Profit Or Loss, Mensah Must Fight Again

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 19

Profit Or Loss, Mensah Must Fight Again

(By Our Boxing Reporter) The Canterbury Boxing Association, although losing heavily on the E. Mensah-K. Langford professional bout last week, must keep its promise to Mensah and promote him in another bout on July I+—and once again guarantee him a purse of £3OO, win or lose.

The executive of the C.B.A. will meet this evening to discuss the situation. Mensah and his trainer (Mr K. L. Dawson, of Crichton Cobbers’ Club) complained to the C.B.A. that it had honoured its promises under the original contract which induced Mensah to leave Britain and come to Christchurch for three months. The C.8.A., after reports in “The Press” about Mensah’s complaints, agreed that he could have been treated more generously. The president (Mr E. G. Pocock) said that Mensah “would go home a happy man, financially.” A deputation from the C.B.A. executive, comprising Messrs Pocock, T. Wildes and R. Stevenson then met Men-

sah and Mr Dawson. They promised Mensah fights on June 23 and July 14. on a guaranteed purse of £3OO for each fight. The C.B.A. lost a substantial amount, possibly more than £3OO, on the fight last week because less than 1000 attended.

According to publicity releases, the C.B.A. has arranged for G. Ford, a wellperformed Melbourne boxer and a recognised hard puncher, whose ability has been praised in the Australian “Ring” magazine, as Mensah’s opponent on July 14. Mensah has now had four fights for the C.8.A., won three decisively and was beaten once on a split decision. Mensah has fought well in all his bouts—and has honoured his obligations. The C.8.A., having offered Mensah two ’extra fights at

£3OO each to make amends for its niggardliness before he publicly complained, cannot! now back out even though it! may lose more money on July. 14. There is nothing to stop the C.B.A. putting on a double bill—matching the New Zea-! land professional bantam-i weight champion, L. Ny, of Christchurch, against an Australian opponent—on July 14. The deputation which made the promises to Mensah and Mr Dawson was authorised to act for the executive; and so, the executive made promises which it must honour. The C.B.A. has at least £2OOO in the kitty. It has a profit-making fight, D. Murphy v. K. Amarfio, coming up and a title fight between Ny and T. George in the offing. The {association can afford to be [generous. It cannot go back on its word.