North Island Boxing Trials

Some of the country's top boxers battled it out in the Y.M.C.A. Stadium on a recent Saturday night to vie for honours in the North Island trials for the New Zealand boxing team.

The contenders rarely looked in the class of their predecessors of recent years, and in most cases proved to be rather disappointing for the 350 fight-fans who braved the inclement weather to watch the trials.

Only one Gisborne fighter took the ring in the trial bouts, lightweight Kerry Smith, who suffered an unpopular T.K.O. at the hands of Manawatu's M. Mercer.

Wellington's N.Z. light-middleweight champion Terry O'Donnell arches up and backwards on the end of a hard punch from F. Tuteira, of Auckland.

Seconds later, O'Donnell returned one of many blows to Tuteira, and eventually won by a T.K.O.

D. Atui and D. Chatfield mix it

Kerry Smith and M. Mercer battle it out

A somewhat amazed Smith watches as referee Matt Sproull awards Mercer his victory

Watching the bouts were, from left: Messrs Wally Jonasen (president G.B.A.), Hammy Tucker (vice-president N.Z.B.A.), Colin Whelan (vice-president G.B.A.), and Dr David Tipping (N.Z.B.A. selector).

W. Arona and H. Chatfield exchange blows

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 134 : August 11, 1965

North Island Boxing Trials