Prospects In Boxing

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 12

Prospects In Boxing

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, November 16. Nat Fleischer, the world-famous boxing authority, says that in his opinion the United States. Poland and South Africa will prove the strongest teams in the Olympic Games boxing events.

Fleischer, who is editor of the “Ring” magazine, says that the standard of boxing in general will probably be below that of 1952 in Helsinki. There, a few boxers overshadowed all the others.

The Argentinians and the Czechoslovakians will be the “dark horses” of the boxing tournament. Fleischer predicts. The United States looks likely to have two Gold Medal winners in Choken Maekawa, a Hawaiian bantamweight, the United States inter-colleg-iate champion, and Harry Smith, a 21-year-old New York feather-weight, says Fleischer. “There is just one thing the American coaches fear.” says Fleischer. "That is that the American boys may not have time to adapt themselves to the Olympic stand-up style of boxing. .“They are mostly used to the professional style, of bobbing and weaving. If they persist in bending below the waistline they may be disqualified.” Fleischer says that the South Africans are “a very impressive team, with at least three very good boys, two of whom have boxed before in the Olympic Games.” These are Len Leiching, a featherweight, and Grant Webster, a light middle-weight, neither of whom has lost a fight since appearing in the Helsinki Games. Fleischer says that the Poles are the best team he has seen, and they have had tremendous experience. The seven boxers forming the team have had a total of ’221 fights in the last five years. Leszek Drogosz. the light welterweight. is looked upon as the best allround fighter. He has the impressive record of 213 bouts and only seven losses.

Another possible Polish Gold Medal winner, says Fleischer, is Zbigniew Piorkowski. a 27-year-old middleweight. with a record of 196 contests, and only 17 losses.