MURPHY JOINS BOXING DISPUTE “Refuse To Be Scapegoat”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 19

MURPHY JOINS BOXING DISPUTE “Refuse To Be Scapegoat”

The former New Zealand champion, D. Murphy, has categorically denied that he had ever agreed to fight the Ghanaian, E. Mensah.

“I refuse to be the scapegoat,” he says in a statement he issued to “The Press” last evening. The statement says: “After reading the issue of

“The Press” dated June 3 concerning the boxing dispute between Mensah and the Canterbury Boxing Association, I feel that it is high time that a statement from me was made on the matter, as my name has been mentioned disparagingly by the C.B.A. in these articles. Perhaps I could clear up a few misconceptions.

“Very early in the year I was approached by Mr Pocock, of the C.8.A., who asked me whether I was contemplating making a come-back to professional boxing. I told Mr Pocock that I was, but that my decision would really rest upon whether I was able to reduce my weight from list 61b at the time, to the lightweight limit of 9st 91b—a task that I was not positive I could do.

“Mr Pocock mentioned that the C.B.A. was bringing out a boxer from England to fight both Maunsell and Santos —1 then asked him not to confirm any opponent for me until I had reduced my weight to the required limit. At no stage did I give him any positive statement that I would fight this importation—a fact that my office colleagues would verify. “If Mr Pocock wrote to Mensah and assured him that I would fight him then he had no right to do so and it was entirely on his own initiative. It is for this reason that 1 feel the blame for this unpleasant episode rests entirely with either Mr Pocock or the C.B.A. —I refuse to be the scapegoat.

“Approximately two weeks ago, after a period on a medically prescribed diet, I came within striking distance of the light-weight limit of 9st 91b —and it must be remembered that 1 have declared that 1 will only flight as a lightweight. “I then signed for the Amarfio fight to be held on July 28 because I felt that

this was the earliest possible time that I could be ready for a fight. “ ‘The Press’ boxing reporter rang me the other day regarding Mensah’s complaints about the C.8.A., and I told him that at no stage was I interested in a bout with Mensah—mainly for the reason, previously stated in ‘The Press’ that I believe Mensah’s particular style of fighting is what is termed ‘negative’ or ‘spoiling’ and, that because of this, he is not a drawcard.

“Simply speaking, it means that I would not make as much money fighting him as I would a top-liner such as Amarfio, Cobblah or Biondi, and the public is entitled to see boxing, not round-house slapping and rough-house tactics.

“The final point I would make is this: professional boxing is exactly what the name implies, ‘Business not Sport.’ This means that I fight for the most lucrative return that I can get, and not just any fighter, as Mr Stevenson, the new publicity officer for the C.8.A., would evidently like to force upon me. “He should remember that this is a democratic country.”