Boxing heads asked to resign in row over amateur’s death

Press, 20 July 1976, Page 36

Boxing heads asked to resign in row over amateur’s death

FA

Auckland

Auckland boxing trainers have called for the resignation of two leading Auckland boxing administrators after the death of a young Whangarei amateur boxer who was knocked out in a fight in Noumea last week.

The Auckland Boxing Trainers’ Association will withdraw all amateur boxers from Auckland Boxing Association promotions until the resignations are received. The trainers are seeking the resignations of Mr George Dwan. president of the A.8.A.. and Mr Hom blow, a past president The trainers' association end when it discussed the death of the 24-year-old Whangarei boxer. Peter Gil-| ben. Gilbert collapsed halt an hour after a welter-weight | bout in Noumea just over a week ago. He underwent j emergency surgery in a Noumea hospital, but died last Gilbert had been invited to fight in Noumea by the Auckland Boxing Association and was accompanied, with another fighter, by Mr Hornblow. A row blew up over the bout after it was learned that Gilbert had fought while still under a mandatory month-; long ban imposed after he was knocked out in another bout in June. Mr Bob Lyall, the referee; of the June fight, said last! week that Gilbert should not’ have been sparring much less; fighting. "After Gilbert’s de- I feat on June 14. I wrote ini

.his pass book that he’d been badly concussed by a knock|out.” As well, the president of I the New Zealand Boxing (Council (Mr Brian O’Brien) Laid immediately after the I tight that Gilbert should ;have been banned for a year. i The trainers' association said yesterday that it was '“very concerned” that Gilibert was allowed to fight in (Noumea three weeks and five (days after being knocked out iin Auckland. The New Zealand Boxing Association (medical book stated boxers 'should be rested for eight •weeks in such cases. “Neither Mr Dwan or Mr| IHomblow has the right to; (ignore the rules laid down in Ithe N.Z.B.A. medical book land the N.Z.B.A. rule book, nor to ignore the referee

who counted out Gilbert on lune 14 and entered in Gilbert’s medical book that he should be rested from boxing.” said the statement.

The trainers were also concerned that a licensed trainer did not accompany the team.

It said it had asked the iA.B.A. twice that a trainer should accompany travelling boxers and, although the A.B.A. had agreed, the association had never been asked! ito nominate a trainer. ; “This boxer’s death cannot! [be directly attributed to the! .fact that a licensed trainer; was not in attendance but if lone had, such a trainer’s ex-'

perience would have lessened the possibility of such an incident happening.

“The Auckland trainers were aware of Peter’s knock-out on June 14 and would have strongly recommended against his going to Noumea had they known such a trip was to take place." “Neither Mr Dwan nor Mr [ Hornblow was available for [comment. It is believed that they were in Whangarei to 'attend Gilbert’s funeral. After the June bout Gilbert’s trainer (Mr Rod Lang!don) had said: “That’s the I last time he’ll fight welterweight." Gilbert had had some success as a light wel-ter-weight but less as a wel-ter-weight. However, the Noumea bout was a welterweight one. Boxing association sources said last week that Gilbert had been examined twice after his June knock-out, once in Whangarei and again in Noumea, but it is believed that the examinations did not include head X-rays. Gilbert had retired about Christmas, 1974, after he had missed selection for the Christchurch Commonwealth Games. He returned to the ring in November in an attempt to win a place in the Montreal team His fight against Robert Colley, of Wellington, was rated one of the best of his career but he lost and Colley and David Jackson got the Olympic places.