BRIAN FRANCIS O’BRIEN

 December 12th, 1922 – May 1st, 1982.

 Brian 0’Brien’s contribution to New Zealand boxing both amateur and professional was huge and it’s a contribution that continues to this day, many years after his death. His stand-out work detailing the history of New Zealand Boxing “Kiwis with Gloves On” pub, in 1960 remains to this day the most authoritative work covering the first 100 years of the sport in NZ.

O’Brien was educated at Marist Newtown and Saint Patrick’s College in Wellington. At a young age, he developed an interest in all sports, loved cricket and rugby but his passion was boxing and wrestling. As was the norm in those days he boxed as a youngster at school. After leaving school he embarked on a career in journalism. During WW11 he served in the NZ Air Force. After the war, he worked as a journalist for several years on the Evening Post.

In 1949 he started Sports Digest which sprang out of the NZ Sportsman. Sports Digest a monthly publication, had a wide array of contributors and covered all sports. It enjoyed a huge readership; sports lovers had no better way of keeping up with what was going on in NZ sports. Local Boxing coverage was extensive, lovers of the sport eagerly awaited its appearance on newsstands in much the same way as they looked forward to Nat Fleisher’s Ring for its international coverage. O’Brien edited and published Sports Digest from 1949 through to 1979 when ill health forced him to cease publication.

 Brian O’Brien didn’t just write about boxing he was actively involved in its promotion. He qualified as a judge in 1958 and went onto become an AIBA-appointed judge. He officiated at two Empire/Commonwealth Games 1962 and 1974. He became an executive member of the Wellington Boxing Ass and Association Chairman from 1963 to 1976. He was elected onto the New Zealand Boxing Council in 1972 and became its Chairman. In 1975 he was elected President of Boxing New Zealand.

 Brian O’Brien was a Justice of The Peace and served as a Wellington City Councillor. 

 He passed away on May 1st, 1982 at the young age of 59.

 Since 1983 at New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships the Brian O’Brien Trophy has been awarded annually for “Services to Boxing”.

 Since 2012 the “Brian F O’Brien Memorial Prize in Sports Journalism” has been awarded annually to the Massey University Graduate Diploma in Journalism student who submits a portfolio containing the two best sports articles.

MP 2020.