BOXING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 1 October 1925, Page 3

BOXING.

an amateur movement. NEW ORGANISATION PROPOSED. ACTIVITY IN . AUCKLAND. A movement for the encouragement and control of amateur boxing by a purely amateur organisation, which has made considerable progress-in Christchurch, is gathering some sway in Auckland, and it is reported) steps will soon bo taken to give it a- direct objective. The idea behind it is to defend and uphold the principle of amateurism in sport and to give amateurs in boxing the right to control their own affairs. It is asserted that the New Zealand Boxing Association, to which the Northern Boxing Association is affiliated, while staging amateur contests and holding amateur championships, has become chiefly a body for the promotion of professional bouts, and that so long as professionalism is in harness with amateurism the latter is bound to be affected by the commercial aspect of the sport. It is contended that the Act of 1905, under which the New Zealand Boxing Association operates, has become obsolete with changed conditions, that it is ai grotesque thing and quite unique in British sport that an amateur body should have to obtain permission from I what is regarded as a semi-professional I body to hold boxing contests, and that so long as the. present position obtains a very large number of youths, who have grown up in a. strictly amateur atmosphere, will he cut off from the sport because they cannot consent to box under control that promotes professional fights and is governed hv the Police Offences Act. The question was asked how, . with amateur boxing at a fairly low standard. an, amateur association , could succeed. The reply was that the reason why amateur boxing .was not at present of a high standard was clue to lack of opportunity. The! controlling organisation of to-day was, merely a promoting organisation. It was not what might be termed a home of boxing. Boxers learned the art privately, and it was the professional contests that dominated' the mind of the authorities. Their first consideration in arranging a programme was what pair of professionals could he matched. That decided, the amateur bouts gave no anxiety. “What we have in mind.” said one of those .prominent in the present. ‘‘is an organisation which will foster the snort and assist the clubs affiliated to. it .in establishing gymnasiums and in providing instruction under the best conditions. It would hold fortnightly or monthly eontest for members; and their friends, and if anv brilliant boxers developed who wanted to go into the professional ring then good luck to them. There is no desire to fight- the present body, hut simply to claim for amateurs purely amateur control.” . • In Christchurch associations of old bovs of the schools and colleges’are the backbone of the new movement, and it is believed that in Auckland'similar bodies, the Military Sports Association and the controlling eouii'ils. ofpother amateur snorts will, give it substantial backing. It is understood that already representations have been made in the direction of amending, the law, .which apparently is necessary.