BOXING N.Z. Team Returns With Two Australasian Titles

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29368, 22 November 1960, Page 19

BOXING N.Z. Team Returns With Two Australasian Titles

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 21

The New Zealand amateur boxing team returned to Wellington from Sydney today with two Australasian titles, and a lot of valuable experience. Among referees they found a greater inclination to allow what would be considered breaches in New Zealand. "Apart from their butting and wrestling, the Australians just don’t step back on the break,” said the trainer (Mr L. Robinson).

Canterbury’s P. Fitzsimmons, the winner of the Australasian light-weight title, found this out the hard way at Sydney. He was hit on the break, glanced at the referee, and was promptly hit again. The Wellington welter-weight. W. Coe,' was the only other member of the team to collect an Australasian title. He also won the Latex Cup, awarded to the most scientific boxer at the championships. To win the title he beat the South Australian J. Whyte. The most improved boxer on the trip, said Mr Robinson, was the Hawke's Bay fly-weight, K. Orbell.

Orbell was stopped in a round by R. Gattelari. a member of the Australian Olympic Boxing team.

but in a return bout for the Australasian title, clever boxing by the New Zealander made the decision a close one. Twice the team captain. B. Maunsell, fought S. Prior, a member of last year's New South Wales touring team, and both times he was edged out in split decisions.

The heavyweight W. Kini gave away more than two stones to win at Sydney. The team just managed to fulfill their managers prediction that “they will win more bouts than they lose," winning 14 of 26 contests.