Convinced About Both Points

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31463, 1 September 1967, Page 15

Convinced About Both Points

(By Our Boring Reporter) In the two articles criticised, I pointed out that allowing boxers into the ring too soon after they had been stopped because they were “outclassed and out-punched” endangered the boxers’ health, and that more amateur tournaments staged by the major boxing tournaments would help'promote the sport. I remain convinced on these two points. It is perhaps only a coincidence that the Canterbury Boxing Association committee of management decided last Tuesday evening to promote more amateur bouts in the future: the article in which I said that the major associations were neglecting amateurs appeared in “The Press”

on that Tuesday morning. The president of the Canterbury Boxing Trainers’ Association (Mr W. Darell) questioned by me soon after the Australia and New Zealand amateur boxing test match in Wellington July 26, said that the New Zealand Boxing Association and major provincial associations could do more to encourage amateur boxing by promoting more tournaments. He said the Canterbury association did more than some others, but in his opinion could do still more. A report in the “Timaru Herald” on August 14 of McKay’s bout at Waimate on August 12, four days before he fought G. Perham in the Canterbury championships, reads: “G. Meckford (Dunedin)) beat W. McKay (Christchurch) by a technical knock-

out. The bout opened briskly, but McKay could not take the pace after being caught by a beautiful right cross from Meckford.”

McKay in “The Press” yesterday said that my report Of his bout with Perham at the Canterbury championships said he was out-classed and out-punched. This is not correct. I only said that the bout was stopped in the first round after Perham, had landed two heavy rights and a good left. McKay was moving away when hit and did not appear to be distressed. The blows were all on McKay’s head. I reported that the referee (Mr M. V. Drury), asked why he had stopped the bout, had replied that McKay had taken heavy punishment in a recent bout.

It is interesting to note that

the world-ranked professional boxer, Bobby Dunlop, has been ordered to rest from boxing for a month. This ruling, tin medical grounds, came after his loss in Auckland to the light heavy-weight, Elmo Henderson, last Tuesday evening. Dunlop was hit with a wild right swing. He went down for a count of five, was on his feet by eight, but the referee stopped the contest Dunlop was most annoyed and said so to reporters. If the two articles I wrote, which McKay and Mr Darrell criticise, have the effect of making observance of the rules to safeguard boxers’ health more strict, and the promotion of more bouts for amateurs, I feel that McKay, Mr Darrell and all associated with the sport will be pleased.