SPORT OF BOXING

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 14

SPORT OF BOXING

Progress in Wellington ASSOCIATION’S REPORT The New Zealand boxing championship tournament in the coming season will be held at Hastings, states the annual report of the Wellington Boxing Association. which will be presented to a meeting of the association on Wednesday next. In the report on the past season s operations, it is stated that, despite difficulties from a financial point of view, the sport itself continues to show encouraging progress. “The financial position lias been a matter for serious concern.” the report states. "Early in Ihe year there appeared to be n lack of interest in our activities on the part-of those who have supported our sport for many years. In recent tournaments more generous support has been evident, possibly. due in some measure to our again staging contests at the Town Hall, and the committee feels that the association has now weathered the financial storm, which has seriously affected the finances of every controlling sports body. “During the year, nine clubs were affiliated. The committee established. a system of keeping in close touch, with club activities by regular visits of inspection. Boxing continues to be a feature of the sports activities in the secondary schools and. while every assistance, has been rendered by members of the executive, the association r'egrets that it is not possible to help very much in a financial direction, under existing conditions. "In nil. during the season, members were provided with five evenings of amateur contests, and five professional contests. The .junior championships, which were inaugurated in the 1932 season, again proved a complete success. In the senior championships, despite the committee’s classification scheme. under which amateurs were graded into . two classes the entries were . sufficient to justify extending the proceedings oyer two nights, and the standard of boxing was well up. to that of past years. “The visit of a Wellington team to Auckland in June last inaugurated an arrangement for interchange of representative teams. Tn July. Auckland paid a return visit. There was keen rivalry for championship honours, the first series nt Auckland being won by the local team, while Wellington secured the honours when Auckland returned the visit. , The executive considers that these interchanges of teams should be fostered and regarded as an essential feature of the regular season’s programme. “In addition to the number of tournaments controlled by the association, permits were issued in respect of a number of club evenings, which lias widened the scope for competition'among the active participants of boxing. “The association lost n very valuable official in the decease of Mr. W. J. Heenan. sen.,” the report concludes. “Mr. Heenan had for years rendered very valuable service at our tournaments. He was a keen critic, and. as an enthusiastic exponent. had devoted a great deal of time to the interests of the aninteiir side of the snort. Another very old member in Mr. Alec Laurenson passed away during the neriod. Prior to his removing to Auckland, and dating back close on thirty years. Jlr. Laurenson. as a member of -the executive and official timekeeper at tournaments, had rendered Valuable and efficient service to the association.' He had the honour of being one of two surviving life members.”