Death Of A

Boy Boxer

In the Cook Islands, self-governing New Zealand territory west of Tahiti, boxing has always had a keen follow ing. It was no surprise that at the first South Pacific Games at Suva in 1963 the Cook Islanders, despite their small numbers, gained two gold and two silver medals in the ring.

ItTARTIN MITCHELL, aged 14, was a boxer in the Cook Islands’ tradition. Although only in his second year of boxing he was a promising mem ber of the Avatiu Boxing Club, Rarotonga, fighting as a paperweight at 7 st 4 lb. Martin’s father had been a boxer, and his two brothers, Rima and Remo, were also members of the club, fighting as a light weight and middleweight.

Also with the club was Charlie Teei, aged 12, who had the same experience as Martin and who fought at 7 st 7 lb. Charlie’s grandfather, Tita Enoka, had been a very well-known boxer.

At the championship tournament at Rarotonga Martin and Charlie were matched, and were putting on a fine display. By the third round Martin was winning on points, but then he stopped a punch which sent him to the mat, where he was counted out.

Martin had to be assisted from the ring. He was taken to hospital, and there he died.

Boxing- Death Ooourrs -

In the boxing matches held at the Empire theatre last night, the tragic accidental death of Martin ( Mati ) Mitchell of Parekura appears to have been caused.

During a paperweight bout between Martin Mitchell and Charlie Enoka, both aged 11, Martin, was punched to the jaw and fell unoonoioua. He was rushed to the hospital where he died.

The funeral of Martin Mitchell will be held this afternoon at L p,m.

The " Cook Islands News ” deeply regrets this tragic event, and our sympathies go to Martin’s family and friends.

—From “The Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga The cause of death was uncertain, but a corres pondent reported ‘it was possibly due to a fracture of the upper cervical vertebra”.

At the funeral next day, paid for by the Boxing Association, boy boxers were pall-bearers and Charlie was one of those who wept.

The championship tournament was postponed for a week as a mark of respect for the dead boy boxer.

When it resumed, there was an opening prayer and one minute’s silence for Martin.

Martin’s death was the second boxing fatality in the Cooks, as far as anybody could remember. Matia Dean, a married man in his twenties, was killed about 1943.

The death of 14-year-old Martin has brought very little anti-boxing reaction from the Cook Islands’ public. The championship tournament resumed with a full attendance.