N. Z. Railways to be represented at Olympia - 1928

Date: 1 Jan 1928 [unknown]
Location: New Zealand
Surnames/tags: Cleverly Olympics

Transcription from Page 16 of 'The New Zealand Railways Magazine' dated January 1, 1928

N. Z. Railways to be represented at Olympia

Apprentice-fitter A. J. Cleverly, of the Petone Workshops, New Zealand's selection for the World Boxing Championship.

It will no doubt be interesting to the N. Z. Railway staff to learn that young Alfred John Cleverley, who has been selected to represent New Zealand in the world’s boxing championship at the Olympic Games this year is an apprentice fitter at Petone Workshops.

His all-round athletic record is considered by competent judges to be one of the best ever held by a New Zealander.

At the age of 13 years he swam 2 miles in record time; the same year he won the junior provincial championship, was one of the team of four who won the junior life-saving shield, was runner-up in the junior tennis championships, received the medal for being the best all round cricketer in the Wellington Boys’ Institute Senior C. cricket team, was a member of the team which won the “Duthie” Cup Swimming Relay Race, and gained a marksmanship badge for shooting.

The following year he won the lightweight boxing championship of the Boys’ Institute.

At the age of 17 years young Cleverly had fought in five different weights - light, welter, middle, light-heavy, and heavy weight and was never defeated. In 1926 he won the light-heavy-weight championship of the Army, and last year he won the heavy-weight championship of the Army and Navy

This young Railway Man has already gained the Royal Life-saving Society’s Award of merit. He played for the Railway Rugby team which won the “Myers” Cup and he is now a senior cricket player for the Midland Club. In 1924 he won the “Winder” Cup for having the best all-round average for that club.

In 1928 Cleverly was a member of the (under 12st) Railway tug-of-war team which won the Wellington championship; at the age of 18 years he won the 1926 middle-weight boxing championship of New Zealand (being the youngest that has ever held that title); last year he won the light-heavy-weight boxing championship of New Zealand.

Appended is the list of boxers whom he has defeated:- Light-weight: Robinson, on points; Rathmer, on points; Falloon k.o. second round, Welter-weight Ridgeway (champion of the Navy), on points (Cleverly was then only 16 years of age, and 8 lb. lighter than Ridgeway, who was a powerfully built man). Middle-weight; Gunnion (champion of Wellington), on points; Wills (champion of Taranaki), on points; Gordon (champion of Hawke’s Bay), on points; Cotter (champion of Westport), on points; Pocock (champion of New Zealand), on points: Pocock won that title again last year, when Cleverly was competing in the light-heavy-weights. Light-heavy-weight: Love, technical k.o. first round; Evert (champion of New Zealand), on points; Davis (champion of the Navy), on points; Schimanaki (champion of Canterbury), on points; Hepburn (champion of Hawkes Bay), by default; Hogg (champion of Auckland), k.o. first round. Heavy-weight: Fitzsimmons (champion of Wellington), and has since defeated the 1925 and 1926 champion heavy weights of New Zealand on points; Tyree (1927 champion of Wellington), twice, on points; Marshall (champion of the Navy), on points; (Marshall was 23 lb heavier than Cleverly), Cleverly has never suffered defeat in the boxing ring. Yet throughout his career he has never barred weight or age. As a middle-weight boxer he was also boxing in the light-heavy and heavy-weight classes. The Railways may well be proud of the distinction in the athletic field already gained by this young boxer, whose showing at the world's championship events will be eagerly awaited.

Page 16 The New Zealand Railways Magazine January 1, 1928