WIRE WRESTLING TITLE

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 3

WIRE WRESTLING TITLE

M’CREADY REGAINS CHAMPIONSHIP KATAN BEATEN BY ONE FALL This British Empire wrestling championship changed hands for the third time tin's .season when at the Town Hall last night Earl M'Cready (17.1) defeated John Katan (10.10) by a fall gained in the sixth round to regain the title he lost to Katan earlier in the year. Since then Katan lost in turn to Blomfiold, but subsequently defeated the New Zealander. A crowd that packed the hall to capacity saw last night’s match, which was a dour, tough contest, one of the main features of which was the nltracantion shown by Katan in his efforts to prevent the concession of a fall to tho challenger. This was only the second Empire championship held here, and on the last occasion, some years ago, M'Cready successfully defended his title against Jack Forsgrcn. 3M‘C’rcady and Katan were splendidly matched physically in every respect, both men being in "excellent shape. The unwritten rule in championship matches is that the title changes hands only when a fall i.s recorded by the challenger, and from the way that Katan endeavoured to exploit his reach in barring M'Cready off or, on tho other hand, kept close in to his man to prevent him from opening up, it was apparent that the champion would have been quite content to emerge with a draw. M'Cready, however, was all out to regain his lost laurels, and showed just about as wide a variety of moves as ever lie has done—hoadlocks, wristlocks, punishing scissors, his norvc-tuigling rocking-chair splits, and the Icgcradlo, with which he gained his fall, wore some of his host holds, hub he produced .something to cone with each situation as it arose. There were flashes of vigorous action by each man, and while there were perhaps some early in tho proceedings who considered that Katan had the edge on M'Cready in the use of the elbow jab or forearm jolt, it was a different story when the pair actually stood and traded with each other, the balance being on M'Cready’s side. ' Katan had most of the answers ready, and when the referee was on the blind side the champion was not averse to jabbing bis opponent in the eye, using a stranglehold, and on one occasion ripping his knee into M'Croady’s chin. These tactics were just as unbecoming a champion as tho rearguard action also favoured by Katan. but to give him his due he showed groat cleverness in his use of counters, and his headlocking and logholds allowed M'Cready no liberties. Mr Frank Anderson was the referee, and be handled the match very ably indeed. THE BOUT. Katan retired into bis shell from the start, and after M'Cready had brought him to tho mat with a couple of reverse hoadlocks the champion wriggled towards tho ropes and persistently attempted to bar M'Cready off. following an exchange of jolts, Katan put oif liis running shoes,” M'd as M'Cready endeavoured to crotch him the champion almost jumped over the ropes. . , M'Cready was on the defensive early in the second, but countered an armlock effectively with a flying head scissors and armbar. Katan came up, hut M'Cready rolled him back and buried his head in the mat, a reverse wristlock finally . enabling Katan to get clear. There was some fierce jolting, and it paved the way for M'Cready’s rocking chair splits, Katan being whirled round the ring until the boll brought him relief. Keeping close in to bis man, Katan brought M'Cready over with a head scissors and armbar in the third round, and forward headlocks were also exploited. When.Katan shifted to a reverse wristlock and arm scissors M'Cready emerged with the Indian deatblock with bis band, Katan finally rolled clear and resorted to elbow jolts to keep .out of trouble for the rest of the round. The fourth was one of Katan’s best rounds, but lie applied the stranglehold near the ropes, and ns the referee broke them up Katan landed an elbow jolt to the chin. M'Cready had to move fast to avert trouble when the champion picked one leg up and tripped him, M'Cready pushing him off before ho could complete liis specialty Japanese leglock. A standing stopper, however, caused M'Cready some trouble, but he kicked his way out and came back with a headlock and body scissors. The fifth round found M'Cready going in top gear, but it was the sixth which provided the fireworks, a fierce barrage of elbow jolts to the chin by Katan being returned in more than good measure by M'Cready. who thus paved the way for a cradlehold with the leg, by which he scored a decisive fall. There was more forearm jolting in the seventh, and Katan brought

M'Cready down with a forward headlock and applied a top body press, then shifting to a punishing armbar. M'Cready did some fierce chinlocking to break tho bold, and countered a splits bold with a toehold just before tho hell. , ' M'Cready got behind Katan in tho eighth round and threw his opponent with forward headlocks. Neither man was inclined to take risks, and the last few minutes was marked by tight wrestling, with little advantage to either man, Katan securing a shortarm scissors, which M'Cready countered with a toehold. As the referee held M'Cready’.s arm aloft at tho hell there was a great burst of applause. THE PRELIMINARIES. U. Meiiuing (10. G) drew with W. Chalmers (9.4), there being no falls. 11. Tourroll (11.10) defeated G. M'Kay (11.5) on points, neither man securing a fall. W. Williams (8.0) beat J. Angow (7.13) by two straight falls, obtained with reverse full-nelsons. J. Morris (12.4) beat K. Knox (12.0) on points, neither taking a fall.F. Kcaeli (10.7) beat W. Vincent (10.0) on points, there being no falls. Mr D. Samson refereed tho preliminaries.