Boxing Association Was Misled

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 12

Boxing Association Was Misled

The performance of the two Sydney boxers was a bitter blow for the Canterbury Boxing Association. Both were sent to Christchurch by a Sydney promoter. Both were alleged to have

good records, and both were said to have had more than 20 professional bouts. Wilson was, admittedly, a substitute for another boxer. Johnny Lawrence, who was unfit. Wilson, on arrival, said he weighed 9st 81b, very light for a welter-weight. He weighed in at 9st. 51b—41b under the professional lightweight limit. He gave away 101 b to Maunsell. Below Amateur Standard In less than two rounds Wilson showed that he was not even up to club amateur standard in Canterbury. Thus, the Sydney promoter misled the Canterbury Boxing Association on two grounds—that Wilson was a welter-weight, and that he was a competent boxer. Digby, in less than one i round, clearly demonstrated 'that he had not even learned [the rudiments of self-defence. He did not block, or attempt to block, even one of Ny's 1 punches with his arms or ' gloves. ’[ He was hit hard by Ny In 1 the solar plexus, but a fit ’ boxer should easily have with- ; stood such a punch at the beginning of a bout. Digby ■ was moving away when he was hit. ' Maunsell, a first-class ama- ’ teur. New Zealand Olympic ' representative at Tokyo and 1 captain of the New Zealand ! amateur boxing team which 1 fought in Australia three ’ years ago. thus had a degrad- ’ ing and painful introduction 'to professional boxing. i Ny’g Fourth Win i Ny, from the same gymnasium as Maunsell, won his [fourth professional bout. It is i not Ny’s fault that he has won his last three against opponents who have not been fit—[and all from Australia. Wilson is reputed to have I had 28 professional bouts in [Australia, for 24 wins and [four losses. Digby is reputed [to have had 20 bouts for 16 I wins. If this is correct, then there is something rotten in the state of boxing in Australia. The Canterbury association must recognise this. If it can only get second-rate boxers from Australia, then it should look elsewhere.