CYRIL WHITAKER’S END

Southland Times, Issue 18964, 11 June 1923, Page 6

CYRIL WHITAKER’S END

SEQUEL TO BOXING BOUT. Cyril Whitaker, who collapsed at the conclusion of the heavyweight boxing contest on Monday night at the Town Hall, died at the Public Hospital at 1 o’clock this moniing, says Wednesday’s Auckland Star. Deceased, who was a resident of New Plymouth, met the ex-heavyweight champion of New Zealand, Tom Heeney, of Gisborne, in a bout of fifteen rounds. The contest was stopped towards the end of the fourteenth, the referee, Mr Frank Burns, declaring Heeney the winner. It was obvious that Whitaker was distressed, and he had to be helped to his seat. On sitting down, Whitaker collapsed and had to be carried from the ring. By a doctor's direction he was removed to the hospital, in an unconscious condition, in which he remained till the time of his death. On being admitted to the institution an operation was performed to the brain, but his condition was very critical, and hope of his recovery was given up some hours before the unfortunate boxer' heard the grim beat of .the gong that called him to his last rest. Particularly sad circumstances attend the young man’s death, for he intended to give up the ring after fulfilling two or three engagements, and on returning to New Plymouth next week he was to have been married.

Born in Dipton, Southland, the late Cyril Whitaker was the thirteenth child of Mr W. H. Whitaker's family, there being nine sons and five daughters in the family, which was well known throughout the Southland district. He was 23 years of age. Early in life he took an active interest in the ring game, and as an amateur he had a distinguished record, participating in a great, number of special six and tenround bouts at various places, and eventually being runner-up in 1921 to Brian McCleary for the New Zealand championship. On assuming professional status in 1922, his success held good. He took part in seven professional contests, being beaten by one man prior to his last unfortunate encounter on Monday night. He met Brian McCleary, the popular Christchurch heavyweight, on two occasions in the Cathedral city, but the decisions were given against him . He fought and beat Jack Heeney' (brother of Tom Heeney), Albert Prtoley, Syd Fitzsimmons, Les Gleeson, and Laurie Cadman. In these bouts he showed himself a fast clean and scientific boxer. Whitaker made social reference to the desirability of meeting Tom Heeney, when applying to the Northern Boxing Association in April for a match. Brothers of deceased are. well known in 'New Zealand athletic circles. Four represented Southland Province at Rugby, while a fifth was amateur champion pole vaulter of the Dominion when he left New Zealand with the Expeditionary Force. This brother, Harold, and another Fred, were both killed in action.