BOXING Hopes For Professional Fights This Season

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 17

BOXING Hopes For Professional Fights This Season

The Christchurch boxing public will again have the opportunity to see top-class professional fighters in action thia season, if the Canterbury Boxang Association can obtain suitable halls. This was decided at the annual meeting of the association last evening. No professional bouts were held in Christchurch last season, as no suitable hall was available, said the president (Mr E. Pocock) in his annual report. However, Mr Pocock and other members praised the work done for amateurs last season. “The figures for gate takings as shown in the annual report clearly show that the Christchurch public want to see professional fights,” said Mr W. Percival. Gate takings for last season, on amateur bouts only, were £471, compared with £lll4 tn the previous season with professional fights. “We could not promote professional boxing last season as we bad no hall,” said Mr Pocock. “We had hoped that the new hall at Aranui would be finished by the start of this season, but it may not be ready until after the end of June. As soon as a suitable hall is available, we will most certainly promote professional bouts.” Several members praised the work done for amateur boxing in Christchurch last season. Mr M. Drury said that the amateurs were given good prizes last season for the first time, and other speakers agreed that all amateurs were happy with their tournaments last season, and that this was reflected in the general rise in standard.

Two New Zealand titles and one Australasian title bad come to the province last season, said Mr Pocock. In addition, Canterbury nipplied two runners-up at the national championships, the captain and one other member of the New Zealand team to Australia, the most scientific boxer at the national titles, and finished first equal in provincial points over the national meeting. Messrs Pocock and A. Thompson were elected life members of the association. In proposing Mr Pocock for life membership Mr Drury praised his work as a judge and refpree and general worker for the association over 30 years Mr N. Hansen and other speakers endorsed Mr Drury's remarks. Officers elected were:— Patron, Mr J. McKenzie; President, Mr E. Pocock; vice-presidents, Messrs R. Moore and D. McPherson; secretary, Mr N. T. Southward; committee, Messrs M. Drury, N. Hansen, A. Underhay. R. McQuinn, C. Wellman and J. Moore.