BOXING

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 4

BOXING

ACTIVITIES IN DUNEDIN AMATEURS OK SERVICE [By Hookek.] First signs of tho boxing season are heralded 6y tho announcement by Mr Vic Pyster that he will be beginning his boxing classes on Tuesday, February 20. He has como to an arrangement with the Otago Boxing Association, and will use tho association’s wellequipped gymnasium in Dowling street for the 1940 season. Last year Pyster had some 54 pupils, and had a very successful season. His novice pupils put up quite a creditable performance at tho tournaments throughout the year, while M. Parr and W. Drew won the feather-weight and fly-weight Otago titles respectively. Larry Salmon was runner-up in tho bantamweight division, and went very close to defeating Foote (who subsequently won the title) at tho New Zealand l championships at Invercargill last year. Foote, who hails from Wellington, has had possession of tho title for the last three years, and Salmon’s performance was a very creditable one. Miller and Donaldson are others who have shown good promise, and an improved boxer is Ross Walker, who won tho middle-weight class at the novice tournament last year. Buchan and Larkins are light-weights who should perform well this season, while N. Ferguson will be a contender in the welterweight class at the University try-outs. Ron Ikm, a light-weight, is an improved boxer who carries a good punch. Tommy Hansen, the Wellington professional light-weight, is now in Vic. Pyster’s charge, and has settled down to strict training. Hansen lias a decision over Brian M‘Kay, while he has also defeated T. Corbin on points. He has been defeated by Fred Finnegan and Lex Greaney (New Zealand feather-weight champion). Hansen’s amateur record stands ot 30 contests for 23 wins, six losses, and one draw. Hansen is reputed to be a good twohanded boxer.

Pyster expects the season to be a good one for the amateurs, and to have a largo number in his class, although he lost several amateurs who have enlisted for service overseas—P. Trolove, A. Craven, and C. Mathieson are in the Royal Air Force, and G. David, G. Hart, J. Kydd, and A. Murray have joined the New Zealand Forces.