Usually sports associations learn from the public relations stupidity of others. But not the British Boxing writers, who hold their annual awards dinner at London's Savoy Hotel on April 15th. Jane Couch (right), the bestknown female boxer in Britain and world welterweight champion, is banned from the men-only gala because she is a woman.

One scribe, who believed the finely-balanced athmosphere of the event would be upset with women present, said: "Where would it end. Would we have to invite ring-card girls?"

In boxing parlance, the writers, many of whom are journalists, need to take a standing count.