BOXING CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 5

BOXING CONTROL.

ATTITUDE OF COUNCIL 'WHAT PROPOSALS MEAN. SEVERING AMATEUR AND PRO. The statement issued recently by the New Zealand Boxing Council touching control of boxing in the Dominion has caused widespread hostility to the proposals made therein, and the Northern Boxing Association feels just as strongly on the subject as any other body. It is I pointed out that, after twenty-one years j of loyalty to the council, that body now | turns its face against the association and j makes the inference that it is, in common with other associations in New Zealand, a professional body. In face of the fact that for years past the association has stood loyally by the council, financially and otherwise, the statement issued by the council on the occasion of that body's retirement from office on March 31 cannot be regarded in a sympathetic light. Discussing the subject with the "Star's" boxing writer to-day, Mr. A. H. Gyllies, chairman of the Management Committee of the Northern Boxing Association, spoke with some emphasis concerning the council's allegation that existing associations had failed to foster the amateur side of the sport. Results bad proved that such iwas not the case. One had only to take the record of Aucklanders going to the Australasian championships during the past three years. In 1921, Purdy was bantam champion, Matt Hatton runner-up in the bantam division, Harry May lightweight champion, Dick Meale middleweight champion. In 1922, Purdy was feather champion. Meale middleweight phampion and Fred Hansen welter champion. Purdyiestablished a record in 1923 by winning an Australasian championship on the third consecutive occasion. "Sailor" Firth won the New Zealand light-heavyweight championship last year, but did not compete in Australia. To cap off this fine record, Purdy had now gone to the Olympic Games in an endeavour to bring home international honours. But for the Northern Boxing Association it would not have been possible to send Purdy. In face of all this, the New Zealand Boxing Council turned and said that the associations did not foster the amateur side of boxing. Mr. Gyllies considered it absurd. s Late Mr. Corbetfs Opinion. "Why," continued Mr. Gyllies, "the fact that New Zealand looked after her amateurs better than Australia did was recognised by the late Air. W. F. Corhett, the well-known Sydney journalist, who was an authority on boxing. Sitting in his own office in 1921, Mr. Corbet t said _o mc that there could be no question on the point. So long as amateur boxing was encouraged in New Zealand as it had been in the past, just so long would the New Zealand amateur be superior to the Australian. lad, by reason of the fact that the Com_urawealth took little or no interest in the development of the amateur side of the sport." There was the thing in a nutshell, said Mr. Gyllies, aud it was ridiculous for the council to publish a lot of rubbish about amateurs being neglected. What Separate Control Means. "What will happen if, as the council suggests, separate bodies control amateur and professional bouts in New Zealand?" asked Mr. Gyllies. "Just this—the support will be ruined as far as amateurs are concerned. The body promoting professional contests would arrange for a big bout, as the special attraction, and thjs .would be preceded by a number of small contests of about four rounds. The result would be that the 'boxers in these four-round bouts would be drawn from the existing amateur ranks, and, instead of receiving a £5 trophy, they would receive a £5 note, or some other small sum. There would then be no amateurs—or practically none. It is a well-known fact that only a few young men in every community are fitted physically and temperamentally to be boxers. Of the hundreds who are instructed in the art, only units reach even mediocre standard. This means that the supply of amateurs is, at best, very limited. Under the suggested control all the amateurs of any ability would compete in the four-round bouts as professionals, and those few who did not would be . insufficient in numbers to ensure the success of a purely amateur tournament. It is well-known, too, that amateur .bouts do not draw the crowd unless they are followed by a professional contest. It will be readily seen, then, that the body controlling amateurs would not have sufficient funds with which to carry on, even should they j have plenty of material available. It | would certainly be impossible for such a body to build up a fund for the purpose of sending amateurs to Australia for the championships." Mr. Gyllies considers that the tone of the statement issued by the council is ungenerous, and that, in view of all that has been done for amateurs in the past, the whole thing is entirely uncalled for. "Who ever heard of money beincf spent I on professionals by New Zealand assso- i ciations," he concluded, "hut everyone | knows that the associations cannot do I enough for the amateurs. They are I encouraged and helped in every pos- . sible way."