BOXING DEFENDED

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 14

BOXING DEFENDED

“There is no sport more strictly controlled in New Zealand than boxing, and I feel sure that it has fewer injuries than any other bodily-contact sports,” said Mr S. J. Guppy, president of the New Zealand Boxing Association. He was replying to a letter sent to the editor of “The Press” by Mr K. Plunkett. Mr Plunkett’s letter read: “The near-tragic result of the Santos-Teeteh boxing bout should once again confirm the futility of this sport and the stupidity of people responsible for it. In this I include those doctors who, by their presence, gave respect to the “entertainment,” full knowing the danger to the brain when coming into contact with the inner surface of the cranium. It is to be hoped that parents will take heed of this warning and ensure that their sons do not follow the dangerous and sometimes deadly path of other boxers. I am appalled at the ease with which boxing is accepted into both the Commonwealth and Olympic Games and look forward to the day (in the Commonwealth Games) when it will be replaced by a sport which demands intellect and a high degree of skill, such as gymnastics, instead of brute strength and ignorance, as in boxing.” “It is quite apparent that Keith Plunkett .is very much opposed to the sport of boxing. On behalf of the many people connected with the sport, I strongly object to many of the remarks in his letter,” replied Mr Guppy. “He states that boxing is futile and the people responsible for the sport are stupid. He mentions doctors in particular. May I say that doctors are members of most of the associations in New Zealand, and are of considerable assistance in keeping a very strict control on the sport, particularly on the amateur side.

“All participants have to produce a medical book and have to be examined by a doctor before a bout. In the medical book all their previous bouts and records are detailed.

“Trainers do their best to ensure that matches are as even as possible and should any boy be matched against an opponent obviously too strong, the referee stops the bout at once. At all tournaments the police are at the ringside have the auth-

ority to stop a contest if they feel it is at all necessary. This very rarely happens. “Many members of boxing associations are very responsible people and of high standing in the com-, munity, whom I am sure would not be attached to any sport that was not strictly controlled. “Perhaps I could suggest that many other sports, such as Rugby, soccer or hockey, have far more injuries than boxing, but no one suggests that they be banned. I am sure that we all regret the injury to Joey Santos, but one must remember that it is expected that professionals in any sport have to take a little more than an amateur because it is their livelihood. But even then the injuries are few and far between. “Your correspondent is! appalled at the ease with which boxing is accepted at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and looks forward to the day; when it will be replaced by i other sports which demand intellect and a high degree i of skill instead of brute I strength and ignorance as in boxing. I am appalled at his comments, and wonder' if he ever visits a gymna-l sium or a boxing tournament to see at first hand* the sport he condemns so' much. “I hope that Keith Plunkett does some research into the world of boxing, and feel sure that he may have different ideas about the sport.”