Sport: Shadow Boxing

Shadow Boxing From Milan's stadiumlike Velodromo Vigorelli last week fluttered the flags of 22 European nations—including the Soviet Union. For the first time in 30 years, Russian leather-pushers were going to fight under Western rules in the European Amateur Boxing championships. Or were they?

Four days before the bouts, Moscow suddenly wired that its boxers "could not appear, in view of unforeseen circumstances." Then the Red embassy in Rome announced that it knew of no change in plans. Next, on the day before the championships, the Polish team informed officials that the Russians were on the way at last by air from Minsk. But when weighing-in time came, there were no Russians in sight. They were scratched from the lists, and the bouts went on without them (and without the satellite Rumanians, who claimed last-minute visa trouble).

Two satellites who did appear did well. Hungary finished third (after Italy and Germany), and Poland's Zygmunt Chychla won the welterweight crown. The biggest loser was Tourney Director Eduardo Mazzia, who hadn't known the Russians were only shadow boxing. He had to pick up the hotel tab for the 28 boxers and trainers who had stayed in Minsk.