Colourful boxing bout promised

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 21

Colourful boxing bout promised

Boxing patrons are assured of a feast of action tomorrow afternoon when the colourful coloured lightweight Maurice Betts meets Papanui’s Ken Clearwater in the main bout of the Canterbury Boxing Associations tournament at the Caledonian Hall. Betts, a United States serviceman, has unashamedly modelled himself on his great countryman, Muhammad Ali, and his dancing style has made him most ellusive target and has reaped for him some impressive wins.

Tomorrow however, he faces an opponent made of sterner stuff than’ most, for Clearwater is a tough and aggressive customer. Clearwater has a hefty punch in both hands and is not slow on his feet.

If Betts, who has promised to demonstrate the famed “Ali shuffle” tomorrow’, uses the ring to his best advantage he could comfortably’ win on points, but if Clearwater can land one of his big punches, the bout could end early in his favour. Crichton Cobbers Club have an exciting new find in

Avon Pleasant, a well muscled Maori. Pleasant, though a relatively inexperienced boxer, fights with the aplomb of an old hand. His opponent tomorrow is hard punching Paul Gardiner of Barry’s gym. Gardiner will provide Pleasant with a very hard fight and the winner, though hard to forecast, will probably be the boxer who can last the three rounds the fittest. Besides these bouts there are fifteen other contests arranged, involving boxers from Oamaru, Ashburton and Temuka as well as the local gyms.