WRESTLING

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 4

WRESTLING

KATAN BEATS KENNETH IN FAST BOUT The application of what was stated to be his favourite hold and one new to Christchurch, the Canadian Commando hold, gave John Katan, of Canada, victory over Ken Kenneth, of New Zealand, in the professional heavy-weight wrestling contest in the Theatre Royal last evening. Kenneth obtained a fall in the fifth round, and Katan obtained a fall in the seventh round, Kenneth was unable to continue when the gong sounded for the last rqund. The bout was full of interest, both men wrestling solidly most of the time, although there were sufficient fireworks to satisfy most.

Kenneth was an early favourite with the crowd after Katan had removed his knee from the New Zealander’s neck with the most obvious reluctance. Katan applied a short-arm scissors which troubled Kenneth, and he still held it when the gong sounded. There was more solid wrestling in the second round, Kenneth holding Katan in a head scissors. and repeatedly bringing his opponent’s, head down on to the mat with a resQunding smack. When the referee broke the hold Katan loped off for a breathing spell, but returned to administer the first elbow jolt of the evening, which was hailed with delight by the crowd. A leg stretch, applied by Kennfeth, persuaded Katan to seek safety through the ropes. The move cost him the crowd’s disapproval, and Katan gazed at the spectators reproachfully. In the next round Kenneth again bounced Katan's head up and down with a head scissor?. After some hard work Kenneth let loose -a series of elbow jolts. Katan complainied bitterly, and paced off to ponder the problem. His mind made up, he returned to administer a face massage to Kenneth. He then applied an arm stretch, to which he gave a farewell tug after the gong had gone. Kenneth’s first move in the fourth round was a forward Japanese elbow twist, a hold as unpleasant as its name implies. Katan thought so, and he was in further trouble when Kenneth quiekly switched to an arm stretch. Katan found asylum gytsifie the ropes, but on his return was greeted with some resounding elbow, jolts, and the reapplication of the arm stretch. He again got outside the ring, and again applied pressure to a short-arm scissors after the end of the round. Kenneth once more applied the arm stretch in the next round, and after battering the mat with Katan’s head obtained a well-earned fall. There was more hard wrestling in the sixth round, and Katan continued to wear an air of injured innocence whenever elbow jolts were introduced. Katan made good use of a hammerlock, and Kenneth of a Japanese barred toe-hold, which Katar» also used. Kenneth began the sevemn round with elbow jolts, but when Katan applied the new hold, the Canadian Commando, the bout all but over. A variation of the Japanese deathlock, the hold applies pressure to the nerve centres at the sides of tile n , eck ' After the hold had been on for a short time, Katan rolled Kenneth over for an easy fall, and the New Zealander could Sot get to his feet for the next round, atan bowed stiffly to the disapproving crowd, and Kenneth received a warm ovation when he finally left the ring, The referee was Mr J. 8. Shaw. Amateur Bouts t Light-weight.—R. Smith (Papanui) beat R. Forde (Toe H) by two falls; S. Todd (Shima’s) beat C. Austin (Crichton Cobbers) by one fall, Austin being incapacitated in the second round. Welter-weight.—J. Lowry (Too H) drew with R. J- Hose (Papanui), one fall each; J. Mclnnes (Papanui) drew with E. Bal loch (Toe H). , rT . • Light-heavy-weight.—J. Howard (Papanui) beat F. C. Reid (Toe H) by one fall. The referee for the amateur bouts was Mr A. Thompson.