in Big Money

Polynesian Boxers Now in Big Money

WEST SAMOAN heavyweight boxer, Fosi Schmidt, seems overdue to be matched against more qualified fighters than he has encountered in the last few months.

On October 7, Schmidt secured the quickest victory of his Australian visit when he floored Sydney heavy weight A 1 McCoy in 40 seconds. The

Australian remained in the ring for some time after the bout and then had to be helped to his dressing room. This is Schmidt’s 51st win in as many professional bouts.

Schmidt (alias Brownhawk) is a protege of Australian promoter Art Mawson, who recently visited Western Samoa again in search of fresh talent. Special bouts of likely prospects were held and were watched by Mawson and local pro moter Eugene Paul.

Two Samoan boxers have done well in New Zealand this year. P.

Ah Van won the Dominion amateur flyweight title, and Pusi Tau Leota is now the New Zealand amateur light-heavyweight champion.

In Auckland, NZ boxing officials have decided that Tongan heavy weight, John Halafihi, will meet the NZ heavyweight champ (Chubb Keith) in an open-air contest on December 7. Neither fighter has been guaranteed a minimum purse, but if they draw as big a crowd as that which attended the Lave-Brady fight in Auckland they should be splitting about £2,500.

Postage rates from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony to over seas destinations rose sharply as from November 1.

Fosi Schmidt with Jimmy Ripley before the two boxers’ departure to Australia. —Photo by H. Forsggren.