BOXING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22367, 2 April 1938, Page 20

BOXING

♦ UNIVERSITY TRIALS . > A high standard was revealed by members of the Canterbury University College Boxing Club in 'trials held in the college gymnasium last evening for the selection of representatives for the Easter tournament at Auckland. It is expected that an excellent team will be available to defend the boxing shield won in Christchurch last -year. Results were:— Feather-weight—V. Blake beat A. Gray by a technical knock-out in the third round: I. TDromgoole a bye. Final: Blake beat Dromgoole. The former had a hard straight punch, with speed and endurance in addition.

Light-weight—l. Maxwell beat B. K. Kirkcaldie on points; A. J. C. Nicholson a bye.’ Final: Nicholson beat Maxwell, This was quite the best fight of the evening, and was a case of speed opposed to strength, speed proving the victor. Bantam-weight—N. Williamson beat R. Overend. A hard, clean fight was the result of the meeting of the New Zealand University Blue, Williamson, and a former Olympic Games representative. Welter-weight—R. Pemberton beat R. Wiiliamson by a technical knock-out in the second round. Pemberton was the more experienced, and had a harder and straighter punch. No-decision Bouts —Light-heavy-weight: C. D; Dobson v. J. Aspcll. This was a contest between two. strong boxers, with Aspell probably the, quicker and more experienced Middle-weight: T. Aiken v. C. L. Jones. This was a solid bout, with little to choose between the two. The judges were .Messrs R. E. Mouldey and W. Bowden., and the referee Mr J. T. Burrows. N.Z. BOXING TEAM PERFORMANCE DEFENDED (PRESS ASSOCIATION telegram.) WELLINGTON, April 1. A complaint by the Auckland Boxing Association to the New Zealand Council about the criticism of New Zealand boxers’ performances at the Empire Games was referred by the council to Mr G. H. Hughes, manager of the boxing team, who, in a reply, says- that the wonderful showing by New Zealanders against the cream of the Empire was most satisfactory. ' In ’some cases boys as good as the winner were eliminated in the earlier bouts, this applying to Sheridan, Moran, Parker, and Collins. The standard at the games was mostly very high, and the New Zealanders were freely congratulated. Mr Hughes points out that four New Zealanders were beaten by eventual winners, and if the draw had been different might well have reached the finals, which would' have been considered satisfactory. Heeney, , who reached the final, was by no means the best New Zealand boxer. It was absurd to say that New Zealand lacked efficient coaches, all the boys displaying good knowledge of the game, said Mr Hughes. , As they were small, they had to adopt different tactics from those they were used to in New Zealand, but their knowledge of boxing enabled them to overcome their difficulties quickly. Most of them were highly regarded by their opponents. “The remarks concerning the standard of boxers and the lack of efficient coaches ife not correct, and is made through lack of knowledge of boxing,’’ he said.