Close boxing win over South Island

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 26

Close boxing win over South Island

The North Island team narrowly beat the South Island, five bouts to four, in the inaugural inter-island junior and intermediate boxing tournament at Oamaru last Sunday. An indication of just how close the contest was can be gauged by the fact that seven of the nine bouts were won on split decisions. The South Island selector, Mr Kevin Barry Sen., felt the standard was very high. He admitted to being concerned when choosing the South team at how it would fare against the expected strong northern opposition. “But it makes you feel good that there is so much talent about in the junior and intermediate grades,” he said. One of the two intermediate bouts, between the current New Zealand champion, Paul McCarron, (North Island) and Jason Eade, was, said Mr Barry, the outstanding bout of the tournament. Eade, from Invercargill, won a unanimous

decision, and collected the award for the most scientific boxer. McCarron’s younger brother, Martin, is also a national champion, He, too, suffered a defeat, however, going down on a split decision to Peter Crawford. Results — (North Island names first). Junior (up to 15 years): Quentin Nichol beat Rodney Kenny, split decision; Richard Elliot beat Bevan McCully, split decision; Jason Hart lost to Dean Calvert, unanimous decision; Scott White beat Kelvin Hamilton, split decision; Paul Cassidy beat Stephen Baucher, split decision; Martin McCarron lost to Peter Crawford, split decision; Malcolm Nichol lost to Donovan Clarke, split decision. Intermediate (16-17 years): Paul McCarron lost to Jason Eade, unanimous decision; Stacy Samel beat Lindsay Bower, split decision. Match bout: Wayne Barber (Oamaru) beat Dion Smith (Manapouri), unanimous decision. Special bout: Johnny Wallace (Invercargill) beat Eldon Clifton (Dunedin), r.s.c. 2.