We pick up the thread of the best Heavyweights in Boxing New Zealand history, looking at the finest in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s.

English born Frank Creagh, won the New Zealand’s first Empire Games Boxing Gold Medal at the 1950 games held in Auckland, New Zealand. Introduced to boxing in the concrete jungle of the West Ham docks area, Creagh won a British schoolboy title in 1938 and the following year became the London middleweight champion, at the tender age of sixteen. After war service in the British Army, the Londoner arrived in Wellington via the merchant navy. Wandering around he spotted the City Mission gym and under the guidance of Harry Squires he began to climb the amateur heavyweight ranks.

Creagh swept all before him at the 1949 New Zealand championships and then set his sights on representing his adopted country, at the Empire Games the following year. In the trials he became an automatic selection with the demolition of his opponents. There were only two entrants in the Heavyweight division in Auckland and Frank was up against Australian F Cousins for the gold medal prize. The durable Australian must have been pleased when the final bell went, as he had been hit all around the ring, while Frank with chin down, punched out an easy point’s victory. Frank settled in Rotorua during 1962 and trained out of the May Road gymnasium for many years. One of the many fine boxers that started his career with the Rotorua mentor, was former New Zealand amateur and professional champion Michael Sykes. Frank Creagh passed away in 1998.

The record number of wins in the Heavyweight division at the National Championships is eight victories, by Aucklander Bill Kini. After an initial victory in 1959 representing Southland, Kini missed in 1960, with Eddie Morrison annexing the title. Bill moved to Auckland and joined George Cammick’s Otahuhu gymnasium, going on to win the heavyweight championship seven years in succession, from 1961 to 1967. Auckland made the title its own in the sixties as Joe Jackson followed Kini with victories during the last two years of the decade.

New Zealand has won seven Commonwealth Games Gold Medals and six Silver medallions. Bill Kini won Silver and Gold in successive Games. In 1962 at Perth Bill defeated Graham Robinson (Australia) to progress to the final, only to drop a point’s decision to G Oywello (Uganda) in the title decider. Again selected for the Commonwealth team in 1966, he went one better in Kingston, Jamaica winning the ultimate prize. After a first round walkover, Kini went onto defeat D McAlinden (Northern Ireland) in the semi’s and A Ray (Ghana) for the gold medal prize. Bill was another that was passed over for Olympic selection during a time when a New Zealand Olympic selection committee, after each sport made their nominations, made the final decision.

Bill Byrne won ten New Zealand senior titles in two weight divisions. In 1972, 1974 and 1975 Bill won the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles in the one evening. A record that probably won’t ever be beaten, as the NZBA rules were changed to not allow a boxer to compete in more than one weight division at the National Championships.

Bill was born in Gisborne and commenced boxing with Dan O’Connor before shifting to Wellington in 1969. It was in the Hutt Valley that he came under the tutelage of Alan Scaife when he joined the Heretaunga Boxing Club. In 1970, aged eighteen years of age, he became the youngest Heavyweight titleholder (until David Tua in 1989). After finishing in the runner-up position in 1971, he started a run unlikely to be surpassed, with victories every year until 1977. On the occasions that he won two titles in the one evening, Bill would box the light heavyweight final in the first bout and then return in the last to contest the heavyweight final.

While his New Zealand championship record was impressive, so also was his international record. He was unbeaten at the 1974 Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch, receiving the silver medal.  Injury in the semi-final ruled Byrne out of contesting the final. As well as Gold at the Oceania championships in 1972 and 1974, Bill ended his international career with 24 victories from 25 contests. Included in his international victories was a defeat of T Sullivan, the USA national golden gloves champion.

Another heavyweight to make his mark in the 1970’s was George Stankovich. In a short career of only 25 amateur contests the Auckland fighter had spectacular success. Trained by Gerry Preston, 1978 was the year for George as he won Auckland, New Zealand and Oceania Gold and brought home a Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. He is also remembered for several action packed bouts with Bill Byrne. In 1979 he represented Oceania at the World Cup losing in the quarterfinals. After being told he wasn’t good enough for the 1980 Moscow Olympics (which New Zealand eventually boycotted), Stankovich turned professional. He won the New Zealand professional heavyweight title, stopping giant Tongan boxer Young Sekona in the seventh round.

Barry Leabourn

Article added: Sunday 23 December 2018