Overseas

Fiji Boxers Prominent

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Sept. 1. nPWO Fiji boxers, who have gone over * seas, are beginning to come into the limelight—one in London, and one in New Zealand.

The first, Ben Valentine, a half-caste, went to London some time ago, then hold ing the Fiji heavyweight championship, although he is actually nearer the middle weight class. Tremendously strong, Val entine had made a name for himself here as a hard hitter, and being very fast on his feet. Since he has been in London, he has received proper tuition, and has im proved wonderfully. Fighting chiefly in London suburban stadiums, he has not yet lost a fight, having had 27 bouts and 27 victories.

The latest man to go overseas was Semi, a full-blooded Fijian, who, in the absence of Valentine, claimed the Fijian heavy weight title. A few weeks ago, he went to Auckland, and the other night had his first fight, against an Australian, Claude Nichol, whom he defeated.

Broadcasting the fight an announcer said that the Fijian was a most unorthodox boxer. In bare feet and a pair of bright blue shorts, he captured the crowd at once, and by the running account, the fight was a willing one, Mr. A. Rennie, chief clerk in the Fiji Department of Agriculture, arrived in Sydney from Suva on leave by the Mon terey on September 7.

Mr. John W. Vandercock, an American who was in Fiji and New Guinea a year or so ago gathering material for U.S. scientific journals, has written a thriller in which the quick-moving plot is staged on the island of Viti Levu. The book, published by Doubleday, Doran and Co.

Inc., of New York, is entitled “Murder in Fiji.”