WRESTLING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 10

WRESTLING.

JOHN KATAN v. DAN O’CONNOR. Two of the most-discussed wrestlers in Now Zealand will meet in the heavyweight professional match which is to bo staged at tho Palmerston North Opera .House on Thursday. They are John Katail, of Alberta, leading contender for Earl McCready’s British Empire title, and Dan O’Connor, a rugged Irish-American from California. Ivatan was able to come to this country with the rare distinction of having beaten McCready in the past and ho boat “Lofty” Blomliokl in tho first match of the ton]’. lie is known as tvrestling’s “iron man,” not only because of the hard muscle and bone that go to tho making up of his physique, but also because of his toughness as a wrestler. O’Connor is a former amateur heavyweight champion of California and . is in his ninth season as a professional. Standing 6ft; liin. in height and weighing 17 stone, he is ono of the biggest wrest(ers in the country and is also one of the fastest and most speetaular. lie has reduced the dropkick to n fine art and uses it in its most spectacular form, while, to hack it up, he Ims a hefty forearm jolt, a smashing flying tackle, and also all tho orthodox holds. He also has his specialties and one of'those, a combination of the octopus clamp and a surfboard hold is as effective as it is intricate. O’Connor has twice wrestled for the world title and has beaten a number of men who have held the championship. The star item in the preliminary programme is a bout between two lightweight professionals whose names are well remembered in cities at which either of them have so far wrestled. They are Colin Croskery, a veritable “ball of muscle,” who has everything that it takes to make a first-class wrestler—speed, agilitv and a fine range of holds; and Bert Monaslra. who has already made the acquaintance of Palmerston North wrestling patrons. When these hvo met as a preliminary to the British Empire Championship in Wellington Inst week, they provided the audience with ajl the thrills of a heavywoiglit bout, and followers of the sport who witnessed the match will count on a great match on Thursday. The box plans arc now open atjCollinson and Cunninghame’s. 1 '

BLOMFIELD BEATS O’CONNOR. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 3. A return wrestling match between Sergeant-Major “Lofty” Blomfield, New Zealand champion, and Dan O’Connor, the Irish American, terminated abruptly in the fourth round when O’Connor had a penalty fall given against him for hitting low. Blomfield had previously obtained a fall in the third round.