WRESTLING PROMOTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19987, 12 July 1939, Page 8

WRESTLING PROMOTION

SATURDAY’S MATCH KEEN BOUT EXPECTED Enthusiasm tor wrestling in New Zealand has never run so high as when Earl McCready has been campaigning in this country and consequently Gisborne followers of the sport "are looking forward to something right out of the ordinary when McCready has has return match with “Irish” Jack Donovan on Saturday night. The appearance Of McCready, in any circumstance would be sufficient to guarantee a large audience, but the .fact that he is to meet Donovan, one of the toughest of the season’s visitors, and conqueror of “Lofty” Blomfieid by a two-to-one margin, makes the event a memorable one. Donovan's strength, ruggedness, and skill, and his invariable habit of battling hard from one end of a bout to the other have greatly impressed all those who have seen him in action. In all his contests he has proved himself to be a worthy opponent for the Empire champion, but in none did he do it more thoroughly than when he met McCready for the first time. McCready had to battle hard over the whole distance to keep his aggressive' opponent at bay and, it he had not managed to secure a fall with one of his devastating dumps at is difficult to say what the decision would have been.

Since McCready was last in this country 18 months ago he has added many fresh laurels to his name in the course of a world tour. England welcomed him as the finest wrestler it had seen since Hachenschmidt, and McCready’s main regret when he left was that Jack Sherry, a claimant of the world title, had refused to accept hiS open offer for a bout anywhere, any time. , In South Africa McCready quickly accounted (for Johannes van der Walt, who had disputed his claims to the Empire title and the South Africans were just as thoroughly convinced as New Zealanders have been for some time that McCready is undoubtedly one of the greatest exponents the mat sport has known. McCready definitely will be seen in action on Saturday as he has recovered from his arm injury.