Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

There were heavy hearts in amateur boxing circles on both sides of the Tasman with the passing of two icons.

In Porirua City, Chris Kenny was given the final 10 count with the bell, before being laid to rest.

Born in Limerick, Ireland, Chris made New Zealand his home and had great success in the squared ring, winning the Australasian Light Middleweight title in Sydney in 1963.

A casual visit to a Titahi Bay boxing gym after retirement from combat in the ring, turned into a lifetime of coaching the noble art. Eight Oceania title holders along with a myriad of New Zealand boxing champions came out of Kenny's Porirua City gym.

Undoubtedly, top of his coaching achievements was to take his son Michael to gold medal success at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games. Michael Kenny and current Joseph Parker mentor Kevin Barry were two of the finest kiwi amateur boxers to enter the ring, with both representing New Zealand at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

After a premature retirement, Michael, with Chris in his corner, was lured back by the prospect of chasing gold at the Auckland Commonwealth Games. History tells us that Chris Kenny became the trainer of just our countries fifth Commonwealth Games boxing gold medalist.

Chris will also be well remembered for being in the corner of Tongan Super Heavyweight Paea Wolfgramm at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The New Zealand coach offered his services to an inexperienced Tongan ring corner and greatly assisted Paea Wolfgramm to an Olympic silver medallion.

Just days after Chris Kenny was laid to rest, news was received from New South Wales of the death of long time Australian Boxing administrator Arthur Tunstall.

Few people in Australia divided opinions like Arthur Tunstall, with quotes and comments that resulted in plenty of adverse public comment.

Arthur became involved in boxing as referee, judge, coach and arena official and was a member of the New South Wales Boxing Association for 59 years.

In 1969 he was appointed Secretary of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, a position held for some 30 years.

Controversy, such as suggesting that Australian sprint gold medalist Kathy Freeman be sent home from the 1994 Commonwealth Games for carrying the Aboriginal flag during her victory lap, didn't endear him to the Australian sporting public.

Another suggestion to receive plenty of media space, was his tongue in cheek idea touted at the 1990 Auckland Games that New Zealand should become the seventh and eighth states of Australia.

I had the pleasure of Arthur's company for a week at the 2002 Oceania Boxing Championships in Taupo.

Arthur was a real gentleman, who told me that he took great delight in winding the media up, often tongue in cheek.
While he had numerous battles with sporting administrators and the media, he was a straight shooter much admired by the athletes that he always put first.

RIP Chris Kenny and Arthur Tunstall.