Exciting bouts expected

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 27

Exciting bouts expected

By

JOHN COFFEY

New Zealand’s amateur boxers have had to travel to such exotic venues as Taipei, Bangkok, Belfast and Rome in quest of suitable competition in the last year, but they now receive a rare opportunity of meeting first-class opposition at home.

The tour by the Irish squad, which begins at the Richmond Workingmen’s Club tonight, will allow Christchurch spectators to see a true international contest for the first time since the 1974 Commonwealth Games. There is a connection between the two events. Gerry Storey senior returns as the Irish trainer — having filled a similar position at the Games — and this time he brings with him two of his sons, Gerry junior and Sam. The younger Gerry Storey, aged 22, fought for Ireland at the 1983 Commonwealth tournament. He was a light heavyweight then, but has since shed

sufficient weight to box as a middleweight. The Irish title-holder, Storey lines up against Rocky Fou (Wellington) tonight.

Much is expected of Sam Storey, aged 20. The 71kg

champion of Ulster and Ireland, he has been unbeaten in 14 matchings against overseas rivals, and he will be a difficult proposition for Stephen Nicol (Manpwatu) to handle.

Canterbury interest has been heightened by the inclusion of Paul Graham in the New Zealand invitation team. Graham is to face another comparative newcomer to the open ranks, Brendan O’Hara, in the 67kg division. The smallest men in the opposing camps, Ray Nash and Johnny Wallace (Southland), should provide plenty of action. Nash swapped his 1983 Irish junior title for its senior equivalent this year and competed at the Commonwealth tournament. But the promising Wallace also made an auspicious international debut, winning a silver medal at the recent Oceania championships in Taiwan. Wallace’s Southland team-mate, Peter Warren, will have a marked advantage in age and experience — which includes the 1982 Commonwealth Games . — against Brendan Lowe. However, Lowe enjoyed success while living in Canada before returning to Ireland to win the Ulster 57kg crown.

Having survived all but Michael Sykes (Rotorua) in the light welterweight class at the last national championships, Tom Turner, of Dannevirke, deserves the chance to prove himself at this level. Turner is to be confronted by Billy McClean, an Irish international and — like all of his team-mates — an Ulster senior champion.' The 60kg combatants, Eldon Clifton (Otago) and Brian Catney, share a similar boxing background. Both were very prominent in the junior ranks before emerging with credit in open company. Clifton was a runner-up in the 1982 Oceania event in Auckland.

New Zealand’s top amateur boxers have earned considerable credit at Oceania, Commonwealth, King’s Cup and World Cup tournaments in the last year. Now more New Zealanders have an excellent opportunity to further their careers against the fighting Irish.