BOXING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17456, 3 January 1931, Page 7

BOXING

EXODUS TO NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIAN BOXERS SYDNEY, Dec. 18. The possibility of a slump ffi Australian boxing by reason of the- fad t la all .the leading exponents of the fistic art are being' attracted to New Zealand is causing concern among (hose wno manage the sport on this side ot the Tasman. If possible a. brake will he put on the operations of the representatives of various New Zealand associations who. it is said, have had a tree run m the past. It is complained that Australia has been doing all the giving and lias received nothing in return. The manager of Sydney Stadiums, Ltd,. Mr. Griffith, said yesterday that he fullv realised that the time had arrived to curb the New. Zealand agents in some uav. ' "in the past,” he said, "we have * permitted agents to enter (he Stadium, have the run of the dress-ing-rooms to interview boxers, and we have treated them splendidly. Cur fighters have been engaged and'sent a wav at a time we did not wish to lose them -often when they were at their prime- The? publicity which the Stadium receives in New Zealand is of no use to us. The Stadium certainly receives publicity, but all of it in New Zealand. '"To iny way of thinking this is the, wrong way to go about things. lam prepared to assist New Zealand associations. but 1 think 1 should have some sa y as far as the boxers- under our banner are concerned,-as to the nature, of the contracts. More lh.au that-. 1 think the commissions should he paid on all engagements into the colters of in) company.” Mr, P. McHugh, manager of the Leichhardt, Stadium, agreed that it was time the Australian, authorities took a decided stand and prevented the poaching of the New Zealand associations. "1 have my plans for matches. he said, "and I am not going to have them upset by anyone. 1 won t have anyone butting - in and spoiling my matches by sending away Iho best fighters. Even now I am working to prevent a certain move which has for its object the departure for New Zealand of one of my star men."

Of course it will be, impossible for promoters liere to prevent the. agents from interviewing boxers and their manageis. but. it is probable that the contracts will be so worded as to prevent file men from securing local fights without a guarantee! that they will not leave for New Zealand without permission.