By Terry Maddaford

There is more biff outside the ring than in it at the Auckland Boxing Association these days, with the battle for the vacant presidency bringing more action than tournaments the association struggles to promote.

President Bob Lyall walked out of an executive meeting earlier this month and later resigned, opening the way for a two-way struggle between Reece Facoory and Gil Sullivan for the presidency at the scheduled annual meeting last week.

But that was canned at the last minute as Facoory was in Darwin as manager of the New Zealand team at the Arafura Games and Sullivan had apparently - rightly or wrongly - had his wings clipped by the New Zealand Boxing Association.

In a letter to ABA secretary Peter Wahlstrom, NZBA president Keith Walker said, "... I wish to draw to your attention the fact that the most recently-held professional tournament held in the Auckland Gymnasium was promoted by Mr Gill [sic] Sullivan, a member of your association. As a consequence this also precludes Mr Sullivan from holding office on your association."

Sullivan pointed out that the tournament in question was promoted by his son, former professional boxer Marty, under a licence issued by the police to the Wellington-based International Sporting Association.

Sullivan produced a legal opinion at last week's annual meeting that said "... in my opinion their [NZBA] ruling is contrary to natural justice, not proven and not within their jurisdiction ..."

Walker said that if it was found the licence was issued in the name of Marty Sullivan it would no longer be an issue.

"We are reasonable people," said Walker. "We had greater concerns about another ABA member, Gary McCrystal, seeking office as he is seen by our council as a professional promoter and therefore ineligible to hold office as an elected officer."

Of the decision of former ABA member Bill Barling - elected from the floor to chair the meeting in Facoory's absence - to call off the meeting, Sullivan said he has had two legal opinions which suggest he exceeded his powers in doing so.

"Bill Barling said he considered it undemocratic to proceed with the meeting because three members [Facoory, John McKay and Paul McSharry] were absent," said Sullivan. "But nowhere in the rules does it say he has that right. There was a quorum and the meeting should have gone ahead."

McKay, Facoory and McSharry are due back from Darwin today, with McKay already facing a $250,000 writ from injured Solomon Islands boxer Joseph Saimei. This is due to go to the High Court in September.

The ABA's annual meeting, when it does go ahead, promises to be a stormy affair with questions certain to be asked, among other issues, about the association's poor financial record, including the bar where from sales of $2249 there was a loss of $3230.