Dominated Boxing

And the crowds loved it all

Fiji And Samoas

With the notable exception of the vigorous French Polynesians and the game New Guineans, boxing stan dards generally weren’t much im proved. Fiji and Samoa dominated the bouts.

The Polynesians had appeared for the first time in Noumea and proved to be gym fighters, folding up under pressure. They couldn’t take the hard punches and went down in short fights.

At Moresby they kept their guards better, traded punch for punch and were better versed in the rules and tactics.

Early bouts produced a few “roughies”, especially from New Guinea and the New Hebrides, As expected, both American and Western Samoan boxers were very strong, taking many places in the semi-finals and finals with Fiji. The New Cale donians, showing they had not neglected modern facilities in Noumea, put on better shows.

The Tongans, despite attacks of flu at their Administrative College

village (Fiji was affected to a lesser extent), fought well in the heavy weight and middlweight classes. The New Guineans showed real future promise and their performances proved there is great potential there to upgrade and expand this sport.

They should do well in 1971.

That the boxing went off smoothly at all was remarkable. Several last minute equipment changes were made and training facilities, despite team managers’ protests, were meagre.

Wrong-weight gloves had to be replaced and the size of the boxing ring, set under floodlights at the Papua Rugby League Ground, was found to be six inches too small.

Both errors were corrected.

Big crowds, bolstered by great numbers of local Papuans and lively French Polynesian supporters, at tended the five nights of fights. The Papuans roared at any wild punches, not to mention any warnings vener able Fiji referee, Stan Brown, handed out. It was all taken very light heartedly.

Tongan middleweight S. Ngalu gains a controversial points decision over American Samoan P. Nonaaea in a night match at the Rugby League Ground, Boroko. Referee is Mr. S. Brown.