BOXING TITLE HOPES

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 25

BOXING TITLE HOPES

By

JOE HARNETT

Paul Morgan, a veteran of two New Zealand boxing tournaments, looks to be Canterbury’s best hope of winning a title at this year’s senior and intermediate championships to be held at Timaru on October 4, 5 and 6. In the team of 11, Morgan, who trains at the Woolston Working Men’s Club, is the first choice of two senior feather-weights selected, the other being Robert Warren, a very capable boxer from the Crichton Cobbers Club. Last year, Morgan won his way into the feather- .

weight final with a convincing series of wins, but then met the very experienced title-holder of two years, Warren Karaitiana, who beat him by the nearest of margins. Karaitiana will not fight this year. The light welter-weight entry, Phillip Statford (New Brighton R.S.A.), is the most impressive young boxer in Canterbury, and is a former national junior bantam-weight champion. Stafford, who has not been beaten for more than three years, is an almost complete boxer with a paralysing punch in his right hand and is considered to have a fine chance of winning his division. The team contains two senior light middleweights:— Thomas Brennan (W.W.M.C.) and the 18-year-old Vai Feaveai, of Fidows gym. Brennan is a splendid boxer with a fairly good punch in either hand and Feaveai, although inexperienced, is an extremely courageous fighter with a damaging right cross punch.

This division will contain the current national title-holder, Roy Peters, of Timaru, a very tough and experienced southpaw, who is a proven knock-out expert.

Both Brennan and Feaveai lost close decisions to Peters in the recent Canterbury championships. Canterbury’s senior light-weight contender is Vai Peafu (New Brighton R.S.A.), a most unorthodox boxer, but one who could easily win a medal if he lands his devastating right cross often enough. The senior middleweight, Mike Areli, and the light heavy-weight, Etena Pouli, are both rugged, never-say-die fighters who should turn in good performances.

Barry Slater, the national intermediate bantamweight champion, is this year entered in the intermediate feather-weight division and if he boxes up to his best form, should have no difficulty in taking the title. Slater is so outstanding in his weight that he has had much difficulty in obtaining opponents. He has won his only two fights this year inside the distance. Robert Gibbs (Crichton Cobbers) is also entered in this division and, although not as good as Slater, could well make the final

if he does not meet his team-mate in the heats. Last year’s New Zealand junior light-weight champion, Kevin Barry (C.C.C.), is entered in the intermediate light welterweight division. Barry recently had a comfortable win over a highly-rated and far more experienced Australian boxer, and it would be no surprise if he took the title. The team trainer is Lole Fidow who has had much experience and success in this role. The manager is Eric Platt, one of the province's senior judges.