INFLATED PURSES BLAMED Television Threat To Professional Boxing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32019, 20 June 1969, Page 17

INFLATED PURSES BLAMED Television Threat To Professional Boxing

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. Television threatens to stifle what little professional boxing remains in New Zealand. Wellington officials believe that inflated purses being paid to boxers appearing in televised bouts in Australia are frustrating their efforts to make matches.

The chairman of the Wellington Boxing Association, Mr B. F. O’Brien, was disturbed yesterday as he continued to try to build up a professional programme for July 2. He described payments to boxers by Australian television authorities as “ridiculous.”

He said that telephone discussions with the noted Sydney boxing figure,. Mr E. McQuillan, had indicated that competition from television was seriously interfering with other fight promotions on both sides of the Tasman. “McQuillan bald the situation was not only crippling

New Zealand but crippling him,” Mr O’Brien said. Mr O’Brien understood that boxers appearing on Australian television could earn up to $3OO for eight two-minute rounds. This meant that while New Zealand could still obtain Australians, the class of boxers prepared to come here might not be good enough. “We are not a benevolent society for second-rate boxers,” Mr O’Brien said. Australian boxers have a strong hand at present when it comes to negotiating, particularly where New Zealand is involved. The scarcity of professionals in this country has meant that New Zealand associations have had to make use of Australians to obtain programmes. Accordingly, the Australians can lift their demands, with the additional knowledge that, at present, there is work for them at home. Television is one of several outlets for them in Australia. The old channels, the stadiums in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are still open. And wealthy league clubs in Sydney are also running regular professional boxing carnivals. New Zealand associations start behind scratch when

competing with Australian promoters. They must find air fares for the overseas boxer who, these days, wants his trainer along, too, and accommodation. A lesser problem, but one which has also caused concern, has been the performance of the New Zealand boxers in the main events this season. T. George disappointed in Wellington’s opening carnival and K. Mahanga did not achieve anything subsequently to entice hita back.