FOREMAN FIGHT IN VENEZUELA

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33448, 1 February 1974, Page 28

FOREMAN FIGHT IN VENEZUELA

1 N.Z.P A.-Reute r—Copy right

NEW YORK

The world heavy - weight boxing champion, George Foreman, will defend his title on March 26 against Ken Norton in Caracas, Venezuela, it was announced in New York yesterday.

The boxers signed contracts for the 15-round match 10 days ago in Los Angeles, but at that time the site had not yet been determined. it will be held in the new El Poliedro arena in Caracas. This can seat 13,500 people, and is built on the grounds of a racecourse. Mr H. Schwartz, a vicepresident of Video Techniques, of New York, which holds the television rights for the bout, said Foreman had been guaranteed a purse of $NZ470,000. with an option to take 40 per cent of all net receipts if that were greater.

Norton, who beat Muhammad Aii last March but lost to him in a return match six months later, will get $NZ134,460, or 20 per cent. Norton said he was glad lof the chance to fight for rhe (title, because two years ago Ihe had intended to retire. Asked if he had a plan to beat the champion, Norton said: “I will have to find some way to nullify some of his power; he is very strong.”

AU CHALLENGE? i Foreman, whose only bout (since he became champion I was in Tokyo in September, when he knocked out Joe 'Roman in the first round, I said he hoped eventually to ‘fight Muhammad Ali. who I has emerged as_ the main First round of S.A. open ('.V Z P A -Reuter—Copyright> JOHANNESBURG. A South African. A. Henning. leads in the 8NZ18.200 South African open golf tournament at Johannesburg, after a first round of 67. five iunder par. Henning was followed by his brother, Harold, on 68, land J. Fourie, also of South ■Africa, on 69. The title-holder, R. J. I Charles, New Zealand, had a ■round of 72, as did G. Player (South Africa).

contender for the title after his defeat of Joe Frazier this week.

Foreman said he had left the Ali-Frazier fight after four rounds because he was bored. But, he said: “They put on a great show for the people who paid to see them.”

Foreman kept his remarks about Norton brief and to the point. “1 don't like Kenny Norton. 1 don’t like him because he’s trying to take away something I have.”