OLYMPIC BOXING TITLES

Evening Star, Issue 22444, 15 September 1936, Page 4

OLYMPIC BOXING TITLES

DISORDER IN STADIUM TRYING TIME FOR NEW ZEALANDERS With jeering in their ears when they struck a good blow home, applause when they failed, a good many of the boxers at the Olympic Games wildered when they fought their bouts and were totally unable to P r^ u fl ce form. The trouble was caused chiefly by the erection of two rings side by side. Spectators sat back-to-back, and the shouting or jeering directed at one pair of competitors often appeared to those fighting in the other ring to be directed at them. There was hardly a moment of silence, and lew of the competitors were given a chance to engage in a real boxing contest. Reports from the specie. correspondent of the Christchurch ‘ Press at the Olympic Games suggest that, as always, chance and the whims of the judges entered largely into the decision of the bouts. Not only was this so, and not onlv were-the competitors upset by the “spectators’ cheering and jeering, but also for several bouts the officials failed to appear at the appointed time. and. boxers were loft Sitting tor long periods in their corners waiting for someone to set them going. FISHER BEATEN. Norman. Fisher, the Canterbury lightweight boxer. Was one of those who had to wait for their judges. He and Ohver>(Argentina) were drawn to meet in the first bout of an afternoon, and they arrived at the appointed time, only to have a tiring wait for the officials. This naturally upset them, and neither boxed at his best. Fisher was well beaten. His opponent was stronger and quicker on his feet. Fisher improved towards the close, fighting to a really good finish, but ho was compelled to retreat, before Oliver’s onslaught. Arbuthnot was one of those who^suffered most from the applause of the spectators. He missed the first round, as his opponent defaulted. In the second round he met Rodriguez (Argentina), and was obviously troubled by the yelling from the crowd and surprised at hearing shouts of encouragement and applause when nothing w r as happening. Observers say that Rodriguez, who was the. “ favourite ” for the title, indulged in some unclean hitting with the inside of his hand in his bout with Arbuthnot. He opened the attack, and the New Zealander was on the defence most of the time. Arbuthnot put up a good showing in the first two rounds but began to weaken in, the third, and was beaten on points. GORDON UNLUCKY. Gordon met Karlsson (Finland), Neither struck home any telling blows in the first round. In the second the pace was faster, and they clinched. Karlsson was the aggressor, but it looked as though Gordon intentionally left this role to him, for he countered well. Gordon weakened his opponent, who obviously could not stand the pace. For some reason not, known, the correspondent of the ‘ Press ’ says, Karlsson was given a victory on points. The public received the decision with disapproval. The peaceful atmosphere of the main Olympic Stadium was nob to be found in ;the boxing ’arena. There was a constant procession of umpires and other officials coming and going. The fault was not considered to lie with the German officials personally, but largely with the conditions under which the Olympic boxing rounds are always held. It is a rule that all events at the Olympic Games must be completed within 16 days. This year there nas an exceptionally full programing and events were badly crowded. This was particularly so with the boxing, and the stipulation made by the International Boxing Federation that the competitors should not box during the mornings added to the difficulties.