The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 24

Page 24 THE AGE, Friday, February 17, 1978 38,299 CoFBoral. yomiTe Ike greatest From JAMES TUITE, of the New York Timet PONf WORM All, A million) for a fight with Ken All that is blowing in the wind now, for the heavyweight picture has become muddled by this upset. Spinks was the aggressor most of the way. He forced Ali time and again away mto tne corners and Bounded with left jabs. At first, the peek-a-boo defence fended off the jabs, but as the LAS VEGAS, February 16.

The second reign of Muhummad Ali as heavyweight champion the world ended last night: Alter a furious 15-round psycho-drama of age against youth, brash defiance against jaded experience, the mantle passed to real-life Rocky, Leon Spinks, only a year out of the amateur ranks. Against incredible odds the legal bookmakers in this gambling town wouldn't touch the fight the 24-year-old Spinks destroyed the legend that was Muhummad AIL The decision of the judges was divided but there were few viewers who could fault the determination of Spinks to fight back against every ploy in Ali's repertoire. Ali, honed to his earlier sharpness to offset the flagging skills of his 36 years, did all of the things he had said he wouldn't do. He tried his rope-a-dope, his peek-a-boo stance, and Spinks penetrated it He danced, but not well enough. He goaded Spinks, but the former marine corporal snickered back.

Spinks, who rose from abject poverty in St. Louis to become the Olympic light-heavyweight champion at Montreal in 1976, got his biggest payday a (about windfall he can now promote into millions. For Ali, who has already taken in nearly $US60 million (about $A53 million) in almost two decades of fighting, this fight was worth million (about million). He has not closed out his account, however. Until last night, Ali had talked of retiring if he could get his price across the ropes as Ali measured him with jabs and right crosses.

Even when Ali's jabs found their mark, even when his two-fisted flurry in the 11th round paired Spinks, they could not stop his on-rushing attack. All the while Ali was light afoot, circling, moving, not with the old verve, but enough to tire a less conditioned athlete than Spinks. Yet, the former marine was noted for his casual training habits, just as he was known for his casual attendance record in the service. The tempo picked up in the last two rounds, for the combatants knew their fight was fairly even and a knockout would assure the coveted victory. The 15th was a donnybrook that had most of the spectators on their feet.

With every vestige of animal despa ration driving them on, they -strove for that knockout punch. Then the bell sounded, tolling, perhaps the end of the career for sport's most celebrated personality. For Spinks, a frail child with low blood pressure who took boxing lessons in self-defence, the bell sounded the start of the reign of the new heavyweight champion, and a new era in boxing. There were tears in Ali's eyes as he stepped from the Hilton Pavilion ring after-the judges' verdict was announced. Harold Bucsk (144 to 141) and Lou Tabat (145 to 140) voted for Spinks.

The dissent was provided by Art Lurie, who picked Ali, 144 to 142. The first thing the new world heavyweight champion did was visit the old one to pay his respects. but ub Bam HM A GETS HIS- fight wore on more and more wedged through. Ali danced and jabbed, danced and jabbed, and took Spinks' shots in an apparent effort to let the younger; man who at 194 pounds was outweight-ed by 17 pounds expend his energy. After all, how could a one-year professional with only seven moneyffights (six victories, one draw) endure against the mighty Ali? Wasn't this the same Ali who had dominated boxing since his emergence as Olympic champion so many years ago? Who had destroyed everyone in the heavyweight ranks and, after he lost the title to Joe Frazier in 1971, had won it back? I The answer is no, it was not the same Ali.

It was an ageing gladiator whose skills had flagged, but was still considered better than an up-and-coming youngster. Ali did not even seem concerted in the fifth round, when Spinks drew blood from his mouth. He fought back, jarring the cagey challenger in some frantic exchanges. In fact, by the 10th round Spinks seemed a bit drained, leaning "You're a great fighter and a fine man," said Spinks to Ali. Thanks," mumbled Ali, holding a cold compress to his swollen features.

"You ain't so bad yourself." The next thing Spinks did was go to his own dressing room where he kneeled down and said his thanks to God for helping him win the championship. Spinks, from ghetto to world hero 21 Leon Spinks, left, the new heavyweight champion, consoles the man he dethroned, Muhammad All. Lee, Maggs lead Open with 67s eavies9 im the rack Sutcliffe, Morris in bowls final By BILL MAC KAY Geoff Sutcliffe, 28, of Numurkah Golf, will meet Don Morris, 47, of South Oakleigh in the final of the 1978 Victorian Bowls Singles championship at Brighton at 2 pm today. Both were impressive Scores By PETER STONE A lightning guide for rich Plate By TONY KENNEDY Punters should not have to go past the Lightning Stakes at Fleming-ton to find the winner of the $40,750 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield tomorrow week. Richard Lee and Doug Maggs aren't exactly household names in the golf world, but they were the Leon Spinks of the $50,000 Victorian Open championship at Metropolitan yesterday.

winning the country and Their moment of glory on the strength of their five under par 67's may be short lived, however. Not too far behind them loom the heavyweights of the show. Unlike Muhammad Ali one of them is likely to come up with a KO. For the time being though 67 D. Maggs (NSW), R.

Vee NSW). 68 G. pldlasld 68 D. Good P. Sweeney Vic).

70 T. Gale (WA), A. Cooper (WA). G. Parslow (Vic), P.

Wood NSW). 71 G. Norman R. Davis (NSW), W. Dunk (NSW), T.

Kendall (NZ), K. Hartley Vic), J. Lindsay Vic), B. Burgess (NSW), T. Henley Vic), A.

Gresnam NSW). 72 G. Alexander Vic), E. RouUey Vic), G. os kins T.

McDonald (Vic), W. Britten (Vic). 73 K. Francis (NSW), D. Graham (NSW), M.

Clayton Vic), J. Bartak (US), R. Jenner Vic), 1. Stanley (Vic), T. Dowling (WA), M.

Tapper (NSW), A. Palmer (US), R. Hore (NSW). 74 G. BeU (Fiji), G.

McCully (Vic), R. Beer (NSW), C. MeUish (NSW), 1. Hood NSW), P. Pearce (NSW), B.

Green (Vic), P. Kohisdorf (NSW). C. Tick-ner (NSW), M. CahiU (Vic), D.

Perry Vic), T. Woolbank (NSW). 75 D. Moodle (Vic), P. Croker (Vic), P.

Headland (NSW), J. Carter Vic), G. Hohnen (NSW), B. Stone Vic), R. Vines 76 1.

Brander (NSW), J. Davis R- Baker (NSW), K. Perant Vic), A. Bosch NSW), J. Kelly Vic), T.

Gilmore (Vic), K. Nagle (NSW), W. Simpson Vic). a i let us nan Kicnard Lee, 4 i (L. metropolitan titles on the same greens yesterday.

Sutcliffe, 1977 Northern Goulburn Valley champion of champions, was never headed in the Country final which he won 31-27 from Reg Gosling (Bright). He got away to a good start winning seven of the first nine ends to lead 13-3. Sutcliffe was often forced to play position to counter the aggressive play of Gosling, who was not afraid to drive at the first close opposition bowL Gosling trailed 22-29 at the 26th and then won the next four ends with 1, 1, 2 and 1 shot to trail 27-29 at the 1st end. He held two shots on the next end which Sutcliffe saved with a fine pressure bowl and the Numurkah farmer won the title on the next end. In the Metropolitan final, Morris, triple South Oakleigh singles champion, dropped four shots on the first end of his match against Bryce Stewart to trail 2-9 at the seventh.

He got back into the game with a four on the 19th to trail 15-16 and levelled 17-17 at the 22nd and hit the front for the first time 24-22 at the 29th. Stewart was playing the Eenalty with short bowls, ut he got back into the game with four shots on the 34th end to trail 27-28. Morris steadied again to take the next two ends and the title. fX fa Mahal in the New market. The weights show Blazing Saddles as the horse who must do something worthwhile in the Lightning to have a chance in the Oakleigh Plate.

Blazing Saddles will meet Tetranate 2 kg worse in the Plate, and Salaam 4 kg worse. Salaam also has 54 in the Newmarket. If he runs the big race tomorrow with 57 kg he will come strongly into discussions for the major sprints. Top 'chances for the Australian Cup Opposition, Jury and Le-froy will meet in the weight-for-age Blarney Stakes over 1600 There's little separating the three in pre-post betting with Opposition 94, Jury 3s, and Le-froy 72. Feature of the Criterion Handicap tomorrow will be the clash between Blue Diamond Stakes runners Rumpus Room and Kara-man.

The $80,500 Blue Diamond run at Caulfield tomorrow week, is a set weights race with colts and geldings carrying 54 kg and fillies 52. Tomorrow Karaman, raced by Sir Maurice Nathan, has 56. There will be a decision today whether a claiming apprentice replaces jockey Stan Aitken. The dash over the straight 1000 metres at weight-for-age tomorrow brings together the cream of the Plate runners in Maybe Mahal, Tetra-nate, Blazing Saddles, Salaam, and probably Kaoru Coup and Tincture. Tetranate and Blazing Saddles are dominating pre-post betting on the Lightning.

These two speed horses are equal favorites at 21, with Maybe Mahal at 51. Salaam is quoted at 10s, Tincture 15s and Kaoru Coup 20s. On weight comparison, Kaoru Coup drops 5 kg to 49 in the Oakleigh Plate, Tincture 4 kg to 4814, Salaam 3 kg to 54, and Tetranate 1 kg to 56. Blazing Saddles will be up 1 kg to 55 in the Oakleigh Plate, and Maybe Mahal up 1 kg to 56. There could be some doubt about Maybe Mahal running in the Oakleigh Plate.

It depends on the mare's showing tomorrow. Last year she defeated Desirable in the Lightning, but was scratched from the Plate and reserved for the Newmarket Handicap. Desirable snatched a last stride win to turn the tables on Maybe Richard Lee his clubs again and started practising. He resigned his job as a light-fitting salesman 10 days ago and returned to professional golf. His six birdies and one bogey left him elated.

It's not often you get the opportunity to upstage Arnold Palmer, especially when you've only played a handful of social games over the past two years, Graham, who was two under the card after nine holes, missed a three-footer for birdie at the 10th and that signalled the end to his challenge! for the first-round lead. He three-putted the 11th and "from then on I became gun-shy," he said. i A point worth making about both Graham and Palmer is that they've come from the rather grainy greens of California to the slick, fast surfaces of Met Doug Maggs titles, his putting was bold and confident and he finished with six one-putt greens. There wasn't a bogey on his card, but five birdies. He did hole a 15-footer at the 15th to save par.

When he's not playing golf, Lee works in the family delicatessen in Epping, a Sydney suburb, and after his 67 he said, "I'm shocked, but very pleased to play that way." Kel Nagle, one of the all-time great putters, went round with Lee and, without prompting, declared afterwards: That was a great round of golf. He putted superbly." That's some compliment coming from Nagle. Maggs, 35, signed his card for 67 and immediately went back on to the course to watch Palmer. Back in 1975, he'd given the game away because of all the usual frustrations of the unsuccessful players. He had no money and he simply wasn't getting anywhere.

A month ago he brought out 11 iSftU-w'-HMpm i ''mm Four in race for VRC post Melbourne businessman, Keith Jackson yesterday nominated for the VRC committee. There are now four candidates for. the seat left vacant by the retirement of Wally Broderick. Mr. Jackson has been a VRC member for 12 years.

The other candidates, in order' of nominating, are Andrew Ramsden, Peter Armytage and Dr. Des Hoban. This will be a history -making election as preferential voting will decide the issue. In the past, VRC committee elections have been decided on first votes. Nominations close next Friday and the election will be held on Monday, March 20.

TONY KENNEDY Country week cricket 21 ropolitan which demand a com pletely different stroke. "If I'd made that outt at 10. 20-year-old NSW amateur, and Doug Maggs, the man who's come back to professional golf after two years as a salesman. Their well-earned 67s saw them lead the field by a shot from another lesser light, Canadian Greg Pidlaski, with a 68. Two shots back on 69 are top Australian professional David Good and former national amateur champion Peter Sweeney, both of whom represented Australia in the inaugural Australia-Japan Foundation Trophy at Victoria last weekend.

Then come the likes of Arnold Palmer, Australian Open champion David Graham, Billy Dunk, Rodger Davis and Greg Norman. Dunk, Davis and Norman all had opening 71s, while the travel-fatigued Palmer and Graham both shot 73s aH of them very much in contention with 54 holes to play. A highlight of the opening round was the performance of the amateurs, these days with a few exceptions the forgotten men in Open championships. Of the leading 18 players on 71 or better, six of them are mateurs. Most of the gallery of 2000 followed the 48-year-old Palmer, back in Melbourne for the first time for 10 years.

A litle stouter and greyer and sporting spectacles, he treated his small army to all the old Palmerisms. A 68 or two over the next couple of days will see the army grow to Bowral proportions. Palmer would like that. His round yesterday was close to being spectacular. But 36 putts told the Lousy putting has been his problem for years now.

He's tried a variety of putters and the cross-handed grip. About all he hasn't tried is Sam Snead's side-saddle attack on the hole. "I just get very disgusted with my putting. That's the way it was today," Palmer said. "Without any effort I should have been 70 and when that happens I just get very down." The frustration showed on his face and even strayed to his hands as he had difficulty untieing his shoe thought my stroke was good on the early holes but then it became the old familiar stroke.

"Still, the game is on and I can get going," he said, adding he was by no means out of the race. On the 13th, 14th and 15th holes, Palmer missed birdie putts from inside 15 feet. At the 16th he three-putted from four feet (that's not a misprint) and then at the 18th he missed from five feet tc save par. "Putt, putt like an old motor boat," he muttered to himself after missing at the 15th. There's no doubting had he found a stroke on the Metropolitan greens he could have led the Lee was the opposite to Palmer.

Winner of the past three NSW junior amateur maybe things would have been different," ciraham said. Win no. 17! been aware of her impres sive record. Although Futurist itarted FIRST FOR TROTTING Trotting Weekly has stories and results from all over Australia. This week's issue has results of the Canberra Stallion Stakes, all the latest on the Interdominion, a preview of the Hunter Cup to be run at Moonee Valley plus all the usual stories, pictures, photo form and comment from around the tracks.

All trotting people think Trotting Weekly. One sale now AND great value at only SO cents. Another missed putt for Arnold Palmer in his round of 73 at Metropolitan yesterday. Hit -off times Vctorian cnira ravorite at 72, she was easy in the be tting. Futurist does most jf her racing in southern NSW and rarely appears at the close-to-Melbourne meetings.

But Sweeney said Futurist would probably take on similar races from now on because she was! now weighted out of races in her own area. Even with the benefit of apprentices' claims the mare has been carrying about 57 kg and winning at places like Berrigan. Yesterday, Futurist dutsped her rivals and safely held topweight Salyut (31) in the run home to win by a length and a half with the 74 favorite Hawdon, who weakened slightly! over Hit-on times for leading player te- day: 8.15 Dowell, Relter, G. Pld- laski. 8.91: G.

Norman, R. Davis, j. Kelly. .18: Miss S. Leahy, Mis E.

Kennedy, Miss S. Mackenzie. 9.54: A. Palmer, M. Cahlll, A.

Gre-sham. 10.57: K. Nagle, R. Vines, R. Lee.

1131, B. Dunk, A. Cooper, K. 127: Miss A. Wilson, Miss 8.

Tonkin Mrs. Greenhlll. 123. D. eraham, T.

McDonald, M. Clayton. 1.21: B. Burgess, Parslow, P. Wood.

1.30: M. Van Uempd, D. Maggs, S. Slater. 1:57: D.

Good, I. Stanley, D. Relter. By TONY BOUNCE Two-year-old Caledonian Planet may be the star of Ken Sweeney's stable at Jerilderie but the little mare Futurist deserves a special mention. The four-year-old's win in the Flying (1000 metres) at Yarra Glen yesterday was her 17th, a total seldom reached by horses even twice her age.

And Futurist, who is little more than pony-size at the bare 15 hands, would be one of the smallest horses racing. While she may lack size, Futurist has one important quality, dazzling speed, which she showed to full advantage yesterday. And with the benefit of stable apprentice Tom Littler's 3 kg claim, Futurist, as the winnerog urist, as the winner of 16 races, came into the only 50 kg. Flymg very well with Punters probably would have reacted differently to the mare had they uimuum VICTORIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION UMPIRES Victoria's most progressive body wants new umpires for our coming season. We need field, boundary and goal, experienced or new to the game.

Pay rates are pretty good. If you want to be pan of our team, talk to the Umpires Board on MONDAY next, around 8 p.m. at V.F.A. HOUSE, 16 JOLIMONT TERRACE. JOLIMONT (near M.C.G.).

New umpires will attend our Summer School now in progress, and aH umpires receive regular lectures and training. Lecture and training facilities are close to town and track work has just started. Telephone enquiries SJ216S (Mr. Cole). Football fixtures out tne last luu metres, a short half head away third.

Eight-year-old Salyut, who 1 i "The Age" has again printed football fixtures for all League games this season and they are now available. There's a fixture In your favorite team's colors, complete with the full League draw, a list of your team's games and handy reference details of your club's home-ground size, The fixtures are free but you must collect them personally by calling at The Age" city offices, 239 Collins Street, or 250 Spencer Street races lias won uuuui bad to during his career, concede 12l kg to Futurist so he did well to iwwivMMr at ai British Post Offic. iw mitunt even finish second.