IN THE RING

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20492, 7 May 1938, Page 23 (Supplement)

IN THE RING

WRESTLING JOTTINGS HAMILTON'S NEXT BIG BOUT BAFFERT AND MEEHAN MATCHED i (By “Ringsider.”) The wrestling season In Hamilton is | under way. Last week one of the biggest house-s to cheer in the Theatre Royal saw the Dominion champion, j Lofty Blomfield, defeat A 1 Baffert in | one of the best matches seen locally > for some time. It was an auspicious j opening to the season in Hamilton. : Blomfield seems to have gained a i higher degree of perfection with the octopus clamp, which was the only ; thing that baffled Baffert. Baffert had it over Lofty for colourful wrestling and he made an immediate hit with the Hamilton fans. He is a ver- j satile grappler with any amount of i useful holds and a fine athletic build ; that enables him to force the pace j throughout. Baffert Again Following the impression that Baf- j fert made among wrestling enthusl- j asts in Hamilton, it is good news to know that he will be in action in the ■ Theatre Royal again very shortly j when he will meet Pat Meehan on Thursday, May 19. Baffert will have j a big following and Meehan, being an j Irishman, can be depended upon to i provide solid opposition. The Opponent, Meehan Pat Meehan, from Edmonton, Al- I berta, the Canadian social credit pro- j vlnce, has been a Royal Canadian North-West Mounted Policeman. The 1 police motto there is "get your man," and that holds for Meehan in the j wrestling ring too, so that he never j loses an opportunity to tie his opponent up in a variety of holds that make for entertaining wrestling. Meehan Joined the Mounlies at the age of 20, and during the next five years he remained in the force. It was during that time that lie took on wrestling as a spare-time sport which was popular with several Mounties. He progressed to become the best matman in the force, and later extended his qualifications to amateur heavyweight champion of Canada in 1935 and 1936. Left Force for the Mat

Meehan wanted to take up professional fighting, but that would not combine with the duties in the Mounted Police. He chose the professional mat career and started as a professional in 1936. After fighting Rudy Skada in the first matc-h as a paid man, Meehan has fought over 200 matches in America, being billed at Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and California. He has drawn with Vincent Lopez, and among his victims are numbered George Moloney, Tommy Marvin, Leo Numa Anderson, Glno Garibaldi, Rudy Dusek, Dr. Freddie Meyer, and Stanley Pinto. His best performance, perhaps, was to defeat Cliff Olsen on points a few months ago in New York. Meehan is a 6ft 3in giant of the sinewy type, with a weight around 16st 71b. Wrestling Fixtures To-night: Blomfield v. Tontl, at Gisborne; Jensen v. Meehan, at Greymouth; Moen v. Fraley, at Auckland; Yourist v. Baffert, at Rotorua. Monday: Fraley v. Yourist, at Wellington. Thursday: Meehan v. Moen, Christchurch; Jensen v. Kennedy, at Wanganui; Blomfield v. McKay, at Masterton. Saturday: Meehan v. Kennedy, at Dunedin. Thursday: May 19: Baffert v. Meehan, at Hamilton. Big Draw Cards Baffert and Meehan are both big draw oards in New Zealand at the present time. After his fine performance against Blomfield last week, Baffert was claimed for a second match In Hamilton by the Waikato Wrestling Association. The application has been granted. Meehan has been greatly sought by other associations in the Dominion, and Hamilton is fortunate in receiving a visit from him at such an early date. He recently drew with Lofty Blomfield. The big team of overseas wrestlers at present providing the fireworks throughout the country Is one of the best-bal-anced for some years, and one and all make popular draw cards. A feature of the season has been the many applications from different associations for the wrestlers who have become popular at their first appearance in the town. Baffert’s case in Hamilton is one. Dunedin wants to see Meehan again, Jensen has been claimed for another visit to Wanganui, and Wellington and Palmerston North fans want Kennedy to return.