BOXING

Grey River Argus, 9 May 1936, Page 9

BOXING

“No Sidestepping” AITKEN’S REPLY TO CRITICS. I’ll fight Clarrie Rayner in Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch—but not in Blenheim or anywhere on the West. Coast.” feelingly declared Billy Aitken, when asked by the “NZ. Sporting Life” at Wellington, to comment on the charge made (by the Marlborough authorities) against him of side-stepping Clarrie Rayner. ‘•'l am not frightened of Rayner, but I will fight him only under a referee in whom I have conlidence. When I met Clarrie in Dunedin, he made a fraudulent claim of foul, but couldn’t get away with it. 1 hit him squarely in the solar plexus, and h,urt him. ' I struck with my left hand, and the driving power was behind the punch. It was a lair blow In Greymouth Rayner employed, I believe, unfair tactics. “By this, I refer to the butting and kidney punching with which he persisted” The referee did not intervene on my behalf, and 1 am not going to lie subjected to similar treatment again if I can avoid it. “Therefore, I do not intend to fight Rayner on the Coast, for I have no confidence in the referring down there. “This probably won’t leave a nice flavour in the mouths of those concerned. but it can’t be helped. I have my rights to stand up for, and, any rate, when it comes to running down referees, the Alarlborough crowd can talk! EXAMINED BY DOCTOR. Fancy an official of the Alarlborough Association criticising the Otago Boxing Association’s referee by stating in print:.... Rayner was fouled, as after effects showed.’ How silly for an official to cast a doubt upon the ability of a leading referee and the Association’s doctor. The latter examined Rayner after the contest, and could find no trace of a foul. “As for being late for my appointment at Rongotai, that was unavoidable. I told the official who had flown over to see me that I was quite ready to meet Rayner for the title any time after Alay, providing the contest was staged in Auckland. AVellington. or Dunedin.

“I am willing to meet .Rayner after my light title contest in Dunedin with .Tack Jarvis on May 11 or 25. The date set down is the eleventh, but I want it put back a fortnight, as I would like to be at the top of my form and a short rest would not do me any harm before such an important bout. “I still have the Australian trip in view, but while there is opposition here and good money to hold me, I shall stay in New Zealand for a while; but the time is coming when I will have Io cross the Tasman. I need experience. and, to gain that. I will have to go to Australia eventually. ‘‘ln Wellington here I. cannot even get decent sparring. For this lam willing to pay but, my offers of £1 a partner for three rounds a day for three, days—have not been accepted. “It is a big handicap not, having anvone to box with in training, and doesn’t do a fighter any good.’’ WOULDN’T PAY AITKEN’S PRICE. It also appears that the Southland Boxing Association has attempted in vain to gain Aitken’s acceptance to a. contest in Invercargill. An offer was made to the champion after the Rayner fight in Dunedin, but the bout was declined. “They wouldn't pay the price for Billy’s services.’’ Mrs. Aitken said when asked by “Sporting Life’’ why the bout was not accepted. “And now the Hawke’s Bay Association has offered Bills- a £3(l purse plus £5 expenses to fight the Australian. Joe Hall, in Hastings. Well, they can all understand this—my son Billy isn’t going to fight for any more £3O purses in eases where he is not bound by the rules to do so. “He is a good boxer, and, as his manager. I am not going to stand by and let him fight, for such small aniount s. ’ ’ “The risk of injury or temporary incapacitation is too great for the small money involved. Hall is reported to be a good boxer, and against such a man a £3O purse is no sufficient. If we can’t get more money than (he amounts offering there is only one thing Io do-—get away Io Australia. ’ ’ Questioned last week in respect of the council’s attitude to tin early feather title fight, Secretary Aldridge said that no -written application had been received from any association Tiesiring to promote the bout, but he understood unofficially that the Marlborough Boxing Association intended milking application for the contest in which ease as Rayner had already filed an official challenge, he would have no option but to grant the .Marlborough applied t ion.