Boxing: Glowing references for 'reformed' Olympics-bound boxer

By PETER JESSUP

Boxer Soulan Pownceby will fly out for a training camp in Tahiti today confused at reaction to his Olympics berth because he has previously represented New Zealand at six international tournaments.

Had Pownceby not revealed on the TVNZ show Road to Athens that he had a manslaughter conviction he would have left the country for Athens with little attention.

Pownceby took up boxing after early release from his four-year jail term following the death of his 5-month-old daughter.

Salvation Army boxing academy coach Paul Fitzsimons vouched for Pownceby before a Parole Board hearing and agreed to house him on release, assisting his exit from Paparoa Prison.

"I found him a good bloke. He's turned his life around and he deserves his chance at the Olympics," said Fitzsimons.

"He's helped train kids at the gym. He doesn't drink or do drugs. He's very focused on his sport and he deserves his chance."

Pownceby had turned Christian a few months ago, accepting the Catholic faith, Fitzsimons said. "I don't know why people want to crucify him."

New Zealand Boxing Association convenor of selectors Bob Lyall was with the Kiwi teams that Pownceby was part of at four Oceania games, the world amateur championships in Bangkok last year and the Commonwealth Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

Lyall has refereed some of his bouts here.

"I have always found him to be a good person to have around. He is a great role model," said Lyall.

"His temper does not even come out in the ring - if you lose your rag in the ring you'll lose. Soul has been totally controlled in and out of the ring. I've selected him several times - I've never had any discipline concerns. You get to know someone well when you're staying away from home together and I've got no problems with him, he's an ordinary bloke."

NZ coach Phil Shatford has trained Pownceby for four years and will mentor him at the Games. "He has the right attitude [for sport]. He's one of the most focused boys I've had anything to do with."

Shatford repeated the references from Fitzsimons and Lyall and said he had no discipline concerns, that the boxer had an even temperament and was not given to moods or temper flares and would be a good role model. He rated him a medal prospect.

"You would be taking everything away from him if he was prevented from going [to Athens]."

It is convictions for assault since his release in 1997 that have raised concern about Pownceby's role as a sporting model. NZBA president Keith Walker said the organisation had considered those.

"None of them carried any substantial penalty at all," Walker said.

"He has a good record in recent years both in behaviour and performance [in boxing]. We considered his case, we have no intention of revisiting the decision [to send him to Athens]." But it will consider the public reaction, or as Walker put it, the "fall-out".

Pownceby's prowess

2002: NZ light-heavyweight champion, won a Prime Minister's scholarship for promising athletes.

Oceania Games 2000-2004: Three golds, one at middleweight, two at light-heavy including winning the 2004 tournament in Tonga to qualify for Athens.

2003: World Amateur Championships in Bangkok, lost on points in the first round of the tournament to the eventual winner from Cuba.

1998: Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Cup, lost in the quarter-finals.