WRESTLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 5

WRESTLING

McCREADY TO MEET LEWIS. How good is the British Empire wrestling champion, Earl McCready '? That is'a question which thousands and thousands of New Zealand sports enthusiasts are asking themselves. In all the 130 contests which McCready has had in the last three seasons in New Zealand it is doubtful if lie has ever been fully extended. True, he lias lost one of ttiose matches, but that was by sheer mischance when lie fell out of the ring in an open-air Ixmt in Auckland, bumping his head against an electric light standard and knockeing himself out. McCready’s opponent on that occasion was twice the world champion, Ed. Don George, whom he later defeated decisively. Ranked third among wrestlers, McCready laces the severest test of his career when lie meets the live times world champion, Ed. (“Strangler”) Lewis, at Wellington shortly. Never belore have two such outstauidingly successful wrestlers met in a New Zealand ring. Though McCready is now ranked above him, many authorities hold the firm belief that Lewis, unquestionably the greatest wrestler of all time, is still the true champion of the world.

McCready, the finest wrestler the British Empire has produced, was regarded as unlucky not to have lifted the world title when he met the now ex-champion, Dean Detton, a few months ago. Having scored 17 consecutive wins against the best men available in the United States, McCready was matched with Detton, but was disqualified when an excited second jumped into the ring after McCready had had all the better of the match.

So that, even apart from its strong . flavour of international rivalry, the meeting of Lewis and McCready will have special significance. “The Strangler” has made it clear that his ambition is to win the world championship tor the sixth time. Before he may justifiably seek a title match with the new champion, “Bronko” Negurski, he must first dispose of McCready’s claims. The British Empire champion was under a guarantee of £2OOO to meet Detton for the world championship in Australia. He is rated next to the champion and ex-champion as leading the wrestlers. Certain American sports authorities contend that Lewis is still the real champion of the world. And McCready, best of the Empire’s matmen, has gained wide recognition in the States. America may hold undisputed sway in the boxing world ; it is for McCready to j prove whether the same is true in, wrestling. That McCready realises the! magnitude of his task is proven by the fact that he has declined to accept any matches for a week before his meeting with Lewis, desiring to undergo special training preparations for the major event. It is understood that certain of his training sessions will be open to the public. Already superlatively fit, McCready realises the prestige that a victory over Lewis would give him. “The Strangler,” too, has been in solid training for his pi*oject- 1 ed encounter with the almost legendary j Hindu superman, Gama, and states that he has never been in better condition. This contention is fully substantiated by his form in his New Zealand appearances so far. In over 6000 matches, beginning a.s a youth in his ’teens, Lewis has been j defeated fewer than 30 times. Reputed to be wrestling’s wealthiest man, he has drawn more attendance money than any other sporting personality. He heads his nearest rival, Jack Dempsey, by over five million dollars. Lewis is now 45 year's old, and is still in his wrestling prime. He has perfect balance and the skill of experience with which to offset McCready’s possibly greater strength and speed. * ' On this occasion McCready -.will have

an opponent to make him give of his last ounce. Men of the calibre of former world champions, Ed. Don George and Joe Savoldi, as well as the great Mohammedan, “Tiger” Duala, have been forced to acknowledge McCready the better man. To what heights he can rise when pressed no one can tell. If reputation plus present performance counts for anything, “Strangler” Lewis should help to supply the answer. No other two ca.tch-as-eatch-can wrestlers at present in competition could stage a match to evoke wider interest than the meeting of McCready and Lewis. Still young in the sport and making his way steadily towards the top, McCready has everything to gain from this bout. with Lewis. The match, will epitomise the ever real struggle between youth and age, ambition a.nd experience.

BLOM FI ELD DISQ UA LI FIE D. MATCH WITH COX. Per Press Association. * AUCKLAND, Aug. 8. The disqualification of “Lofty” Blomfield, Auckland, for striking his opponent, “King-Kong” Cox. America, in the seventh round brought a sudden termination to the wrestling contest on Saturday night. Blomfield had been twice thrown through the ropes, and on the second occasion, while he was standing on the staging outside the ring, he hit Cox with his closed fist.

Prior to this incident each man had obtained a fall. The first was won by Cox in the fourth found. He jolted the Aucklander several times prior to lifting .him for a slam and body prerS. Blomfield drew level in the sixth round when a series of forearm jolts was followed by three flying tackles, each of which sent Cox sprawling, and Blonifield then finished the attack with a body press.

LEWIS BEATS WADE. TWO FALLS TO ONE. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. Aug. 8. “Strangler” Lewis, 18st Gib, took a decision on Saturday night against Glen Wade by two falls to one. The first fall went to Lewis in the third round with a body press, but Wade squared accounts in the next round when he lifted Lewis in a crotch hold for a heavy dump. “Strangler” landed like the proverbial ton of bricks and a body press finished the job, to the huge delight of the crowd. The end came early in the sixth round, when Lewis. by sheer bulk and strength, gained the deciding fall, a result that was not well received by the spectators, whose sympathies were all with Wade.

WIN FOR KIRILINKO. LITTLE WOLF DISQUALIFIED. Per Press Association. GISBORNE. Aug. 8. Matros Kirilinko beat Chief Little Wolf at the Opera House on Saturday ! by two falls to one after a hectic seven I rounds. Kirilinko scored a fall in the fourth round with a body press following a slam. The Indian evened in the sixth round with a deathloclc which he refused to let go, the referee having to break the men. Little Wolf was disqualified in the seventh round when he tied the Russian’s leg in the ropes and refused to let go. The boat was a hectic affair. The referee, in a melee in the third round, lost his shirt. When disqualified, Litle Wolf attacked the winner, who retaliated by chasing him with a water-bottle. The ring was eventually cleared by the police. In a very rough bout Little Wolf was continually warned for strangle bolds and other illegalities.

BRONOWICZ BEATS SAVAGE. Per Press Association. * WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. Frank Bronowicz (16.0) beat “Smiling” Steve Savage (1,5.0) by a surprise fa 11 in the seventh round of the professional wrestling contest on Saturday night. They impressed with their workmanship. Frank Judson (16.2) beat George Walker (16.0) on points after each had obtained a fall in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively. It was a colourless bout. Tlie junior heavyweight elimination contest for the New Zealand title was won by Snowy Bartlett (New Zealand) 13.5, from Peter Venter (South Africa) 14.0, in a penalty fall in the second of three rounds.