, producing the greatest scrap in the ring history of New ZeaIand, and that the verdiet went to Donovan. FOOLISH TALK Thev-e does not appear to he anv doubt about it being a correct verdiet, but now the air is full of rumours that Sarron meant Donovan to win and that he made £1000 over the result, and so on. It is even said that Sarron meant Donovan to win in New Plymouth and that he had £350 wagered to tliis effect. All this, of course, is all talk, and those who savy the eontest in Wellington are satisfied that it was genuine and that on the day tlie better man won. HOW THEY START As showing how these rumours start, however, one local fan remarked to "Uppercut" as follows: — "Do you mean to tell me that Sarron would have missed and missed again like he did if he had wanted to beat Donovan?" The writer asked the would-be critic if he had ever seen Sarron in action, and when he replied in the negative he was advised to "run away and play." Those who have seen Sarron know that he does miss, and mi.ss hadly at times, for he delivers blows with such specd and from such awkward angles that it is only natura^ for him to miss^ and miss more often than he hits at times. ^ * • * H'VIS QN THE JOB Readers can take it as definite that Sarron was "on the job," but on the day he met a bo.v who could take what waS' coming a hoy who coukl mix it even as well as Sarron, and a boy who could pmich just as liavd, if not harder than, the American. Donovan's win was well deserved, even if it did create a surprise and probably upset a few pockets, but all

true sportsmen will lift their hats to Donovan as king pin of the Dominion to-day in the feather class. WHERE WILL It"bE? What of the third meeting? Secre.tary Joe Stickland, of Hastings, gives his opinion that Sarron will pack his liit and move off, beeause his lett mitt is still troubling him. The Otago Association broadcast on Saturday that they had the pair matched for the third clash. Donovan says tliat he has promised it to New Plymouth if they want it there, but if they don't he gives first call to Hastings. Sarron apparentlv does not worry about the venue as long as the money is right, and from what one hears, if they do meet again, Sarron will demand a percentage of the gate in preference to a stipulated purse. Quite a reasonable attitude too! SOME * HANDLING * If tlie match sliould come to Hastings tlie local boxing association will need to do some pretty liard thinking as to where it will be staged. Presumably Nelson Park is the place in view, but to put this in order to seat 10,060 or 12,009 people won't he a small job. Apart from this, Hastings, with so many comparatively large towns in its vicinity, would be ahle to draw a good payable gate. ^ ^ ^ MORGAN AND BLOOM In the meantime, the Hawke's Bay body is concentrating on the match between Ted Mo-rgan and Lou Bloom, which takes place in the Municipal Theatre on Friday niglit next. An agreement has been reached that Morgan should make lOst. 21bs., which is 5lbs. under his natural weight, but this should still leave him strong. Bloom may not be a champion, but he is never an easy man to beat, and Morgan will need to step lively to get the verdiet. It should be a great eontest, preceded hy another good programme oftomateur bouts.' » * * TALK OF RETIREMENT A report is current that, although Donovan is prepared to meet Sarron again, that will be his last eontest, and that he is to retire from the ring. Tt is to be sincerely hoped that such is not the case, but that if he does hang up the gloves he will first meet •Xolmnie Leckie for the New Zealand fenther title. The Napier Association has this bout hooked up, and if Donovan does not toe the mark it will cause a lot of, heart hurnings. Tn any case, in justice to himself. Donovan should meet Leckie and settle'the argument as to which is the hetter man. They met once as amateurs, and on that occnsion Leckie secured the verdiet. What the result of a clash now would he is epen to opinion, but on recent f nnn Donovan would no doubt he favourite. * # * OFFER FROM SYDNEY As was ei-nected, Donovan has rereived an offer to go to Sydney, but tlie ehar>ees are that he will turn i+ down. He is holding down a gonrl eonstant joh. and unless he could get the necessarv leave he would be unwise to turn this up just for a coupF or three hundred nounds, more especiallv when he is cptting battles a-plenty in his own countrv.