Quick win to Auck. boxer
By
JOHN COFFEY
Rocky Aumatangi, of Auckland, needed only Imin 25s at Cowles Stadium yesterday to make a strong claim for inclusion in the New Zealand amateur boxing team to compete at the Oceania tournament in Melbourne in May. In that short time Aumatangi forced his Canterbury rival, Kevin Rickerby, to accept two mandatory eight-counts before the referee, Mr Neville Atkins, stopped the contest. Less than two weeks earlier Aumatangi had taken only a little longer to beat the experienced Michael Flavell (Nelson) in another trial at Auckland, and it would be surprising if the Auckland light middleweight is not included in the national squad. Aumatangi had Rickerby in trouble almost immediately when he caught him with the first of several venomous straight lefts, and he was to prove that he had formidable right-handed punches to back his leads. Rickerby’s trainer, Peter Bell, tossed a towel into the ring as Mr Atkins was about to halt proceedings.
The highly-promising Southland featherweight, Johnny Wallace, was taken the full distance by Canterbury’s other trialist, Clive Bishop.
Typically, Bishop staged a courageous rally over the final 3min, moving forward to engage Wallace even when still taking punishment.
In the lightweight event Eldon Clifton (Otago) managed to keep ahead of Jason McCarron (Hutt Valley) on four of the five judges’ cards in spite of a lethargic finish which earned him stern criticism from his trainer as they awaited the decision. The team is expected to be announced on Wednesday. Results.— Oceania trials Featherweight: Johnny Wallace (Southland) beat Clive Bishop (Canterbury), points 5-0. Lightweight: Eldon Clifton (Otago) beat Jason McCarron (Hutt Valley), points 4-1. Light middleweight: Rocky Auftiatangi (Auckland) beat Kevin Rickerby (Canterbury), r.s.c. 1. Preliminary bouts Motu Samaeli (Fidow’s) beat Jason Hay (Crichton Cobbers), points 5-0; Royce Ellis (Bell'sKearns Motors) beat Colin Adamson (Papanui) points 3-2; Dave Sullivan (Befi’s-Keams Motors) beat Brent Davidson (Fidow’s), S.s.c. 1; Nigel Lowry' (Papanui) beat Chris Kelly (Barry’s-Monier), r.s.c. 1; John Armstrong (Fidow’s beat Tom Toomalaiti (Papanui), points 41; Gavin Austin (Papanui) beat Russell McDonald (Chrichton Cobbers), points 5-0.
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Press, 1 April 1985, Page 3
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345Quick win to Auck. boxer Press, 1 April 1985, Page 3
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