Boxing taking a step forward

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 14

Boxing taking a step forward

(By our boxing reporter)

Boxing in Christchurch will begin a series of steps I forward on Saturday evening when amateurs from Wellington will meet a team from Canterbury. The Wellington boxers, having already fought in the provincial championships, will be warming up for the New Zealand amateur senior and intermediate championships to be held at Auckland in early October. Canterbury boxers will be fighting before the provincial senior and intermediate championships to be held on September 11. In addition, the Australian. Rocky Parks a professional light heavy-weight, is scheduled to fight a three-round exhibition bout with Wellington amateur light heavyweight, S. Leopai. Leopai lost to Eddie Wulf in a final at the New Zealand amateur championships at Palmerston North, and is reported to be “a hitter not afraid to fight a bear.” Parks is also an honest slugger, , and so it could be a good bout. Parks has signed to meet the Wanganui professional, B. Chadwick, at the Repertory Theatre on September 16. It will be Parks’s first professional bout for four years —but not his last if he makes a good showing. However, the amateur bouts appeal most. W. Philp, a nephew of L. Philp, a former New Zealand professional bantam champion, will box John Mitchell, of Christchurch, runner-up at the last three New Zealand championships (twice as a junior, and as an intermediate last year). B. Laulu, a feather-weight who bowed to E. Briggs last year, will box D. Wilson, a clever, counter - punching southpaw with 19 wins in 21 bouts, and New Zealand junior champion in 1969.

H. Bullmore (Christchurch), a straight puncher, and a stylish boxer who has lacked speed and a killer instinct in the past, will make a comeback to boxing after three years in Australia. He will meet F. Fusi, a light welterweight, ahd a great Wellington prospect who was runnerup to D. Enright at the New Zealand tournament last year. Enright has now turned professional, and has given boxing in Invercargill a shot in the arm by winning his first two bouts. The Woolston Working

Men’s Club boxing section has arranged the tournament with the Petone Boxing Club —the first was held last year. There will be 14 amateur bouts in all. The opponents look well matched, with much at stake in all bouts.