Stankovich brothers ‘give boxing away’

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 42

Stankovich brothers ‘give boxing away’

PA Auckland New Zealand will not be represented in the boxing ring at the Moscow Olympics. Andrew and George Stankovich, the only New Zealand for a place in the team, have both decided to forgo any chance of getting to Moscow. Speaking on behalf of his sons, whom he trains, Mr George Stankovich, said yesterday: “George was rejected by the Olympic selectors, and he accepts their decision graciously, and now feels there is nothing to go on for. “The boys have been training since they were

nine or 10 years old, and as always, the Olympics remained their big aim,” said Mr Stankovich. “In the eyes of one of the national boxing selectors, a man of considerable international experience, they had done enough to gain selection but this has not been the case. “So after they have fulfilled commitments for two bouts in Timaru and Dunedin in June, they will give it away. I don’t think they will fight at the New Zealand championships this year,” said Mr Stankovich. “The rejection by the selectors was a real body blow — worse than getting beaten in the ring —

so it is best to get out of it for at least a while.” Mr Stankovich believes that the Olympic selectors wanted Andrew to be nominated as the No. 1 boxing choice whereas the boxing selectors, after their initial talks with the Olympic selectors nominated only George but then added his young brother after he had comprehensively beaten the highly-rated Australian, Robbie Thompson. Andrew has been given until May 18 to re-enforce his Olympic claims with a further performance but he will not take up that chance. He said: “We don’t want anything further to do with the Olympics.”