Obituary: Gerry Preston

By PETER JESSUP

Boxing coach, died aged 80.

It's a surety that, in the next world right now, Gerry Preston will be sitting down to talk boxing with old rival George Cammick.

The passing of Preston at age 80 this week closed an era in the history of the sport in Auckland. The two always seemed to be craggy old men, in opposite corners, the fighters from Cammick's Otahuhu gym in red and blue and Preston's in red and black.

They both worked at Affco's Southdown works as engineers. Their rivalry was fierce, but together they helped to shape boxing's future in Auckland.

Cammick died some years ago, while Preston carried on as a trainer until the end of 2002, a reign Auckland Boxing Association president Gary McCrystal said was unrivalled.

Preston was born in the Waikato and came to Auckland as a young man, his family settling in Onehunga. He never moved far - his gym was in Swanson Park in Mangere Bridge.

The building was erected on Manukau City Council land because Preston convinced the council that he would help to redirect the life of troubled youth. He and mate Rangi Newton begged and borrowed materials and added money of their own to build a clubrooms also shared by the Mangere Bridge Athletic Association.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights Preston trained any kids who cared to show up.

He never took any money, had little sponsorship support and often dug into his own pockets to provide his fighters with everything from food to gloves.

Preston was briefly in the United States with his brother Howard, who trained professional fighters, but he soon returned, the "big-time" not for him.

He began training young boys at his home. Too many wanted to learn, and the clubrooms resulted.

For 45 years he trained kids, some of whom went on to pro careers, not least Raeli Raeli, Jimmy Peau and David Tua. His fighters won many New Zealand amateur championship titles.

"His work with underprivileged kids was absolutely outstanding over many years," McCrystal said. But he gained little recognition other than in the boxing world, where he was a star.

Preston died on Tuesday from a form of pneumonia.

He leaves two daughters, Mary and Geraldine, sons Bevan and Bill, who played hooker for the Otahuhu club and Auckland, and 12 grandchildren.

His funeral will be at the chapel of the Mangere Lawn Cemetery at 10am on Monday.