Kendall Needs More Bouts

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32306, 26 May 1970, Page 17

Kendall Needs More Bouts

f ßy Our Boxing Reporter) B. Kendall, the feather-weight boxer in the New Zealand team for the Edinburgh Games, will box D. Hammond, of Auckland, in a tournament at the Irish Youth Club gymnasium on June 6.

Hammond gave G. Rackley, of Nelson, a good fight in the feather-weight final at the last national championships—and Rackley won the Jamieson Belt for the most scientific boxer at the tournament. Kendall beat Hammond in the final trials for the Games team, but the Aucklander, a very busy boxer in the ring, will give him a thorough work-out.

A Dunedin trainer, Mr V. Rowe, has offered to send a car-load of amateurs to the tournament, and this will provide fresh fare for the spectators and give the Canterbury boxers some new opponents.

I Mr Darrell, Kendall’s trainler, wants at least two more opponents to box Kendall in decision bouts. G. Wright, of Manawatu, is a likely opponent, but Wright has said he will not box Kendall in the South Island because he “cannot get a decision against him down there.” This is not a good attitude, and is rather unfounded: Kendall outpointed Wright at Greymouth in both the junior and senior championships, North Island judges being involved both times. Kendall has beaten Wright four times in all.

P. Ryan is another logical opponent for Kendall, but apparently, after fighting this month, and due to box again next Saturday, he is to take a “rest.”

Rackley has put on a lot of weight, but Mr Darrell has said that Kendall will box him in a decision bout if he can get no other opponent. Mr E. G. Pocock, the Canterbury Boxing Association amateur matchmaker, has spent a great deal of money in telephone calls in trying to obtain opponents for Kendall—but has had no assistance from the New Zealand Boxing Council and finds some boxers rather shy of meeting Kendall.