Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 13 November 1931

Harry Crossley.

Harry Crossley had little difficulty in beating Steve McCall, of Aberdeen, at The Ring, London, last Thursday.

Crossley dealt out continual punishment, and the bout ended the ninth round when the referee, Matt Wells, intervened.

Crossley says that McCall has put on a lot of weight which is of no use to him. He was very quick in the first two or three rounds and apparently meant business, but later he slowed up. He kept coming in rushes; both men were carrying the fight to each other. Crossley might have finished the contest earlier, for McCall had no method and was often wild in his punching. Crossley was always ahead on points but is disappointed that he did not get a knock-out about the fifth or sixth round.

The fight turned definitely in Crossley’s favour about the seventh round, when he shook McCall badly with a hard left to the law. He went down for a count of nine in the eighth round from a right cross, and in the ninth round he had little defence. Crossley is still showing marked improvement. He has speeded up his work and his left leads are more powerful. In the bout with McCall it was his left lead that paved the way to success.

He is in training at present for his contest with Bob Carvill, of Bridlington, which takes place at Newcastle on Monday and is one of the eliminating bouts in the British Heavyweight Championship competition. Crossley is in the pink of condition and says that he never felt better in his life. He is confident that he will get the verdict over Carvill and hopes for a knockout. They have met twice previously; at Leeds, when Carvill was knocked out in three rounds; and at Bridlington, where Carvill was qualified for hitting low. It is said that Carvill has improved but It is exceedingly doubtful if whether he can reverse the previous results. Crossley will wind up his training tonight at the charity tournament at the Lido link, Doncaster, arranged by Mr. Bridgewater for the Bentley Flood Anneal.

There has been much talk again of a challenge by Len Harvey to Crossley for his title, but Harvey’s manager has not yet made any overture to Mr. Bridgewater. Crowley is more than willing to meet Harvey for the title if the term are suitable. But the Harvey camp apparently will not get down to business and it is doubtful whether a match will be made.