George Not At Best

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31902, 1 February 1969, Page 15

George Not At Best

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. Toro George was not at his best when he lost a vital boxing boat in Tokyo on Monday evening, according to Ids manager and trainer, Mr R. Grimmer. George inexplicably lost 61b in weight in the few days after he left New Zealand for Japan. Mr Grimmer said on his return to Auckland that one of the conditions of the contest was that George had to weigh not more than 9st 41b and not less than 9st 31b for his bout with the world junior lightweight champion, Hiroshi Kobayashi. But to meet this exacting demand the New Zealand

feather-weight champion had to step on the scales weighted with his wallet, watches and other oddments because of the unexpected loss of weight. Mr Grimmer cannot explain such a drop, although the food could have played a part. George was able to obtain enough meat meals, but they were prepared differently from New Zealand dishes. His boxer, said Mr Grim- > mer, could have made Bst 121 b s without any trouble. But even 1 if this weight problem had not arisen, Mr Grimmer was > not sure if George could have f beaten Kobayashi. t “To Strong” i “He was too big and too t strong,” jaid Mr Grimmer, t “He was a fast puncher, a :- pretty smart boxer and was i- wider and taller than Toro.” Mr Grimmer spoke highly ? of the treatment of George 1 and himself during their short

1 stay in Tokyo. The television 1 commentator for the bout 1 took endless trouble to learn f about New Zealand and ;. George’s original home, Raroi tonga. e Each day he interviewed a the two visitors to get more i- details so that interesting t background information could •- be supplied to the television 1 viewers. Television, said Mr Grimi- mer, had an enormous Influt> ence on the Japanese boxing i boom. Boxing promoters sold 1 rights for the telecasting of s bouts for huge sums to the e television companies. “George’s bout was televised, and he was able to re- , turn to his hotel in time to . see himself on the ‘box.’ ” a Another big influence in s the advancement of boxing '■ was the sponsorship by big y Japanese firms. Mr Grimmer a became involved with the t Nissan company.