Boxers’ task ‘more difficult’

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 26

Boxers’ task ‘more difficult’

IFrom

KEVIN TUTTY

in bainourgn

Defections from the boxing tournament at the Commonwealth Games will make it more difficult, rather than easier, for New Zealand squad members to win medals, said the trainer of the squad, Kevin Barry, yesterday. Before the boycott began to gain momentum, the New Zealanders could have expected a warm-up bout against an opponent of similar experience.

Now the New Zealanders will be pitted against boxers probably of far greater experience. Australia, Canada and the four home countries — England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales — all have fighters who have far greater opportunity to fight at international level than the New Zealand contingent In the heavyweight division the numbers are down to four. In some of the other divisions the entries are not much greater.

The heavyweight division, for instance, has en-

tries from Canada, England and Scotland, in addition to New Zealand’s Jimmy Peau. Because there are only four entries there will be no bronze medal in the division. Peau then will have to win his first bout if he is to return with a medal.

The boxing draw will not be made until after the weigh-in tomorrow and then a little bit of luck will enter the competition. Peau will be hoping to avoid the English and Canadian boxers who are more experienced. That would give him a chance of winning his

first bout and thus assuring himself of a medal. Withdrawals by African and Caribbean nations will require the number of boxing sessions to be reduced. The original programme had 11 sessions, but with more countries withdrawing by the day, the number of sessions is likely to be cut by at least a third. Three afternoon sessions of preliminaries have been scheduled but they might be cancelled, leaving four evening sessions for the preliminary bouts. The New Zealand squad has 4®ne more training

session today. The buildup has been completed without any injuries, and the boxers have been using members of other squads from different weight divisions as sparring partners. Peau will complete his preparation today with a session against the light heavyweight representative from Northern Ireland. The squad has been training at Redfern Barracks, the home of the famous Black Watch regiment Facilities could not have been better, said Mr