Three Northlanders For N.Z. Boxing Champs

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1947, Page 4

Three Northlanders For N.Z. Boxing Champs

THANKS to the enthusiasm of their clubs, three Northland amateur boxers are to take part in the New Zealand championships at Christchurch on September 22, 23 and 24. They are G. Hammond (Kaikohe), M. Macnay (Whangarei) and M. T. Khan (Whangarei).

Hammond and Macnay have been entered in the light-weight class and Khan in the light and welter classes. The expenses of the trip are being paid by the Kaikohe Boxing Club for Hammond, by the Whangarei Catholic Youth Movement for Khan, and by the Kamo Youth Movement for Macnay.

Mr Harry Hughes, of Whangarei, who was largely responsible for the successful inauguration of the Catholic Youth Movement and has acted as trainer with this organisation with splendid results, will accompany the three Northlanders as trainer-manager.

The clubs responsible for sending these promising boys to Christchurch are to be complimented on their worthwhile efforts on behalf of the sport which they are so keen to foster.

Their efforts are all the more timely in view of the recent formation of the Northland Boxing Council. Throughout the North, the sparks of enthusiasm for amateur boxing have been apparent for some time and the enterprise of the clubs concerned is an indication that the proper kindling may be forthcoming to enable that enthusiasm to blaze continuously.

Hammond, Macnay and Khan have been in steady training for several weeks and are expected to give a good account of themselves against the pick of the country’s talent.

The experience alone will do them and the sport in Northland much good. Macnay and Khan are to be matched against Aucklanders at a tournament being held by the Kamo Youth Movement shortly. Kaikohe and Dargaville boxers will also be taking part. THREE PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS

.Northland has produced three new Zealand champions in the amateur boxing arena. Harry Hughes himself won the light-weight title in 1932 and also the Jamieson Belt for the most scientific boxer at the tournament.

Jack Cossill, ex-Whangarei, now of Wellington, won the heavy-weight and was runner-up in the light-heavy-weight; Ken Moran, of Dargavilie, won the feather-weight title in 1937 and represented New Zealand in the Empire Games at Sydney in January, 1938, and Lance Painter, ex-Whangarei and now refereeing in Auckland, was runner-up in the heavy-weight section. Moran was a POW in Germany for four years during the war and died in Dunedin while on leave shortly after his return to New Zealand.