WITH THE WRESTLERS

Chronicle (Levin), 28 May 1946, Page 6

WITH THE WRESTLERS

FIRST POST-WAR SEASON OPENS (By Spectator) When the Wellington Wrestling Association staged its fh'st postwar match of the season, fans gave the sport a real start by filling the Town Hall 'to capacity, so much. so that it was considered that it would have been impossible to fit another person in. The main item of the programme was very interesting, as the two most popular wrestlers known to New Zealand fans met to fight for the Empire championship for the first time since the end of the war. Lofty Blomfield, the challenger, and Earl McCready, the holder, were the contestants and the latter succeeded in winning in the seventh round after a hard tussle. Although Blomfied was beaten McCready has still iriore contenders for the crown to face and he is promised a busy time. Men like Claybourne and Newman, not to mention his former most dangerous opponent, John Katan, who was in 1940 McCready 's strongest challenger. Whether he is as good as he was a few years ago ma/ be decided this week, but Katan iooks as fit as ever and will -probably take a lot of beating. With still more matmen co'ming from the U.S.A., Canada and: Australia, wrestling enthusiasts are assured of plenty of excitement during the next few weeks, and it will be interesting to see if; McCready defends his title. If he sueceeds, he is truly one of the greatest wrestlers ever to come to New Zealand and he undoubtedly deserves all the compliments he gets. In the bout on Thursday it was McCready's agility that told on Blomfield and this is one of the most important features in wrestling. Blomfield was just not quick enough to secure a hold on McCready, the result being that McCready was able to attack Blomfield before he was off the mat. It took seven rounds for the winner to get really warmed up. If it takes as long as this in fiiture bouts McCready may concede some advantage to his opponents, but the title holder will not be an easy man to defeat, and his prospects of retaining his position are - very good indeed. Many sports fans have recenfTy been askir.g why it is that a nrnnber of wrestlers who fought here m pre-war days are not included in the lists of those coming to New Zealand. Many of them ha^e had major successes, although no one has ever taken the title from its present holder, for any length of time. Some of these men are • - Ronald Kirchmeyer, Joe Savoldi, Leo Martinez, Ed Don George, Dean Detton, Joe Corbett, A1 Karasick and Ray Steele. These men are still doing a bit of wrestling, and, it is a pity that they are not coming here this season. Other wrestlers who have retired from the game include Jack Forsgren, Bab Kruse, Sammy Stein, Wee Willie Davis and Roy Richards, as well as a few others. Paul Boesch is not doing very much work . since he was released from military service. If these wrestlers were here for this season there would be good contests for the championship, in addition to some interesting individual bouts. Many fans are still faithful to some of these men, even though it is a few years since they last fought here. ;