Crunch hits Canterbury boxing

Coach Phil Shatford believed tough financial times and a lack of funding were behind host American Samoa pulling out of the proposed April tournament.

"This is the first time I can remember that there will be no Oceania boxing games," he said.

A Canterbury Boxing Association trial on March 14, for the Oceania games, has now been cancelled.

"It's a huge disappointment for the boxers, who have been training hard with this in mind," Shatford said. "It means our top New Zealand boxers are going to miss out on valuable international competition."

He said it was too late now for a substitute host to step in and take over the annual championship.

"No-one else has put their hand up and I'm guessing it's the money because things are very tight at the moment with sponsorship and costs," he said.

"Unfortunately our top guys like Yamiko Chinula, Nathan McEwen and Todd Commons won't get a trot for a while."

Shatford said interest had been shown from New Zealand in hosting the Oceania event next year in what was a Commonwealth Games year.

"It takes on much more importance in a Commonwealth Games or Olympic year, so there will be some urgency to run the tournament."

There was some hope of a North Island and South Island team being sent to the May 11-15 Arafura Games in Darwin.

"It's not as high class as the Oceania championships but it's still international competition, which is what a lot of these guys are after."

Canterbury boxers can step into the ring at the South Island novice championships at the Woolston Club on March 28. SOURCE: http://www.stuff.co.nz