N.Z. Boxers Make K.O. Come-back

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30480, 30 June 1964, Page 14

N.Z. Boxers Make K.O. Come-back

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 29. New Zealand amateur boxing came back with a knockout punch at the Wellington Town Hall tonight. The four New Zealanders made up for the big defeat by the Japanese earlier this year by winning their bouts against their Australian opponents inside two rounds. The New Zealanders fought impressively. The only visitor to offer more than token resistance was the Australian heavy-weight champion, Athol McQueen. McQueen was leading Bill Kini by a narrow margin when the Aucklander knocked him cold with a

heavy right to the jaw in the second round. McQuen is one of a full contingent that will represent Australia at the Olympic Games: his team-mates tonight are near the top of Australian amateur boxing. Hardly Hit Back The Auckland featherweight, Turori George, put New Zealand one up when he stopped the New South Wales champion, Alby Arabin, in the second. Arabin hardly threw a punch against the businesslike George in the first round, and the Aucklander continued tb make all the play and to score well in the second. Then Arabin went over after sampling a right cross, and the one-sided bout was stopped. The Hawke’s Bay lightweight, Paddy Donovan, made sure most of his fight with Eric Waldron of New South Wales was at close range. Donovan could have knocked out Waldron in the first round, and toyed with him till the bout was stopped in the second.

The Wellington welter, Wally Coe, however, was not taking any chances against the former New South Wales champion, Ray Bain. Coe got away to a fast start and scored with long lefts and punishing body shots before tipping Bain over with a right to the head. Bain beat the count, but an unusually vicious Coe, with Tokyo begging, sent his man through the ropes with a right to the jaw. The referee stepped in with 15 seconds to go in the first round.

The Australians also intended to box in Greymouth, but the knockout defeats meant that they will not be able to honour their South Island engagements.