Big Wages For Night’s Work

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 10

Big Wages For Night’s Work

fßg Our Boxing Comspondentl

Dion Murphy, the New Zealand professional light-weight boxing champion, was yesterday paid more than £B7O for his win against the Ghanian boxer, Peter Cobblah, at Canterbury Court on Thursday evening £29 a minute, for every minute of the 10round bout.

Cobblah will go back to Melbourne at the week-end more than satisfied with his share of the purse. Cobblah was paid £450 for losing the bout, and this after he had paid a £lOO forefeit to Murphy for failing to make the light-weight limit (9st 91b) by five ounces—£2o an ounce. Murphy, by his guts and clever boxing, has won 12 bouts in succession since turning professional and has made himself the greatest local drawcard in boxing since World War 11. He would not earn as much money in Melbourne. Boxers there get 25 per cent of the gate. When the Australian light-weight champion, Gilberto Biondi, fought a thrilling 12-round draw with Kimpo Amarfio in Melbourne last month, both boxers were paid £4OO. In Australia, the purses are split evenly. Murphy, who beat Amarfio in his previous bout, is now in line for an attempt at Biondi's title. Winning, would make Murphy the Australasian light - weight titleholder. Australian trainers who have come to Christchurch in charge of Murphy’s opponents, have invariably termed Murphy “a good boy, but ... he has a lot to learn

yet he has a long way to go.” Murphy would be a fool, financially, if he went any distance from Christchurch. Biondi, on the other hand, must feel that there is gold at the end of the rainbow in Christchurch where he can count on £9OO for a win and £550 for being beaten. In beating Amarfio and Cobblah, Murphy has shown himself a much better boxer : than these two. He has used brain as well as brawn. Frus- : trated by their inability to hit Murphy with furious, murderous swings, both Amarfio and Cobblah resort- ’ ed to haymaker punches. Murphy showed that he , had learned a lot from fighti ing Amarfio by being in i charge of the bout for all ex- ! cept the eighth round against > Cobblah. He only once ■ “walked Into” a punch from Cobblah. He landed clean > punches at the ratio of four r to one at least, and when t Cobblah did connect with his , lethal, round-house punches. • Murphy was always moving t away. Murphy, admittedly, has a i lot to learn. But .he has i demonstrated clearly that he • has the capacity to learn. His t recent opponents have shown i none of that capacity.