A shock-haired little Zulu, with the fighting heart of his warrior ancestors, has become the bright light in Britain's gloomy boxing scene.
His name Is Jake Tuli and he ranks right behind champion Yoshio Shirai among the world's flyweight fighters.
It is on him the British fight fans are pinning their hopes for a world title.
British, you say? A Zulu? 'Sure he comes from Johannesburg,' says the Cockney fight fan. 'But that's in the British Commonwealth, ain't it? And Tuli is British Empire flyweight champ, ain't 'e So 'e's British, just as much as the lad from Manchester, Sheffield or Glasgow. And no one can say he ain't' - What's more, say Britain's title-hungry fans, Tuli boxes out of Britain, so he's part of the British boxing picture, no matter what his birthplace.
Tuli (22) goes into the ring as fit and strong— at his weight— as world heavyweight champion Rocky Marclano. He's the old Henry Armstrong whirlwind type, soaks up punishment like a sponge and dishes it out with two fisted efficiency.
Tuli's climb into the world class makes fighting men compare him with the great Battling Siki - the Senegalese negro who knocked out the idol of France, Georges Carpentier, In the sixth round in 1922 to win the light-heavyweight championship of the world.
But little Tuli, with his mop of shock black hair, is a very different man to the Battling Siki who was stabbed to death in a New Tork street brawl, once he is out of the ring. Tuli Is a modest, soft-spoken man with deeply religious ways. He lives with a priest in a London clergy house and helps to serve Mass three times a week.
'It Is a pleasure to handle such a fine fighter and a good living boy,' manager Jim Wicks said. 'He is a manager's dream."
Tuli came to Britain for the first time in September, 1952. That's when he took the British Empire flyweight championship from England's Teddy Gardner.
'That win gave Tuli four titles— and after only 10 professional bouts.' Wicks said. 'He held the flyweight title European flyweight and Bantamwelght title of South Africa. The Empire title makes it four - He still holds them!"
Tuli has lost only one fight out of 24 contests. That was when he climbed out of his class to meet European bantamweight champion Robert Cohen last December. Tuli lost on points over 10 rounds and boxing writers named it the "Fight of the Year".
(Townsville Daily Bulletin - April 1954)
