BOXERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Chronicle (Levin), 4 December 1946, Page 6

BOXERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

v SMALL TEAM LIKELY Notliing defiinto has as yot boen linally settled couceining tlio projected toiir of iSouth Al'rica early next ycar by a team of New Zealand amateur boxers. but prosent indications are that a team, if it goes, will l)e only half as^ big as was originally envisaged. Tliis ihformation was given by Mr. George P. Aldridge, secretary of the New Zealand lioxing Association, who has receutly been in touch by cable with the fSouth African Boxing Association. Negotiiitions concerning the tour have been in progress for many months since roceipt of ihe origiual 0 Wouth Africau invitalion 4o send a party of 14 boxers plus ollicials to competo in lournaments in the Uuion on tlie occasiou of the Koval visit. The New Zealand Boxing Council, it may be recalled, inniiediately acccpted the iuvitation and asked fur i'urther details. The next cable from youth Al'rica stated that Australia had also acccpted a similar invitalion, and suggosted that the Dominions on cither side of the Tasman combino to form au Australasian team, also of 14 boxers plus otlicials, to muko Ihe tour. This suggestion proved uugcceptable to botli1 Australia and New Zealand. In a counter prpposal, tlie Australian Boxing Association suggested that New Zealand and Australia eacli send a separate team, eaclt team to be half as large as that originally specilied. The South African Association approvod, and eahled asking the New Zealand rouncil if it was agreeable to a tour under tlio.se con,ditions, with the interesting prospect of triangular tournaments in view. The New Zealand Couui*il wired its approval of the new proposal, and is slill aWailiug further word from youth Al'rica. Aml so Ihe matter stahds this week, with not a greal deal of time left before Ihe team will be duo to leave, if it is finally decided to go, and few, if any, oi' the multifarious details of such a tour lca.lt with. It is intcresting to note that an Australian team of seven boxers and a trainer to mahe the tour was aniiounced iu yydiiev last week after tlie Australian chaiupionships. The New Zealand ■ I .1 I . . U ,l_ —

Couueil, holding the reeommendations made by the selection committee at tlie end of the New Zealand chaiupionships two months ago, has made no announeemetit concerning the team. According to Mr. Aklridge, it has no intention of giving out anvthing until deliuite word is received from youth Africa.