Kendall, O’Donnell Bright Prospects For N.Z. Titles

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30536, 3 September 1964, Page 19

Kendall, O’Donnell Bright Prospects For N.Z. Titles

Brian Kendall and Terry O’Donnell are Canterbury’s brightest prospects for a national title at the New Zealand afnateur boxing championship to be held at Wellington on September 28.

Kendall, a 17-year-old ban-tam-weight and O’Donnell, a light middle-weight, stood out for speed, science and ability to punch with precision at the Canterbury championships. Kendall is inclined to drop his gloves on defence, but he moves so fast and counterpunches so well that he can get away with this. However,

a chance blow on target could put him out of the running. He must learn to keep up his guard, especially when he is getting the measure of his opponents in the opening round. Heavier Opponents Last year, Kendall won the New Zealand fly-weight title and became the first Canterbury boxer to win the division since Its inception in 1922. This year he will find stiffer opposition in the ban-tam-weight if only because his heavier opponents will carry more weight in their punches. O’Donnell, the Canterbury light middle-weight champion, lost in the New Zealand final last year to M. Emmerson (Oamaru): he was disqualified for holding in the third round. Until he was disqualified, O’Donnell had had the better of the bout, and was clearly the cleaner puncher. A southpaw, O’Donnell has a fast and solid right and a terrific left hook. He has good balance and fights much beter if he can keep his opponent at a distance. Provided he keeps on the attack, he should win the title. Ny Orthodox Boxer Canterbury’s other prospects are not bright L. Ny, an excellent orthodox boxer, partners Kendall in the ban-tam-weight division. He has a good straight left and hard right cross, and an excellent defence. Lack of speed in both foot-work and punching are his main deficiences. H. Bullmore, who won the Canterbury feather-weight title could give a very good display. His style is rather like Ny’s, but he is more flex-

ible. A greater variety of punches, particularly with his right-hand, would make him a formidable opponent. F. Paviell, winner of the light-weight title, packs a powerful punch in his left hook, but has disappointed this season. Paviell seems unable to make up his mind whether or not he is a southpaw—he did fight in the orthodox stance last season. In the provincial final, S. Slattery cruelly exposed the deficiences in Paviell’s defence.

F. Fidow, a cheery Samoan who seems to like it when the going is tough, is the first choice for the light heavyweight division. Fidow is a hard-hitting fighter who never says die, and he took some hefty punishment while dishing out return helpings to R. McKenzie, a Rugby League prop forward, who has a hefty kick in both hands but telegraphs all his punches. McKenzie is the second choice for the light heavy-weight. Canterbury’s other selection is D. Davies, welterweight.