BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 23

BOXING

■V "AENEAS " '

BOXING CONTROL UNION'S PETITION CASING FOE THE AMATEURS The Amateur Boxing Union is coming into the limelight again, and is at present collecting signatures ior a. petition to be presented' to Parliament. The union desires the right to promote amateur boxing. The controversy has on several occasions been fully dealt with in these columns, and a repetition of the arguments in favour of the present control would be a waste of space. However, there are one or two statements in. the petition which need correction. The case for the union is:— "Whereas the sport of boxing for both amateur and professional boxers has for some time past been governed in the Dominion by a body known as the New Zealand Boxing Association. "And whereas the said association and associations and clubs affiliated to it is or are the only bodies in the Dominion approved by the Governor-Gen-eral-in-Coimcil in accordance with tho provision of sections 57 to 64 included of the Police Offences Act, 1908,. for the granting of permits to hold boxing contests. "And whereas the said association has of late years catered principally' for the- professional boxers in the Dominion, and has not in the nature of its constitution, been able to give the right form of encouragement to tho amateur boxers. "And whereas it is incontrovertible that amateur boxing in the Dominion be encouraged, and that the best means of developing and promoting the amateur sport is by tournament competitions under the control of a purely amateur organisation. "And whereas on account of the dissatisfaction among supporters of amateur boxing and amateur sports generally throughout the Dominion, the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Union, has been formed with the intention of promoting and developing amateur boxing under a control distinct from that of professional boxing by the formation of amateur clubs, and for the purpose of giving amateur boxers throughout the Dominion control of their own affairs. . "And whereas application has already boon made to the Minister of Internal Affairs for.rrecognition, and approval of the said union and the clubs affiliated to it, but such recognition and approval has been refused. "And whereas the executive of the I said union will be elected from representatives or delegates nominated or appointed by the various affiliated clubs thus giving every amateur boxer in the Dominion who becomes a member of the' club affiliated to the said union a share and a vote in the control, management, and1 administration or the sport in which he is participating. ''And whereas there is no other sport in the Dominion in which both, the amateur and professional sides thereof are controlled by one governing body, and whereas throughout the world it is recognised as being contrary to amateur principles that any body which is in any way identified with the promotion of professionalism in sport should also have as part of its functions the control of-amateur sport. "And whereas the chief objects of which the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Union has been formed is to provide a body exclusively devoted to the promotion of amateur boxing, and in which those taking part in amateur boxing take part in the control. thereof. . "And whereas by tho said sections |of the Police Offences Act, 1908, every boxing contest held in the Dominion is under police supervision, and any constable may at any time in the day or night enter any premises in which he has reason to believe a boxing contest is being held and may make such entry by force. "Aud whereas it is undesirable that such supervision should be extended to amateur contests and especially competitions in schools and colleges and with regard particularly to tho latter police supervision is unwarranted, and such provision no more, necessary than tho presenco of a uniformed constable in the Juvenile Court. I ' "And whereas as amateur boxing ! cannot be adequately promoted or developed by the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Union so long as the approval of the < Governor-General-in-Council is withheld, your petitioners therefore pray that the Governor-General-in-Coun-cil be recommended to approve of the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Union and of all amateur clubs and other amateur bodies affiliated to the said union. "That provisions b© made by an amendment to the Police Offices Act |so as to dispense with the necessity of obtaining a .permit from the Inspector of Police for the purposes of holding amateur boxing in connection with tournament competitions, and other matters promoted by any duly affiliated amatour boxing club or by any school or college." The petition states that tho "association of late years catered principally for professional boxers and has not in the nature of its constitution been able to give the right for tho encouragement to the amateur boxers. This is nqt a fair statement of, the position. The New Zealand Association is a strictly amateur body, whose objects are:— '' (1) To govern and regulato amateur and professional boxing. (2) Tq_ foster and encourage boxing." This ghjes it ample scope, and its control has proved satisfactory to the ■ vast majority of boxers and the general public. Further, tho money gained from professional contests is being used for the benefit of the amateurs who, if they were governed by a union in New Zealand similar to the Australian body, would be in _ a much worse position. Amateur boxing in Australia is below the standard in this country, and opportunities for amateurs there' a'-o few and far between. It would bo much better for the union if they would co-operate with tho existing boxing authorities, instead of causing fi split that will surely bo to the detriment of tho amateur. Cabinet has already shown its attitudo towards the union, and events since that pronouncement have not given any grounds for a change of opinion. Wellington on the Move. After a period of inactivity, clue principally to tho dearth of suitable boxers, the Wellington Association may shortly be vicing with Olago, which, for some time past, monopolised tho featherweight division. Wellington has secured tho services of Tommy M'lnnis, tho Scottish middleweight, who enmo to Australia under contract to Stadiums, Ltd., and who has earned a reputation [in Sydney and Melbourne for his forceful tactics. He will moot Harry Casey, in the local ring, and this contest should bo a memorable one. The association has also signed up Ernie Izzarcl, the English lightweight, who will be pitted against Charlie Purely. Tho pair have met twice before, and at present honours are oven. lizard was recently defeated by Tommy Pairhall, but'"Solar Plexus," of the "Sydney Referee," considers that the decision was incorrect. Izza.nl is said to be faster than. Purdy, and if this is ao the

fancy will see something that should rank with the Purdy-Grime contest. Purdy's return to the local ring should bo very popular. Otago's Importations. Tommy Barber and Norman Badford, two featherweights, were to have left Australia yesterday under contract to tho Otago Association. Archie Hughes, an Australian featherweight, is air ready in Dunedin, and he will meot Johnnie Leekie on 7th July. Both Leckie and Tommy Griffiths will be meeting the imported boxers, so the Dunedin Association is in for a busy time. Should the New Zealanders come through without defeat, they should be eagerly sought after in Australia, and will very likely be offered handsome guarantees. Taranaki Championships. It has been definitely decided to hold the Taranaki amateur championships at Stratford on 27th and 28th July, with a view to selecting a full team to represent Ta,ranaki at the New Zealand amateur championships to be held at Auckland on 23rd, 24th, and 25th August. This decision was reached at a joint meeting of the Taranaki Boxing Association and the, Stratford Sports and Pastimes Club held at Stratford. Manawatu Tourney. The amateur boxing tournament staged by the Manawatu A. and P. Association (under the auspices of the Manawatu Boxing Association) this week in the entertainment hall was a successful function, there being an excellent attendance. From the initial gong, the bouts went with a swing, and the arrangements made left nothing to be desired., The lightweight contest between D. Price (Feilding) and A. Candy (Pal merston North) was a fairly close bout, Candy using his left with advantage, but Price used both hands with effect. With little to choose between them, Price received the verdict. C. Hearne (Feilding) and D. Heap (Awapuni), bantamweights, were next to meet. From the commencement Heap was aggressive, but Hearne fought back and a draw was a popular decision. A. Paddy (Palmerston North) was too good for S. Sinclair (Foxton) in a lightweight contest, although the latter got home some telling blows, but Paddy had the best of matters throughout. The middleweight between Bird (Wanganui) and 'E. Holden (Pahiatua) was fought at a fast pace. Holden scored with his left repeatedly and established a strong lead. Bird was aggressive, but his opponent was more ;clevei and the decision wenfr in his favour. E. Oxley (Pahiatua) was too good for Mortimer (Wanganui) and was the more aggressive throughout tho bout. The decision in his favour was the only one possible. Carlston (Wanganui), 12sfc, chose long rango tactics against Brant (Palmorston North), 12st, and they saw him secure the verdict by a wide niargin.| . ■ After a very clever bout, S. Gray (Wanganui) defeated C. Robinson (Awapuni). Both traded blows with effect, but Gray was the more clever of tho pair, and was awarded the docision. ■ ; E. Clarke • (Wanganui) opened the attack against J. Beech (Pahiatua) but the latter showed excellent footwork, and sent in solid rights and lefts, and the decision went in his favour. H. O'Keefe (Palmerston North) was far too good for J. Barber (Foxton) and the decision in his favour was the only one possible. A clever exhibition bout1 between T. Hogan (Palmerston North) Bst 111b,. and S. Hogan (Dannovirke), 9st 121b, concluded a very successful evening. Forfeit Claimed. . Al Lippe, the famous boxing maiuu ger, who had Billy Papke under his chargo .tollsmi story in connection with Papke's, contest with Carpentier. Ho writes: "Onithe night of the fight wo went over to the club. The fighters on the card were being weighed on delicate balances that were used for weighing gold.! Carpentier had stopped on the scales and was under the specified weight of 1581b. When Papke step-, pod on the> scales, the balanco hit the middle and quivered ever so slightly, showing a tendency to go upward. I believe that if Papko could have let out his breath and remained still for a few seconds, the balance would have stopped moving up and down and all would have been well. But ho couldn't and' it didn't. While I stood beside Papke devising schemes to take that half ounco off Papke's form, Cavpentier hovered about the scales and shaking his head, cried: " 'Non, Non, the forfeit I will have." "Well, that was all there was to it. I pleaded with Carpentier that we would come in at weight' ringsido or that we would take off the weight in ten minutes. However, I think I could have clipped a lock of Papke's hair. But Carpentier was adamant. His only answer was that he. wanted the forfeit money, and he finally got- it. He' got 2500 dollars, but Papke got that much back in • satisfaction when they finally got together in the ring. "Carpentier didn't go down until the seventeenth round after he had taken a fearful boating, and once on tho floor he had sense enough to stay down until after the referee had counted a very slow ten." Old Opponent's Success. "Havilah Uren, who, though still quite young, has long since retired from the ring to cam a more lucrative living as hotelkeeper, will bo surprised to learn of the success of his'old opponent, Tommy Fairhall," states an Australian writer. "The latter, though a British Empire champion lightweight, was almost always beaten by Uren. Tommy won tho first fight, but on the many times when they subsequently mot tho verdict always went to llavilah." Artie Hay's Record. A correspondent writess asking • for tho record of Artie Hay, who defeated Nelson M'Knight tho other day in Auckland. It is as follows:—As an amateur he had 14 fights and wins; He won tho Hawkes Bay and New Zealand welter titles in 1923, and won the Hawkes Bay and New Zealand welter titles in 1924. As a professional his record is as follows: —1925: Gus Venn, won; Dick Loveridge, defoatod. 1926: Dick Loveridge, won (welter titlo of New Zealand); Charlie Purdy, defeated; Salvino Jamito, won Harry Casey, won; Charlie Purdy,, draw; Salvino Jamito, won; Harry Casey, defeatod. 1927: Raymond Jansen, defeated Dick Lovcmlge, won; Harry Casey, '.yon'; Harry Casey, defeated Jim Broadfoot, won.'. 1928: Fred Smitheram, won; Dick Lovcridgo,'won; Harry Casey, won. Contests Declared Off. Two championship fights which wcro to have boon staged in the open air at the Chelsea football ground, on tho outskirts of London, on 4th Juno, were cancelled because of money difficulties. They wore tho world's flyweight championship match between Johnny Hill and Newsboy Brown, the American smd the British middleweight championship, between Alex Ireland and Len Harvey. The purse money should have been paid three weeks before. Tho father of Johnny Hill, the flyweight champion, demanded tho fulfilment of tho ngrocment, but tho money was not forthcoming, and ho took iiis son homo land. Ireland's manager offered to take portion of the money then, and the remainder on tho day of tho fight. Tho promoters, known as the M'Barris Syndicate, Ltd., refused to agree und. suggested that tlio boxers should fight on a, percentago bqais. The boxers doelared the match pff,