STANDARD OF BOXING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 731, 2 August 1929, Page 14

STANDARD OF BOXING

THE consensus of expert opinion is that the standard of boxing at this week’s amateur championships was better than last. Competition was keener all round. In the case of one title-holder, who has practically held a mortgage on his class for the past few years, he was pressed much closer than lie has been in previous championships. But the standard in Auckland is by no means as high as it might be. There was a lot of witd slogging in this week’s bouts, and a deal of incorrect hitting. In one class in particular, if the rules of boxing had«.been strictly applied, it is questionable whether the ultimate winner.would have secured the title at all. He consistently hit with the inside and heel of the glove, and obviously must have been credited with points for this type of hitting, which he should not have got at all. The remedy for this lies first with the trainers who have charge of city schools. But if boys are allowed to get away with hitting which is quite wrong at championship tournaments, it makes it still harder for instructors to eradicate these \faults. Boxing styles change with each succeeding world’s champion, but the good, old-fashioned straight left is still the first step toward fistic success. That and clean, straight hitting should be given proper recognition by ringside judges; otherwise the sound work of competent trainers is severely handicapped, and boys who take pains to learn the game correctly are not getting the recognition they deserve.