GEORGE HAS MOST TO WIN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31343, 13 April 1967, Page 15

GEORGE HAS MOST TO WIN

If T. George, the New Zealand featherweight boxing champion, is superstitious, he will be trying to cross his fingers with boxing gloves on when he meets K. Amarfio, the Ghanaian light-weight from Melbourne, at Canterbury Court this evening.

It will be George’s thirteenth professional bout Amarfio’s 47th. It will be Amarfio’s third visit to Christchurch. He has lost twice to D. Murphy, and will be hoping his third time in Christchurch will be lucky.

Amarfio, who must make a 9st 61b limit or forfeit £5O, has been guaranteed £3OO. George is on a 6040 cut of £5OO, so if he wins he will get £3OO.

Amarfio beat George on points at their previous encounter in Auckland, but was a hotly-disputed split decision.

If the 22-year-old George beats Amarfio it could set him on the road to a crack at the British Empire title. In his last visit to Christchurch, he beat L. Ny in a bout for the vacant New Zealand feather-weight title. Ny went to hospital for several weeks

after the bout was stopped in the ninth round.

George is a fit, clever boxer, with a better punch and better at hitting on attack than his stable-mate, M. Santos, the Empire and New Zealand light-weight champion. He has won nine professional bouts and had three losses.

Amarfio has not been stopped in 46 fights, for 27 wins, 14 losses and five draws. He is a remarkably rugged fighter, but at 31, age may weary his legs.

George will start the favourite because of youth and the opportunity a win will bring to him.