Boxing chief supports association

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 48

Boxing chief supports association

PA Wellington The New Zealand Boxing Council chairman, Allan Walker, fully supports the Auckland association in its dispute which led to the Detroit-based Kronk gymnasium abandoning its tour.

A classy 10 man line-up from the world renowned organisation flew into Auckland on September 11 for a two-test rubber against the New Zealand team. The Americans won the first test last Thursday, 8-2, but flew home on Sunday disgruntled at financial arrangments and matchings for the second card which was to have been held on Wednesday. Kronk’s head coach, Alex Sherer, said the big problem was the refusal of the promoters, the Auckland Boxing Association, to stick to an agreement to pay his boxers a $l6 per day stipend. The A.B.A. president, Rex Hill, denied that any agreement was made to pay the boxers a daily allowance. Although not briefed by the A.B.A. on the details leading up to the Americans sensational departure, Mr Walker said there was no rule in the international governing body that stipulated a daily payment for a club side. “There is a rule for an

allowance, SUSIO per day, but that governs national representative teams and not club sides. The rule applies for the World Cup, Olympics, Commonwealth Games and world championships,” he said. “Unless the two parties had already agreed prior to the team arriving here there is no rule that says a payment must be made. “I would never like to think a New Zealand club team would leave for another country and expect the hosts to pay an allowance. “When all is said and done Kronk were just a club team. I support the A.B.A. wholeheartedly because they are an affiliated association. They were prepared to take the gamble and I admire them for their stand.” Mr Walker said he hoped a report on the events leading up to the dispute would be filed to the council by the A.B.A. "They are not compelled to inform council because Kronk were not a

national representative team.” Under the council’s constitution there was nothing the national body could have done to prevent the debacle. "The New Zealand Boxing Association cannot promote a tournament and if we wanted to we would have to seek permission from the international governing body, A.1.8.A. “All the council can do is to name and provide a national team.” Mr Walker also hit back at Mr Sherer’s claim that Kronk was snubbed by the national council during its stay. The Detroit coach said before he left that he was very disappointed not one member of the national body welcomed them or contacted the team to say hello. “We don’t ring every visitor that comes into the country. If an Auckland club team went to the States I am sure the U.S.A./A.B.F. would not ring them. Different cultures, different attitudes,” Mr Walker said.