UNDERTAKING BY BOXER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 6

UNDERTAKING BY BOXER

OLYMPIC BODY TO ENFORCE BOND (K«u> ZcotaMl >reM Association, „ WELLINGTON, April 20. , Jte New Zealand Olympic and Brittan Empire Games Association has decided to force the professional welterweight boxer Mike Hannah to honour his bond, which he signed before leaving for Vancouver as a member of the New Zealand team, debarring him from fighting as a professional until the expiry of two years. Soon after his return to New Zealand, Hannah turned professional. The association decided at its last meeting that the New Zealand Boxing Association's explanation that Hannah had been granted a licence by an oversight was inadequate, and wrote asking that his licence be withdrawn. An extract from the New Zealand Boxing Association's latest reply reads: “If the New Zealand Boxing Association caneels Mike Hannah’s licence he will be penalised by being debarred from competing in his sport until JUly, 1956. Would your association, therefore, consider overlooking this withdrawal, as the granting of same was the result of an oversight by his council?”

Besides enforcing the bond, the Olympic association will inform the Boxing association that that body is only partly to blame, “as Hannah’s predicament was largely brought about by himself.” Before turning professional, Hannah had told three members of the Olympic association that be intended to do so, but had made no comment when the question of his obligations arose Members of the team are required to sign the two-year ban to ensure that they put something hack into amateur sport