WITHIN THE RING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 6

WITHIN THE RING

PALMERSTON NORTH BOXER. MATCH AGAINST LOVERIDGE. (By “Ringsider.”) The Palmerston North boxer, Alan Parker, who decided to forsake his amateur status, has been unlucky in making his debut in professional ranks. After training seriously and getting fighting fit for his first bout at Hustings with It. Aitken, the latter found he was unable to fulfil his engagement, owing to a busy season of fighting. Aitken has decided to retire for the remainder of the season. Parker’s next bout was to have been with H. Dunn at Petone on July 27, but after having again conditioned himself thoroughly Parker was advised that his bout was off through Dunn being incapacitated by one of his recent battles. Efforts are now being made to match Parker with Loveridge (Eltham), who recently scored a decisive win over R. Aitken. All wish Parker better luck this time. Welterweight’s Arrival. A welcome addition to the Palmerston North gymnasium is the appearance of G. Wesley, the Patca welterweight. Wesley lias four wins over K. I’ilzwatcr. holder of the Davis Boxing Cup for two seasons. Bouts At Patea.

A. great light resulted between J. Fitzwater (l'acea) and D. Coughlan (Palmerston North) on July 1!) at Patea, both boys mixing it in a way that soon had ringsidcrs on their feet. At the first sound of the gong Fitzwater sprang at his man and set up a terrific pace. Coughlan, boxing well, Mnet him with left and right swings, placing several good ones. Fitzwater, However, was not to be subdued, nnu the pace increased as the bout proceeded, providing a feast of fighting lor those present. This bout was to have been for the Drapers’ Cup, but as the decision was a draw it was allotted to the Calder-Reid bout. Cfurric Gordon (New Zealand Olympic representative) and H. Christensen (Palmerston North) provide:! the star bout at Patea over a course of six rounds. This proved to he another titbit of glorious boxing between two fast, hard-hitting buys, but it ended unsatisfactorily early in the fourth round through Christensen receiving a nasty, deep cut on his forehead, the result of a head bump. The injury halted further proceedings and caused the referee to award the bout to Gordon. The Taranaki champion revealed all his old speed and cleverness, especially in footwork, and placed some very solid leits to the body. However, Christensen gave as good as he received and there was little or nothing between the boys when the bout terminated. Many patrons were anxious to see how Gordon would fare with Christensen after the latter’s successive wins over 11. Martin (Hutt Valley champion) and J. Mclnnes (Hawke’s Bay champion) and the unsatisfactory ending caused much disappointment. Collins’ Ankle Injury. Christensen, at short notice, sportingly substituted for Joe Collins, the Palmerston North featherweight who was originally to meet Gordon, hut Collins unfortunately injured his‘ankle during training, and it has since required considerable medical attention. However, he made the trip to Patea and was introduced to the crowd, having a visible limp as lie walked on the stage. Collins will be well and fit in good time for the approaching championships. L. McGlaclilan (Palmerston North) met a little pocket-battleship in Bert Maddon (New Zealand flyweight champion), but considering that it was McGlachlan’s first bout after a Jong layoff, lie did remarkably well. Another fight or two will soon put him in better shape. J. To An (Palmerston North) carried the fight to his opponent, E. Gishard (Patea), who back-moved and produced a snappy straight left and right with telling effect. Both hoys, punching well, provided an excellent bout. G. Downes travelled with tlie team to Patca, hut was unable to get a fight, his opponent, G. Tanner, having influenza.

Blatch Fights To-moirrow. Had Alt' Blatch, the Australian lightweight champion, beaten Henry Aimstrong", of California, in his first match in America, instead of being knocked out by tho coloured boxei m the third round, lie would have been a logical opponent for Ambers, the world’s lightweight champion, who has been offered a guarantee of 35,000 dollars to meet Armstrong in a title bout next month "in Los Angeles or New York. Meanwhile, Blatch is, to-morrow, to fight lied .Guggino, officially ranked as sixth among tlie lightweights. Blatch, after a successful run in preliminaries, was given his first important engagement at tho llushcutter Bay Stadium, Sydney, on September 10, 1934, when lie knocked out the Welsh lightweight, Tommy John. Two months later he was faced with a severe task when he met Jack Portney, one of the best American welterweights who lias visited Australia in rece.it years, but was unable to withstand Portney's attack. Blatch in the following year beat Billy Carr, and was later matched with Bert Osborne for the Australian lightweight championship owing to Bishop not having defended his title. Blatch won on points. In December of that year Blatch beat Bishop in seven rounds, and a month later drew with Saverio Turiello. Blatch retained tho lightweight laurels by another victory against Bishop in February, 1936. Eleven days later he knocked out the American, Tiger Flowers. He beat I Uriel lo in a return contest, and in a third encounter Blatch won on a foul. Blatch has since beaten Jimmy Day, Joe Hall, and Jimmy Leto. Henry Armstrong is an American negro, who has been boxing in the featherweight division and can still make that limit. He was born at St. Louis in 1912. ITis most important contests took place last year, when he won six bouts by knockouts and five on points. He was beaten three times. Gildo And Jarvis. Advice has been received by the Wellington Boxing Association that Joe Hall, who was to have met “Young” Gildo on August 5, has been compelled to postpone his visit, as he had been held up by his engagements in Melbourne, two of which had to he postponed. Gildo’s opponent will'now be Jack Jarvis, the New Zealand lightweight champion.