THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 31, 1939. -
:
AMAZING STORY OF WALLY MAY, BOXING TRAINER
CRIPPLED 'MADE'
BOUT thirty-five years ago a
fresh-faced
curley-haired, youngster stood in the gutter of a London street. He was lifting weights outside a public house, and the development of his upperpart was incredible. His arms, shoul- ders, chest and torso were those of a giant-but they were supported on withered legs, encased in clank- ing leg irons.
This was Wally May, the man who, in later years,
was to train Len Harvey, and so condition the Cornish- man that he was to make ring history in British boxing, gain three titles within a year; lose them and regain two; fight for a world title when every- one said he was finished.
Wally was crouched in Harvey's corner when he recently defeated Eddie Phillips, and Len always pays tribute to the thick-set little man who has done so much for him.
One of the most heartening of stories is that of Wally May's splendid triumph over his crippled condition. How he, by sheer force of character and determination dispensed with his leg irons and became one of the strong- est men in this country, makes bizarre hearing.
In his early teens Wally lived alone on a barge, earning a few coppers as best he could. He led the toughest of lives, and had to overcome incredible obstacles. He could punch with shat- tering force, yet his short height of five feet barred him from ordinary competition. Fighters would use him as a sparring partner, and he many times knocked out champions in train- ing Never would they meet him in the proper ring, however.
AS LEN
LEN HARVEY, built up by Wally May after most people opined he was a finished fighter.
dwelling, paying the woman a coppers a week for its use.
few
Some fair fighters trained there, and one evening a tough looking welter- weight turned up and wanted someone to box with him. No one but "Tich'
real contest-in the basement of a the welter, out cold!
He butcher's shop in the East End.
By Leo Fuller
A BOY YET
HARVEY
rubbing his bruised chin.
"Last
night you knocked out my twin brother, and I came here to avenge the family honour
Fantastic Experiences
Wally spent four years in the front.
was
He had a little gymnasium over a stable in Camden Town, and it here that Len Harvey trained, when he was a fifteen year old boxing sen- sation, Wally conditioned him, and prophesied that one day he would be a champion.
line during the Great War, and there They Parted Company
had a completely fantastic experience. Always crazy about physical fitness, he took the young soldiers in hand, and behind the lines he used to instruct them in boxing.
With Wally behind him, Harvey punched his way to the fistic headlines. Then they parted company for five years. It wasn't until after Harvey's defeat at the iron gloves of Marcel Thil Even in the trenches they used to that they came back together. spar in their free moments, and one time everyone opined that Harvey was At that morning Wally was demonstrating a a finished fighter, they said he had had particular punch to a certain Private a good run for his money, but now he... Bell. They sparred around for a little might as well hang up the gloves. All while, until Wally stepped in and left but Wally hooked him on the chin. He fell like
י
+
"Len", he said, "I can build you up until you're fighting heavy- weights. I'll make you a champion of champions."
a stone, and Wally rushed to pick him up, as he hadn't intended to hit so hard.
His blood ran cold when he bent down
drilled through the sol- dier's forehead was a neat little hole It is now a matter of boxing history he had been killed by a sniper, how Wally has made good his words. just as Wally had hit him.
Since that day, Harvey has been light Two weeks later, he had the gloves heavyweight, heavyweight and Empire on with Private Smith. It was just heavyweight champion. In turn he behind the lines at Ypres. Private gave up the former and lost the two Smith had just taken a light right latter titles. Time and again the ex- hook on the chin, yet he slumped heavi-perts said he was through. Time and ly to the ground. When Wally looked again Wally proved them wrong.... at him, he could scarcely believe bis Now Harvey has won back the light eyes, because.. he was dead, drill-heavyweight title, beating Jock ed through the head by a stray bullet, McAvoy, and his last appearance in the in exactly the same way as Private ring brought back the heavyweight laurels from Larry Gains, against whom he retained his crown last
Bell had met his end. . . . !
It was a tragic coincidence that is March. And for all of these fights, surely unparalled.
except the last one with Eddie Phillips, Cockney sense of humour, Wally is Harvey scaled only about twelve stone! Quiet and unassuming, with a nice terribly earnest about physical condi- tion. He knows what it is to
have
would oblige. They sparred for a few with two smashed knees, a bullet wound Wally was discharged from the army seconds, then Wally drove home with in the head, and a bayonet wound in Wally always remembers his first a shuddering short right. Down went his left arm. The doctors called him
Next night the same man was there a 'physical wreck'-yet a few weeks been a cripple, and he devotes much of faced a local idol, and it was a private and insisted that Wally should fight ago Len Harvey said in training: contest in which the butcher himself him. He was apparently a glutton for had backed Wally. Knocking out his punishment, but the little Hercules was man in one round, Wally stumbled into only too willing to oblige. This time the sunlight, clutching ten golden so-a blasting left hook knocked him into vereigns-more money. than he had oblivion. Feeling પૂ little ashamed, even seen before!
Wally said, when the other had reco- vered consciousness:
Starts Gymnasium
Later Wally started his first gymna- sium in the wash house of slum
2
S. CHINA TEAM'S DEPARTURE
"I'm sorry I knocked you out twice but you did insist on fighting me." "You never knocked me out be- fore," replied the fighter, tenderly
SPOTTING TALENT FOR WORLD OLYMPICS
South China Football teams leave this afternoon by the s.s. Canton for a strenuous four months' tour in the South Seas under the management of Mr. Mok Hing.
The team will visit Hanoi, Saigon, Rangoon, Java, Sumatra, the Straits Settlement and, on their way back, probably Manila.
As is only natural all the players cannot obtain the four months leave necessary for the trip and only 17 are leaving to-day, the others will join the team at different ports either in Java or in the Straits Settlement, while of those leaving to-day some will return to Hong Kong before the completion of the tour, having only obtained leave for shorter periods.
South China will, however, have at all times, the nucleus of a strong team and should do as well on this tour as they have done in the past, Providing all the arrangments are carried our
the team is expect- ed to play from 25 to 80 games."
CHARITY · GAMES During the tour, a number of charity games for relief work in China will be played and a good amount should be raised for this cause.
Advantage will also be taken, on this tour, to revive the Ho Ho Competition between the Hong Kong Chinese and the Singapore Chinese Football As- sociation.
was
This competition
very popular some years
ago, while it lasted, and it hoped that the en- deavours will be successful.
his time to healing the sick bodies of others apart from fighters. He loves his work.
"I wish I could punch like you Wal!" Alone Wally built himself back to "Part of my wages is the joy. I get It meant months of exercise when I have changed an ailing person health. months of pain, months of unfailing to glowing health and strength determination, but through his hard- he says, won knowledge of physical culture Wally May not only cured himself, but broke. weight-lifting records, and once. swam nearly thirty miles waters!
in
(COPYRIGHT)
fresh To-morrow The Crazy Championship
of California.
LEE. KWOK-WAI leaves with the South China football team to- day.
a point of view of gaining ex- perience.
Opportunity will also be taken to spot any Chinese players worthy of consideration
1
BOXING
BRITISH
CRUISER-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Len Harvey (London) is to de- fend his British cruiser-weight against Jock M'Avoy (Rochdale); at Harringay Arena, London, on June 15.
:
It is probable that this contest will carry with it the label of World title, as strong representations are being made for this recognition to the Bri- tish Boxing Board of Control. Harvey has written to the Board asking for their support to announce the fight as for a World Championship, and this, it is understood, was considered at a meeting in London yesterday...
Harvey said yesterday that it had been suggested to him that with John Henry Lewis, the American holder, be- ing unable to box in this country, he could have claimed the title. "I could quite easily have done this," he said,
were
On this occasion, it is probable that players from other Chinese Clubs in Hong-kong will be invited to meet the team at Singapore in
to represent China in the forth.but I feel that I ought to have a fight
for the championship.”. order that the best available Chin-
Harvey approached M'Avoy with ese team from Hong Kong will becoming World Olympics in
1940.
view to fixing a later date for their fielded.
The following are some of the play-contest, but the arrangements
suitable for the Rochdale boxer. This ers making the tour:-n
Cheong Wing-choy, Lee Ting-sang, will be the fourth meeting between Mak Shui-hon, Lee Kwok-wai, Lau Harvey and 'M'Avoy, and the second Hing choi, Kwok Ying-kee, Lau Chung for the cruiser weight championship. Bang, Yeung Kan-po, Yeung Shul-yick, Tang Kwong-sum, Fung King-cheong, Lai Shu-wing, Lau Tau-man and Hau Yung sang
Lee Wai-tong is unable to aç- company the team but as he will be proceeding South on business shortly, will meet the team and play, some games. This trip should be of great benefit to the younger players from
NOTE: A message from London on Saturday stated that the Harvey- M'Avoy fight has been postponed owing to the indisposition of the latter."
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