OPENING BID FOR FIGHT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 16

OPENING BID FOR FIGHT

The Canterbury Boxing Association has made an opening bid to stage a British Empire feather-weight title bout between the holder, J. O’Brien (Scotland), and T. George (Auckland), the New Zealand champion.

The C.B.A. president (Mi E. G. Pocock) said the executive last evening considered letters from O’Brien’s manager, Mr B. Jacobs, and from an agent acting for O’Brien.

The agent asked for a guaranteed purse of £3OOO for O’Brien, and that the referee be “neutral” from the

United States. The executive had decided not to negotiate with any agents, said Mr Pocock. Mr Jacobs asked the C.B.A to name a purse, and suggest a suitable date. Room for Negotiation

“We have named a purse—a guaranteed sum—which we consider will enable us to promote the fight successfully, from the financial angle,” said Mr Pocock. "Naturally, we have left room for negotiation over our opening bid. We have suggested the bout might take place towards the end of June. “We have informed Mr Jacobs that the bout will have three judges, that the referee will take no part in the judging, but will devote all his attention to controlling the bout and ensuring a fair fight.

Request to Council “We have also informed Mr Jacobs that the referees will be men registered with the

New Zealand Boxing Association and, if he requires it, Mr Jacobs can ask the New Zealand Boxing Council to name the judges. “We think they have got the wrong end of the stick in Britain after criticism about the judging in the Santos-Grant Empire title bout in Wellington recently," said Mr Pocock. “We have never had any criticism of our referees, and know of none in Wellington or in Auckland.

“We hope to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion and are ready to stage the bout here.”