Boxing: Emotions run high for Pownceby

11.00am - By MARK GEENTY

ATHENS - Boxer Soulan Pownceby fought back tears at New Zealand's Olympic memorial service today as his mind was cast far away from the furore surrounding his selection.

Pownceby was one of several team members emotionally moved by the memorial service honouring New Zealand soldiers killed in Greece in World War 2.

One survivor from Greece 60 years ago was Pownceby's grandfather John and the emotions were running high for New Zealand's most talked about team member.

"This was just really moving for me, I found it really hard not to cry," Pownceby told NZPA.

"You think of the sacrifice that our grandfathers made for us. My grandfather fought in Crete, he came back alive fortunately.

"He passed away when I was two but my uncle told me all about him."

Pownceby was one of just a handful of New Zealand athletes who attended today's ceremony. He said the tribute at a sweltering Phaleron War Cemetery, where 232 New Zealanders are buried, was an inspiring way to build up to his first Olympic light heavyweight bout on Saturday.

Boxing hasn't been the only thing on his mind in recent weeks, after the media storm that erupted when he revealed in a television documentary he was convicted and jailed for the manslaughter of his baby daughter in 1995.

It sparked a very public debate over whether he should compete at Athens, with Prime Minister Helen Clark even weighing in.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee ruled that nothing was stopping Pownceby travelling to Athens, as he had served his time.

Pownceby, from Christchurch, said there was no understating how difficult the issue had been for his buildup.

"It's been extremely tough, it's not exactly ideal Olympic preparation," he said, adding he'd rather not discuss it.

With that in the background, Pownceby and his coach Phil Shatford have been doing their best to build for his biggest sporting day on Saturday as the only New Zealand boxer in Athens.

Their cause has been helped by the presence of Trevor Shailer, the 1992 Olympic boxer who led a stirring haka at today's ceremony, who will assist in Pownceby's corner on Saturday.

Shatford agreed the buildup had been far from ideal after Pownceby, 29, earned his place in Athens as the solitary New Zealand fighter by winning the Oceania gold medal.

"It hasn't been easy on me, so I could imagine what he's been going through. It hasn't been the best," Shatford said.

"He's a strong person, he does it by himself. Sometimes you just can't block it out, you've got to live with it. We've done our best."

Pownceby will discover his first round opponent on Friday, just 24 hours before he steps into the ring.

He was sparring with a middleweight fighter from the South African team this week to round off his preparation.

- NZPA