Boxing: Boxer reunited with prized cup

Lance Revill with the long-vanished cup that he first won in 1972. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Lance Revill with the long-vanished cup that he first won in 1972. It turned up in an Auckland rubbish dump after disappearing 17 years ago. This time Revill is adamant it won't be leaving his trophy cabinet. Picture / Paul Estcourt


New Zealand boxing stalwart Lance Revill has amazingly come into the possession of a prized cup he first won in 1972.

The W.P. Somerville Cup for the light middleweight division was last awarded in 1989 and has been missing ever since.

Revill won the trophy in 1972 when representing Waikato and won it again in 1973, this time in Auckland colours.

The 1974 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was handed the cup on Friday after Northside boxing coach Peter Derrick found it in a rubbish dump and noticed Revill's name.

The cup is minus its base, has a few dents and lacks the shine it had when Revill last held it.

"It was wrecked, dented and almost completely discoloured," Revill said. "It was like a piece of aluminium."

Despite the condition of the cup, he is pleased to have it back.

Several great names have held the cup in the past 55 years, including former policeman and athlete John Hughes, who died in February. He first won the cup in 1955, before defending the title again in 1956 and 1957.

1990 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Andrew Creery was the last man to be awarded the cup when he won the title in 1989.

The light middleweight division no longer exists after it reverted to welterweight a couple of years ago, and Revill believes this gives him good reason to keep the trophy.

He plans to restore it and also hopes to add the names of those who won the title after the cup's disappearance.

He is adamant that the cup will not be leaving his home.

"I will put it in my trophy cabinet."