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| Friday, 14 May 2004 |
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Sports | |
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When boxing had its magic by Sharm de Alwis Boxing, by and large, no longer has its glamour or the panache. Gone are the days when pugilists displayed the science of deft footwork, the side step, bobbing and weaving, ducking and feinting that used to be part and parcel of the signature of Sugar Ray Robinson and the young Cassius Clay before he became Mohammed Ali and a trifle foot-heavy. Even within our country there were quite a few who excelled in the discipline. Mahasen Weliwitigoda and Errol Seneviratne were a connoisseur's delight in the first two rounds before they wearied in the third due to lack of roadwork. Albert Perera was such a crisp puncher that you would miss quite a few of the exchanges. Leslie Handunge brought ballet into the ring. Donaland Labrooy was a marvel. Rajah Sumansekera and Michael Bulner epitomised the highest ideals of the pugilist's art but they went away "when our need was the sorest." It was in that back-yard that I witnessed one of the finest duels since I was privileged to see in a Trinity College House Meet a clash between Michael Schokman and the younger D.L.Y. Pakstun which went into the fourth round to give the avid spectators further views of glory before the contest was declared a draw. The venue was the Royal Albert Hall in London in the second half of the 50s. Vic Towell was pitting his craft against the wily Jimmy Carter who when once asked about his style, came back like a right cross, "They call me come-in fighter, they call me come-out fighter but, man, if you really want to know, I am a street fighter - the best you ever saw." The photograph taken of the Toweel-Carter fight clearly underlines that statement. I can't remember the outcome because the entire bout was so much like ballet with the parry and thrust of fencing thrown in for good measure. A verdict either way would have tarnished the tinsel. Vic Toweel had won the World Bantam weight title in '50 by outpointing Manuel Ortiz, a popular California boxer. He lost the title to Jimmy Carruthers in '52. On the 25th of May 1951 the Lightweight champion, Ike Williams, was knocked down three times and was hopelessly beaten by the 14th round that the referee had to stop the slaughter. Jimmy Carter was the new champion. Carter had a lengthy, twelve year tenure in the ring from '46 to 57' and won 75 of his 108 bouts, 28 by kayo. He beat Lauro Salas in a defence of his title in April '52 but in a return title bout one month later, Salas won the title in 15 rounds. It was a hectic year for the two as Carter regained the title from Salas in October. Carter lost the title to a fine fighting machine in Paddy de Marco in '54 on a points decision but eight months later he knocked out De Marco to regain the title, eventually losing to Wallace Bud Smith twice in 55. Jimmy Carter's swan-song was at the Royal Albert Hall in 1957 when he gave a dash of colour to drab London with a fine display of ringcraft against Vic Toweel of South Africa. |
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