Briggs will fight Revill

Press, 5 August 1978, Page 52

Briggs will fight Revill

Bv

JOE HARNETT

In their most ambitious undertaking for several years, the Canterbury Box? ing Association matched the exciting Auckland light-heavy-weight, Lance Revill, with the local middle-weight 'Star, Eric Briggs. I The fight, which will be (held at the Caledonian Hall tomorrow afternoon, will be over 10 3min rounds for a purse of $lOOO.

Wally Darrell, Briggs’ trainer, has a $2OO forfeiture clause written into the contract which will be exercised if Revill cannot meet a weight limit of 74kg. Revili’s name was in the news recently when he was involved in the controversial Auckland televised fight with the Samoan Tanavuli Mose, in which the badly beaten Mose kicked Revill

and then attacked the referee.

As a result Of that unfortunate outburst Mose was disqualified and later banned for life by the New Zealand Boxing Association. Recently Revill narrowly beat the tough 'Auckland southpaw, Rocky Solanoa, in another exciting televised contest.

: Revill, who was a bronze medalist Of the 1974 Commonwealth Games, has had 10 professional bouts for only two losses. He is a tall boxer with a long reach and a hard punch in both hands. He has an excellent knowledge of ring craft and is a very fast mover on his feet. Briggs, who has had 25 professional bouts, fought extensively in Australia several years ago and beat some of the leading fighters there.

In his campaign this year Briggs has had three comfortable wins against Sofo Elisara and two particularly dangerous punchers, Viti Patterson and Mu Tanavasa, both of Auckland. Briggs is the most durable and rugged middle-weight in New Zealand and lacks only

a true knockout punch. Because he has a big reach advantage Revill will probably build up a points advantage through the fight and if Briggs cannot land a knockout punch he could find himself a points loser at the final bell.

In an amateur heavyweight bout the rapidly improving Papanui boxer Mark Broadhurst will face his toughest challenge so far when he meets Gerald Beeson. of Auckland.

Beeson is a tough fighter who has been described as mean and vicious in the ring. In spite of the Aucklander's reputation, Broadhurst, who shows uncommon ability, should win this bout. David Prosser, one of New Zealand’s top welter-weights of the last few years, should have too much boxing skill for Wayne Benny, of the Woolston Working Men’s Club. Benny, who is having his first fight this year, is a good boxer-fighter and will give Prosser a hard battle. Other amateur bouts will include the best of the local boxer and also some of the top fighters from Temuka, Otago, and Nelson.