IN THE RING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 9 April 1936, Page 12

IN THE RING

OLYMPIC GAMES TEAM Boxers Within Weight Limits LONDON TRAINER APPOINTED (By “Ringsider”). General satisfaction has been expressed by various boxing writers throughout the Dominion at the selection of throe boxers In the New Zealand Olympic Games team, and hopes are entertained that no longer will Ted Morgan have the sole distinction of being New Zealand’s only Olympic Gamee title. The Olympic Games rules allow a country to make two nominations foi each event, though only one competitor may actually participte. Consequently Gordon will be nominated for the feather and light divisions; C. Gordon (Taranaki featherweight)—who is unlikely to grow out of his class —for the light and welter divisions; and T. Arbuthnot (Wellington welter), who is well up in the welter class, for the middleweight division also. Gordon has never been obliged to fight outside the featherweight class during the past two years. He weighed Bst 91b when he won the Jamieson Belt at the New Zealand championships two years ago. A.rbuthnot has never fought over the welterweight limit, and when he defeated Billie Purdie at Christchurch last year he weighed lOst 51b. In an earlier contest he weighed lOst 2Jlb. The weights which the boxers will be required to make when they enter the ring will be lOst 71b for Arbuthnot, Ost 91b N. Fisher (Christchurch lightweight), and 9st 01b for Gordon. ■ In this connection the boxers who are close to the limits of their particular weights have much in their favour, as various authorities from time to time have stressed the fact that an Olympic competition, if he is to have any chance in the boxing contests, must bo as near the weight limit as possible. Cause for satisfaction is the fact that the three boys are much of the same weight and will consequently be able to spar among themselves to their mutual benefit, comments a writer in the “Post.” Their numerical strength will also give them the opportunity to discuss freely, and thereby keep their minds on, their own particular sport. Arbuthnot will meet one of his prospective opponents in the person of L. Cook, the Australian boxing representative, when the two teams join on the Mongolia. The foresight of the New Zealand Boxing Council will cause them to be well looked after iu the Empire’s capital, as the secretary (Mr G. P. Aldridge) has communicated with Mr Sammy Chapman, the well-known Australian trainer, asking him to take care of the boys until they leave for Berlin and, if possible, during the Games. Mr Chapman is a trainer of recognised ability and an expert at bringing a boxer’s weight down without loss of efficiency. The training that the boys obtain on the boat will probably leave them in just the right condition for him to tune them up. The boxing contests are to be held between August 10 and August 15. Each bout will be of three three-minute rounds. Team Programme.

The team’s itinerary is as follows: — May 7.—Leave Wellington by the Wanganella. May 10—Arrive at Sydney and tranship to the Mongolia, where they will be accommodated for three days. May 13.—Leave Sydney for London, via Melbourne, Adelaide, .Fremantle Colombo, Bombay, Aden, Port Said, Marseilles, and Gibraltar. At London the team will be met by the manager (Dr. Porritt), who will have charge of them until they leave for home by the Remuera, via Panama, on August 20, arriving back in New Zealand on September 26. While in Berlin the New Zealanders will be billeted with the British team.

Boxing Secretaries in Football. A remarkable coincidence was recorded on a recent evening when the annual general meetings of tho Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union and the Hawke’s Bay Football Association were held. In electing the president for the ensuing year the delegates to each body appointed a secretary of a boxing organisation. Rugby chose Mr T. W. Hercock, who is the secretary of the Napier Boxing Association, while the Soccer delegates re-appointed Mr J. Stickland, secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Boxing Association as their president. Jack Doyle’s Hopes. Jack Doyle, the Irish heavyweight boxer who recently returned to England after a trip to America and who has since been appearing in vaudeville I in company with his film-acress wife, formerly Miss Judith Allen, considers that he has every prospect of meeting Jack Petersen in a bout for the British nnq Empire heavyweight titles in June, and is negotiating with Sid Hulls, the Wembley match-maker. He thinks that the experience he gained in America will give him a good chance of annexing the titles.