Two Champions Wrestle

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 781, 30 September 1929, Page 7

Two Champions Wrestle

EKLUND—WALKER MATCH

Careers of the Principals

•TWO champions with a wealth of experience in the wrest- - hng r "? g be opponents at the Town Hall tomorrow oyonmjr, when Clarence Eklund, light-heavy-weight cWP'O’i °? the workl will meet George Walker, heavy-weight t 1 heTtT nf anada ; m 7 hat is oxpected in sporting circles to he a thrilling, spectacular match. Here is a pen impression oi the two men, with a note on their careers

CLARENCE EKLUND Claronce Eklund ’ looks anything hut a world's wrestling champion. He might be a. prosperous business man or a doctor, he looks so impressive in his horn-rimmed spectacles and his bowler hat. And he has the breezy manner of a man who has knocked about the world, and who knows what he is talking about. The champion has not the heavy shoulders nor the build that is usually associated with a wrestler, and when he strips he does not show bulging muscles. One would hardly know they were there but for the smooth rippling when he moves. It is 21 years sinco the genial Clarence started wrestling, and now. at the ago of 42, he is champion of his class Which goes to prove that those who would make believe that wrestling is a sport which kills and maims are all at sea. Eklund (spelt without a"e ” ho told the writer) did a lot of scuffling and knocking about as a youngster, and then he went to see a professional match. Without having had any contests in the amateur ring and with no knowledge of the wrestlin’game other than what he had picked up here and there, he challenged the winner of the match, and not only did he meet the winner, but also defeated him. That was his start in the professional wrestling game, and he has been performing on and off ever since Eklund is an American, of Swedish parentage on his father’s side, and bv occupation he is a sheep and cattle rancher. At the present time he has * ranch in Wyoming. He has had ups and downs in his ranching career but he now has a “nice little place ” ’ Of his wrestling career he talks very little, and information is onlv forthcoming in answer to a series of ques-

Defeat never marred the record of Eklund in Canada, so he journeyed to the States and met and defeated all the btate champions, until he was ultijnately recognised as champion of tile ii» ht-heavy -weight class. Ad. (who is at present in Australiajwas claiming the championship Eklund put up money to moci him, i* l6 offer was not accepted, and Eklund was still recognised as enampion. Three years ago Ted Thye defeated Eklund tor the title, and went to Australia ay the champion last year. But he did not take the championship back to til© States with him, for Eklund Tiad relieved him of it. And Eklund is still champion. The champion expects to defend his title twice in New Zealand. If he is successful in the first match, he will wrestle for it again. The title will not be involved tomorrow evening, as the contest will bo at catch-weights. Questioned about his defeat bv Tom Alley at Wellington last Monday, Eklund said that Alley was a good wrestler, and he would like to meet him again. Alley Avon by two falls to one, and Eklund admitted that he was caught napping l when Aliev secured the deciding fall. Me had a~ wristlock on the Mormon, he said, when Alley bent down suddenly, obtained a crutch hold, and dumped him to the mat. “I couldn’t move,’* said Eklund.’ “and I lost. Alley got the first fall with a crucifix. That’s a good hold.* <

GEORGE WALKER * In contrast to Eklund, George Walker looks the part. He Is husky, ■with broad shoulders and a powerful body, and bis ears show his profession. In fact he thinks them quite a joke while admitting that they would be better If he bad part of them cut off. Howe'er, ho is as amiable a person as one would wish to meet, and he is only too ready to discuss anything from the Auckland climate to the merits of the French people. Walker confesses to having lived on this planet for 36 years, and considers "To “J S .,T 0t until a man passes the ? a ( k i that bo has reached the best was 15 , h ! S ca , reer a s a wrestler. He «as i u when he started in the wrestw?.L,m me ’ I bUt tha t was not proper . was scuffling with the .'oodsmen in the backwoods of Cana,. Tll ree years later, he says, he started as an amateur wrestler and he won the middle-light-heavy. and heavy-weight championships of Can,Ho a . ls ,° annexed the North-west middle-wejght title and Pacific Coast heat y-weight championship. Fen years ago the snowy-haired eiunt joined the professionals, and during that time he has had over 300 matches, of which he claims to have won more than his share. During the past two years he has won 97 per cent, of his matches. Shortly after the aged but great Stanislaus Z.vbszko lost the heavy-weight title of the world, v\ alker wrestled him two hours and 3.» minutes to a draw, and three years ago lost to Joe Steelier, Avorld's champion, by one fall in one hour and 43 minutes. He defeated John Kilonis, Avell remembered in Auckland, by tAvo straight falls.

Walker has also done a little boxing, but never in competition. As an amateur he used to mix boxing and wrestling in the gymnasium and was ready for getting into the boxing game when he decided to stick to wrestling. Golf is a hobby of his, and he challenges any of the other Avrestlers at present in Auckland to a game. Among his experiences Walker remembers one in particular. It Avas at OttaAva, Avhere he wrestled a Russian brown bear, which was appearing at a theatre. He lost the seat of his pajits, but he stayed on the full ID minutes, without the bear throAving him, and received 50 dollars as his reward. Brought up on a farm. Walker served his time as a machinist, and in addition has been a locomotive fireman and a trapper. An honour which only favoured ones have had has fallen to his lot. He has Avrestled before King George.

Walker is another of the wrestlers Avho likes home life. Sitting in his flat with his charming Avife and little daughter, he looks anything but the “Canadian Panther,” a soubriquet given him on account of his mannerisms in the ring. He cannot resist the temptation of occasional quips at the French, for his Avife is French, even though he usually comes off worst in the laughing encounter. G.H.M.