Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar
Doctors, a minister, educators, athletic officials and a sports commentator polled by the Star-Bulletin voted seven to five in favor of boxing as an interscholastic sport here.
The Hawaiian American Athletic Union Boxing Commission will discuss a proposal to add boxing to high school athletic competition at a meeting tentatively set for November 18.
(Some) in favor of the proposal had this to say:
Dr. Albert Chun, Roosevelt High School football team physician:
"I don’t think there’s too much danger from boxing, as it’s done on the college level.
"Protective head gear worn by college boxers acts like football helmets."
PHYSICIAN
Dr. Raymon Yap, McKinley’s team physician:
"If the boys qualify, there is no more damage from one sport than the other. Competently supervised, boxing can be healthy."
Two school principals, William Wong of Roosevelt and Paul M. Simpson of Iolani, agreed with Dr. Yap …
Tom Kiyosaki, Farrington football coach and a member of the A.A.U. committee:
"Boxing would offer some small schools a chance to compete in sports on even terms with larger schools."
Frank Valenti, local sportscaster who handles "Biddy Boxing" television shows:
"If handled well, boxing is less dangerous than football. The object of amateur boxing is not to inflict injury."
OPPOSED
(Those) against the proposal had this to say:
Dr Joseph F.C. Lau, St. Louis team physician:
"I don’t think it’s a suitable sport for youngsters. There’s too much damages to eyes or of concussions."
The Reverend Burton A. McLean, Iolani headmaster:
"I definitely do not favor boxing. The danger of brain injury is there even with head gear.
"More and more colleges on the Mainland are dropping boxing …"
William E. Belt, Farrington principal, and William J. Geiger, McKinley principal, said they preferred team sports rather than individual sports like boxing.
