Boxing ref. in spotlight

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 68

Boxing ref. in spotlight

PA Wellington The controversial New Zealand boxing referee, Keith Walker, gained renewed notoriety when, it seemed briefly, he had decided to seek election as a New Zealand Commonwealth Games selector.

Mr Walker’s name appeared with those of serving Olympic selectors Dave Gerrard, Bernie Fraser and Bruce Cameron, on the order paper for next Tuesday’s meet-

ing of the executive of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.

The agenda indicated the Matamata-based administrator was one of four nominations for the selection panel which will choose New Zealand’s team for the Auckland Games in 1990. But Mr Walker explained that his nomination was a case of mistaken identity. The actual nominee had been his brother Alan Walker, also

of Matamata, the former chairman of the New Zealand Boxing Council. Alan Walker has subsequently withdrawn. Keith Walker fled the Seoul Olympics on September 22 after refereeing a bout in which the South Korean bantamweight Byun Jong-Il was beaten by the Bulgarian Alexandar Hristov. Mr Walker was attacked by the Korean’s coaches and cornermen during the riot which followed the judge’s decision.