Curcio Confident Can Beat Murphy

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 9

Curcio Confident Can Beat Murphy

Pasquale Curcio, the professional featherweight boxer from Melbourne, last evening said he was fit and confident that he would give Dion Murphy, the Christchurch light-weight, a good fight in their bout at Canterbury Court this evening.

“I would wish to win; I would like to take anothe • victory back to Australia, said the Italian-born, sft, 131 b Curcio. Last year, on his first visit to New Zealand, Curcio twice beat the New Zealand feather-weight champion, Jimmy Cassidy, of Wellington, once in 10 rounds and once in eight. “I have never fought a light-weight before, but I do not worry too much. I am very fit and have been training well,” said Curcio when asked how he felt about having to give away weight, possibly up to 71b, to Murphy. Murphy will forfeit part of the purse if he does not make the light-weight limit of fist 71b. Fourth Best Curcio was aged 15 when he arrived in Australia in 1957 and could speak no English. He had not boxed before and has since done very well both at boxing (he is rated as the fourth best feather-weight in Australia) a ’ at his job as a store manager.

He has only one regret—that he did not go to school in Australia for a couple of years. "I would have learned to speak English better,” he said, "and so have been fitted for a better job. But when I airrived in Australia all I want is money, you understand, and so I go to work. I send money home to Italy and I want it for myself.” Another longing is for Italian food. “When I came over here last year, for some time, I bring good Italian food. I cook it myself. Australian food is good, but not for Italians. New Zealand food is good, but not for Italians.”