BOXING

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 25

BOXING

RINGSIDE GOSSIP.

"Amateur control of amateurism," the slogan of the new party which has its stronghold in Christchurch, is given an arresting interpretation by Mr. T. Robson, of Christchurch. During his interview with the '-Star's' , boxina writer earlier in the week, he made "out the best case for the amateur-control party that lias been published to date. Mr Kobson put his finger on several weak spots in the armour of" the existing associations. Let it be confessed at" the outset that the champions of this movement have not, hitherto, made their objects sufficiently clear to be readily understood of the man-in-the-street Of their honesty of purpose there can be no doubt. They are genuinely under the impression that the existing* associations have failed the amateur, and in a measure, they are right. It has ever been maintained in this colmun that while doing much to foster the sport anions boys, the N.B.A. an d other associations lell short of what was expected of them although their efforts were, in the main' successful. However, the amateur-con-trol people aim at what the agriculturalist would term "intensive cultivation." Iney are idealists, of course, and dream of the day when every New Zealand boy Will be taught to use his hands in a scientific manner. But they aim at their goal differently from the existing associations. They contend that, b° the establishment, of a string of small "clubs throughout New Zealand, interest in the sport would be fostered and encouraged to such an extent that it would eventually be of universal appeal. Mention finance, and they snap their fingers. Amateur cluba would never lack support, they say. Keen amateur sportsmen would always be found to denote small trophies. They eschew big and valuable trophies. Let the boys box fo r the love of the thing, say they. Money making is no object. Rowing can carry on without a "gate," why not boxing? Small halls could be used'at first —halls costing very little. Big crowds, made up of "stoush"' lovers, would not be sought. It must be conceded, here and now, that the proposals of the amateur-con-trol party make quite an imposing show on paper. In theory, they look well. But put them to the acid test of practice, and what then? Supposing the Government made the drastic changes sought by the new party, and the existing 'bodies had control of professionalism only, the result would be that in each centre there would be two associations. When a professional bout was staged there would, presumably, be a numfber of four, six, eight or ten rounders as preliminaries, in each of which little two-a-penny professional pugilists would compete. Amateurs could not box under professional control. The foisting on the country of a lot of inferior professionals would be one of the most regrettable features of the system. Then there would be the amateur clubs, with their little fortnightly or monthly tournaments, almost certainly poorly attended by the general public. No doubt, subscriptions from keen supporters would keep the clubs alive for a time, but nothing very ambitious could be attempted for lack of funds. The amateur sport would be relegated to cheap halls, in back streets, or to institution gymnasiums, where comparatively small crowds could be ac- j commodated. Expenses for provincial, island and Dominion championships would be difficult to cover. The N.B.A.'s experience is that the annual amateur championship tournaments never show a profit on the gate. Travelling expenses to the Dominion tournament have to be paid out of the accumulated fund. Is it conceivable that supporters of amateur boxing would suddenly become so generous that e*ery expense could be ! met out of donations and subscriptions? One remembers rather bitterly that the response to the appeal to send Charlie Purdy to Paris for the 1924 Olympic Games was so poor and so tardy as to be scarcely worthy of thi? word.. It was "the professional"promoting body" that found the considerable balance which ensured- the trip that gave one of the bes-t boxers New Zealand has produced his chance for world's honours. Nor do we think that boxing would ever become as popular as the amateur-con-trol party would have us ' It is difficult to convince some enthusiasts that boxing is not a sport in which all youns men feel drawn to participate. At best, it can appeal to a limited number, and it is doubtful indeed whether the intensive cultivation which Mr. Robson advocates would bear fruit worth the picking. Amateurism could be encouraged to a greater extent than it is, but the necessity for a string of new clubs throughout the country is not apparent. In conclusion, let it be said that there is one fundamental objection to the present system—the necessity of secondary schools, colleges, universities, or any other organisations having to apply to the so-called professional promoting bodies for a permit to promote a tournament. It should be remembered, however, that the law requires that a permit be issued by a responsible body, in order that boxing may be kept on such a plane that it will not degenerate into something resembling the melees of the bad old bare-knuckle days. Of course, one who has a rooted objection to dualcontrol finds it distasteful to have to ask a "professional promoting body" for a permit for amateur boys to compete. The truth is, however, that the existing associations are comprised of respectable, reputable and—for the most part—responsible citizens. The membership of the X.B.A. covers nearly every profession from clergyman to hairdresser. A few officials receive honorariums. Despite the nasty names the amateur-control people call them, existing associations are still amateur bodies, with a membership comprising amateur sportsmen. The writer is not aware that any professional boxer is a member of any of the New Zealand associations. That all the members are not competent administrators does not affect the position any more than the fact that some members never knew as much of the sport as to go about the tying of a glove-string correctly. In a nut-shell, the position to-day is that amateurs control professionalism, a* well as amateurism, and in order to achieve their ends the new amateur-con-trollers will have to throw much dust in the eyes of the Minister of Internal Affairs to make him believe otherwise. If an amateur controls professional boxing it does not make him a professional, go long ac he <*ocs not receive a salary for doing it.