B10 SPORT Friday, November 23, 2012 THE PRESS, Christchurch BOXING GOLF SCORES First round scores from the BMW NZ Golf Open held at Christchurch’s Clearwater Golf Club (Par 72 6497m) (am- denotes amateur): Fitzy fights on for new home 68: Craig Hancock (AUS). 70: Kristopher Mueck (AUS), Ryan Fox (NZL). A veteran trainer could be out for the 71: Steven Jeffress (AUS), Ewan Porter (AUS), Nick Cullen (AUS), Ryan Haller (AUS), Vaughan count if he cannot find new premises to McCall (am, NZL), Gareth Paddison (NZL), Matthew Ballard mentor his boxers. Paul Fitzsimons (AUS), Brad Shilton (NZL), Heath Reed (AUS). talks to TONY SMITH. 72: Mahal Pearce (NZL), Mark Brown (NZL), Mathew Perry (NZL), Jake Higginbottom (am, AUS), hampion boxing physiotherapist who trains at Daniel Fox (WA), Peter Wilson trainer Paul Fitz Boxing with his son, (AUS), Pieter Zwart (NZL), Andrew Fitzsimons is not Adam, hopes an organisation Martin (AUS). down for the count will offer a new home for the 73: Joshua Carmichael (NZL), Ben Cbut the earthquake aftermath respected trainer to continue Wharton (AUS), Marcus Cain has him on the ropes. his coaching career. (AUS), Ben Campbell (NZL), Aaron The former New Zealand ‘‘He wouldn’t put his hand Townsend (AUS), Phil Tataurangi and Australasian lightweight up and say he needs some (NZL), Fraser Wilkin (NZL), Andrew Tschudin (AUS), Michael champion needs a new home help. But there will be Wright (AUS), Peter Spearman- for his stable of boxers from someone out there who knows Burn (NZL), Aaron Pike (AUS), Fitz Boxing. how to get funding [for new Brent McCullough (AUS). Fitzy – as he is known in premises and equipment]. 74: Henry Epstein (AUS), Bradley fight circles – used to train his ‘‘It’s quite hard to find Iles (NZL), Terry Price (AUS), Greg charges at Crichton Cobbers’ anywhere, since the Turner (NZL), David Bransdon gym. However, the venerable earthquakes there’s no halls (AUS), Douglas Holloway (NZL), Fitzgerald St building was around any more.’’ Nathan Holman (am, AUS), Peter destroyed in the February Koch said he would hate to O’Malley (AUS), Michael Hendry (NZL), Kevin Smith (NZL), Harry 2011 earthquake. The former see Fitz Boxing fold but if a Bateman (am, NZL), Michael Pro Fitness studio in new home could not be found, Foster (WA), Clint Rice (AUS), Moorhouse Ave, where Fitzy ‘‘some of these guys will drift Edward Stedman (AUS). ran boxing for fitness classes, away because they will have 75: Jason Yoo (am, NZL), Anthony is also a no-go zone. to go to other trainers [to Doyle (NZL), Steven Jones (AUS), The Fitz Boxing team continue boxing next year]’’. Tyler Hodge (am, NZL), Richard members have been put ‘‘It could easily fold on him Gallichan (AUS), Quinton Howe through their paces at the and that would be it.’’ (AUS), Ryan Chisnall (am, NZL), Peter Cooke (AUS), Ryan Papanui Boxing Club He said Fitzy was ‘‘old McCarthy (AUS), Max McCardle premises for the past two school’’ in the best sense of (AUS). seasons but pressure of space the words. 76: Glenn Joyner (AUS), Matt means they need to move at ‘‘He trains top fighters but Jager (WA), Daniel Pearce (NZL), the end of the year. he will also help anyone who Craig Hasthorpe (AUS), Andrew Fitzy said Papanui boxing walks in the door, whether Evans (AUS), Richard Lee (NZL), boss Mike Pimley had been they want to fight Tom Turner (am, NZL), Corey Hale ‘‘just great, letting us use [competitively] or improve (AUS), Peter Nolan (AUS), their facilities’’ but it was their fitness, confidence and Leighton Lyle (AUS). time to move on. self-belief.’’ 77: David McKendrick (AUS), Sam An (am, NZL), Jason Norris (AUS), ‘‘If someone’s got a Boxing has been Fitzy’s life Alex Hawley (AUS), Michael community hall or gym we for more than 50 years. Moore (AUS), Shaun Hewitt (NZL), could use, we’d be very He won New Zealand and Dongwoo Kang (KOR), Troy grateful,’’ said Fitzy, who is Australian titles in the 1960s Ropiha (NZL), Grant Thomas ‘‘nearly 70’’ but still keen as and was proud he ‘‘beat (AUS), Rika Batibasaga (AUS), Ian mustard despite a heart [Canterbury boxing legend] Esson (AUS), Andrew Kelly (AUS), attack four years ago. Dion Murphy twice’’ in the Anthony Brown (AUS), Matthew Stieger (AUS), Leigh McKechnie ‘‘We can’t afford big days when ‘‘we used to get On the ropes: Former New Zealand boxing trainer Paul Fitzsimons needs a training venue. Photo: DAVID HALLETT/FAIRFAX NZ (AUS), Ryan Lynch (AUS), Mitchell money, some of these boxers 6000 down to watch us fight on Brown (AUS), Peter Welden (AUS), can only pay $5 [a session] Thursday nights at representative in Tokyo in He still has ‘‘a passion for 1991, helping the New Zealand winner Reece Papuni, who around the world, to Nick Botica (am, NZL). and some haven’t got any Canterbury Court’’. 1964. He was also trained at boxing’’ as a sport based team at the world provided him with one of his Azerbaijan, Indonesia, the 78: Mark Purser (NZL), Deyen money at all . but we can Fitzy lost on split decisions one time by the late around ‘‘technique and skill’’. championships ‘‘when career highlights. Bahamas, Europe and Lawson (AUS), Tim Wood (AUS), pay our way. to top New Zealand fighters Canterbury boxing legend ‘‘People think I’m too hard [David] Tua was only 18’’. The veteran trainer was Britain. He took part in a pre- Thomas Petersson (SWE), David ‘‘We’d like to have Manny Santos in Gisborne Wally Darrell, and in but I’m not really. He ran a Salvation Army- the Oceania coach at the Olympic women’s boxing Klein (NZL). somewhere for the start of and Paddy McNally in Australia by Bob Palmer, ‘‘But I’m one of the old backed boxing programme for President’s Cup tournament training camp in Wales and 79: Mark Speedy (NZL), Clarke next year and we might need Invercargill. He fought and whose brother, Ambrose, was school . if you want to box, youngsters in Aranui for in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2010 stayed on to watch the boxing Osborne (AUS), Christopher Wood some sponsorship to buy a bit beat some of Australia’s best the third-ranked amateur you have to be dedicated.’’ seven years. when Papuni won a bronze in London. (AUS), Jeremy Hall (am, NZL), Brendan Smith (AUS), Brad of equipment.’’ pugilists, and turned down an heavyweight in the world. After hanging up his own His graduates included medal in the 81kg class. He ‘‘I reckon the whole of McIntosh (AUS), Martin Dive Fitzy, a recent national offer to base himself on the Both Maunsells had a gloves, Fitzy took over the brothers Brad and Blake was beaten only 7-6 for a place Ireland was there the night (AUS), Daniel PopoAUS (AUS), women’s team coach, is lucrative United States circuit profound impact on Fitzy’s Maunsell stable of 30 amateur Milner, who later turned pro in the final by a rival ‘‘who the Irish girl [Katie Taylor] Matthew Giles (AUS), Jamie training ‘‘18 to 20’’ boxers, because he did not want to ringcraft philosophy which and professional fighters at and once fought on the same had won four fights at the won her gold medal.’’ Arnold (AUS), Josh Younger including the highly regarded uproot his family. he still preaches to his own the Irish Society Hall when card in Australia. previous Olympics’’. However, as Koch says, (AUS), Bradley Andrews (AUS), Nort Beauchamp, who has Fitzy was a disciple of charges. He says the golden the brothers retired. Fitzy has also mentored Boxing has been good to now it is boxing’s time to pay Adam Stephens (AUS), Paul won consecutive national noted Christchurch coach rules of good footwork, the ‘‘But I had a young family many of Canterbury’s best Fitzy, who was an assistant Fitzy back for his devotion. Hayden (AUS), Cody Harper (NZL). lightweight and light- Martin Maunsell, whose basic fundamentals and quick and I couldn’t keep it going, so fighters, including former coach when Canterbury’s Phil ‘‘The New Zealand Boxing 80: Josh Geary (NZL), Brett welterweight titles. brother, Brian, was an jabs are still a foolproof path I had a break for a while.’’ Olympian Soulan Pownceby Shatford was national men’s Federation should step in and Drewitt (am, AUS), Andrew Green (NZL), Chris Gaunt (AUS), Leigh Karl Koch, a Christchurch Olympic Games to success. He returned to coaching in and former Golden Gloves coach. It has taken him help a guy like this.’’ Deagan (AUS), Brody Ninyette (WA), Grant Moorhead (NZL), Samuel Eaves (AUS), Alex Katholos (AUS), Samuel Brazel HOCKEY (AUS), Cameron Jones (am, NZL). 81: Sean Riordan (NZL), Hamish Robertson (NZL), Kyle Grant (AUS), Daniel Valente (AUS), Brett Rankin (AUS), Damon Welsford (AUS), Daniel Morrison Canterbury have strong showing in Black Sticks (AUS), Sven Puymbroeck (NZL). 82: Jared Pender (NZL), Scott Hellier (am, NZL), James Canterbury women’s hock- 25-strong squad to eight, Roberts, whose older sister, have made themselves third in the world rankings However, the Australian Gemma Flynn (Midlands) 119, Krystal Cadenhead (am, NZL), Owen Forgesson (Auckland) 168, Sian Fre- Burgess (am, NZL). ey’s resurgence has continued joining Bridget Blackwood (17 Niniwa, is an ex- unavailable for 2013. over a single Olympic cycle. says, the option of staying on maux (Canterbury) 0, Amelia Gibson with five red-and-black new caps), Sophie Devine (36) and international. The future looks good for Taking charge in the to the next Olympic Games in (Canterbury) 11, Katie Glynn (Auck- 83: Kalem Richardson (AUS), caps in the Black Sticks squad Amelia Gibson (11).