BOXING IMPORTATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19123, 18 September 1936, Page 6

BOXING IMPORTATION

GISBORNE ENTERPRISE BILL PLUTO, AUSTRALIAN THREE FIGHTS ASSURED Encouraged by the results obtained by the Southland and Auckland associations in connection with the importation of professional boxers from overseas, the Gisborne Boxing Association has arranged for a visit, to New Zealand on the part of Bill Pluto, Sydney, a brother of Cyril Pluto, who recently completed a successful senes of engagements' in the Dominion. Bill Pluto, tnough younger than his brother Oyril, is regarded as a better lighter, and in fact is regarded by experts in Australia as ’be next best to Mark Carroll among the Commonwealth’s welterweight crop. The arrangement with Pluto on the fart of the Gisborne association calls tor three fights with a guaranteed purse for the first of the three. Pluto is willing to stake the success of his visit to New Zealand on the outcome of his first match, and has intimated that he will make his second and third appearances before the Gisborne association on

a percentage basis. There are some good opponents now available in the welterweight and middleweight classes, including the Welshman, Marshall, who has just landed at Auckland. It is intended to promote the first of Pluto’s fights for the second week in October, and the second for Show night, October 28, the dates being subject to confirmation by the Sydney boxer, STALEMATE; IN AUSTRALIA

The availability of Bill Pluto for a visit to the Dominion is due mainly to the stalemate which has been created in the welterweight championship situation across the Tasman by the promotion of the Mark Carroll-Barney Ross battle lor the world title. Bill Pluto recently defeated Jimmy Day in nine rounds, Day being the previous outstanding contendei for Carroll s Australian welter title, and ho thus stepped up to a position directly next to Carroll.

There is nothing doing in the way of challenge matches between Australians pending the outcoms of Carroll’s fight with Barney Ross, however, and Pluto proposed to fill in time, and incidentally enlarge his experience, by visiting New Zealand. It is intended that after be has fulfilled his engagements under contract with the Gisborne association, his services will be made available to other New Zealand district associations.

The Gisborne association has made its arrangements with Pluto through the good offices of Mr. E. C. Turner, of Sydney, a prominent boxing expert and Sydney correspondent for the New Zealand Sporting Life and other publications.

EA R HER IMPORTATIONS RECALLED.

Pluto’s visit will recall to many Poverty Bay followers of the game the last occasion on which the district association imported a professional from Australia. The importation was Jack Cole, who held the New South Wales middleweight title, and he came to Gisborne in 1925, when boxing was booming strongly in the Dominion. The first match fought by Cole was with Jack Heeney, whom he defeated on points, and later the Australian met Tom Heeney in a sensational match at Te Karaka. This fight, promoted by the Waikohu association, was staged in a huge marquee, and Cole seemed to outpoint Heeney in almost eyery round. The verdict went to the district champion on points, however, and caused a controversy which continued for years. Even to-day it is easy to rouse argument among old-timers in the sport in PovertyBay concerning the rights of the fight.

The Gisborne association is to be complimented upon its enterprise in arranging for the visit of Pluto, and should enjoy its share of prosperity as a result of the decision.