McQUARRIE-McCLEARY BOXING CONTEST.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17544, 28 August 1922, Page 9

McQUARRIE-McCLEARY BOXING CONTEST.

. TO THE EDITOB OF "THE rilESS.'' Sir, —I notice in your issue of Saturday an extract from the "Otago Daily Times" airing an alleged grievance against the New Zealand Boxing Council, and misstating that that body had permitted the Christchurch Sports Club to match Whitaker and McCleary for,the lieavy-weight championship. The Christchurch Sports Club never applied for the championship referred to, being debarred trorn doing i>o under rule 12 of tfie New Zealand Boxing Council, which provides that the holder of a championship cannot contest more, than two matches in succession in bin own oentre. McCleary having met Whitaker and Pooley in Christchurch, could not, theroiore, compete again here until he had competed elsewhere. What the Christchurch Sports Club did was to apply for the light-heavy weight championship between Cadman and McCleary and that match having unfortunately fallen through on account of. Cadman's injury, the club substituted Whitaker and applied for the ■ championship mentioned to go with the match, which is • to be decided on September 2nd The Otago Association makes a doleful wail about the alleged injustice it has-suffered at the hands of the New Zealand Council, but I venture to say if the facts were known the Council's action would be found to be in the best interest of the sport. Seemingly the Otago Association desired to settle a serious dispute itself, and resented the matter being carried to the supreme head of the boxing world of the Dominion.. Its attitude • appears to have' been that a, competitor with a grievance against a promoting body shall be prohibited, from having his case considered by an independent tri-

bunal, unless the promotes body w agreeable to such a course. If, as is stated, the Otago Association has matched McQuarrie and Whitaker and has announced the match a 8 being for the heavy-weight champion, ship', it has rendered iteelf liable to a penalty of £lO far so doing. . The exact position with regard to tho heavy-weight championship.is that the recent decision, of the New Zealand Council means that McCleary retains the title and that he cannot box agaiu ia Christchurch for it'until he has competed in some other centre.—Yours, 6 C "' . , THOS. E. PQBSON.' Chairman Ch-ch. Sports: Club.'; August 26th. .v '■ ,-„ •