Olympian boxer in tears over selection furore says trainer

1.00pm

Olympic boxer Soulan Pownceby had been in tears over the furore his selection has created since it was revealed he has served prison time for the manslaughter of his daughter, his trainer said today.

Pownceby has been shunning the media today after the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) announced yesterday he would be the sole New Zealand representative in the middleweight division at the Athens Olympics.

However his personal trainer, Chris Martin, told NZPA today the public debate over his criminal past had reduced him to tears.

"This is hard. He is very upset and was in tears last night.

"It is a bitter-sweet pill really. To realise a dream, all the hard work has come alive and to have this ... "

He said if the New Zealand Olympic Committee had not accepted Pownceby's nomination it would have sent a message that those people who took a wrong path in life could not be rehabilitated and society would not accept them again.

"You might as well not try to make better of yourself. That is the negative message they are sending.

"He has not been in trouble for the last four years. He has been focused on boxing for the last four years. He has won three Oceania championships in the last four years and he has done all that was required him to qualify for the Olympics. That is a good story," Martin said.

In 1995 Pownceby, then known as Soulan Rikihana, was sentenced to four years in prison for the manslaughter death of his five-month-old daughter.

Several assault charges followed his discharge from prison.

Victim Support boss Steve Caldwell said today New Zealand should let criminals turn their lives around through sport.

"The world is full of stories of criminals turning their lives around through sport and I'm all for that happening," he said.

However, he said that with Pownceby, "I don't know if that's true in this case or not".

Mr Caldwell said he understood concerns people had that a criminal who had served considerable jail time for significant crimes was now representing New Zealand.

"But I don't think we can afford to be a country that says there's no salvation."

Martin said Pownceby had a very troubled past. His sister was murdered, two years later his mother died of cancer, and his American navy father had never wanted to know him.

"He did his time hard in jail and when he got out he was probably still an angry young man and he picked up a few assault charges.

"But assault is many things. You shove someone out of the way (and it is assault).

"In the last four years he has had no convictions, no trouble and has been solely focused, and has turned his life around -- no question."

Martin said Pownceby was a "great guy, very personable and quite sensitive".

He said the publicity meant he had to relive the past again, which had been very tough.

"He is on trial again.

"He is doing a life sentence."

He said Pownceby had a faith in God since his conviction and one of his fights would raise funds to help meet the medical expenses of a young child with cancer.

The public debate on his past had affected his Olympic buildup.

"He only got where he has got because he can remain focused and set his mind on a goal and go for it," he said.

Pownceby was due to leave New Zealand tomorrow for a training camp in an undisclosed country.

"He will give it his all to try and win a medal. This has been a bit of a hiccup but he will get back on track," Mr Martin said.


- NZPA