RATINGS OF WRESTLERS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20498, 14 May 1938, Page 20 (Supplement)

RATINGS OF WRESTLERS

WHAT IS FRALEY’S PLACE?.

810 VICTORY AGAINBT BLOMFIELD A SOLID BAND IN THE DOMINION (By * Ringsider”) When the big men in the wrestling business settle down to serious work there are always surprises awaiting the fans. With the victory on points which Pat Fraley secured over Lofty BiomfTeld comes the query to the minds of wrestlers as to how good is the "Singing Cowboy" and how long are world s ratings of wTestlers in date ?

According to the most prominent overseas Judges of wrestling talent, men who have had the opportunity to see all the big shots at their best, Blomfleld is the finest of the solid band H present In “ - Dominion. That is probaM] undisputed—until he and Fraley m*et again anyhow. Blomfteld m r tired when he was defeated by Fraley and he is reported to ha\e lacked his usual speed in the ring. Lofty was out-pointed, however, and the issue was clear-cut. Aft*r a rest Blomfleld will meet Fraley no doubt '*nd the issue will be awaited with the keenest of Interest for it will*decide whether or not the New Zealand champion is still supreme over the remainder of the talent at present parading in the rings all over the country. On his record up to date this season Blomfleld still has the honours in Ms bag, for in hfs last fifty matches Fraley was the one to defeat him. Fraley is keen for the match, and keen to down the champion once and for all. But can he do it? He will need to be at his best.

Fraley Goes Up Four Judging from last season’s form in the United States of America the band of wrestlers at present in New Zealand would be rated at the beginning of this season in this order: Lofty Blomfleld, Pat Meehan, Jack Kennedy, Abe Yourist, Pat Fraley, Joe Tontl, and the others. McKay, Moen. Jensen and Baffert, all In the high class and on about a par. The season is still young, but are the ratings to be left unchanged? Fraley must go up four to be second to Blomfleld until the next meeting of this pair comes off at any rate. Baffert. too. Is due for a rise, and Joe Tonti will not be long in the sixth position.

A Fraley Specialty Pat Fraley has a specialty in the flying toe-hold which has made its first appearance before the New Zealand public. He is one of the most spectacular wrestlers in the country, and a match for him in Hamilton would be welcomed by the Waikato fans. Fraley takes his place among the really brilliant wrestlers to appear in New Zealand. He is fast—in fact, his flying toe-hold is the most sensationally applied hold ever seen, and he uses Paul Boesch’s drop-kick to even better advantage than did Boesch, while his forearm Jolts stand comparison with any of the earlier Jolters seen In action. Fraley’s next bout in Wellington will be against Pat Meehan, on Monday. Neither man has yet been defeated, and as Meehan held Blomfleld to a no-fall draw' and matched him Jolt for jolt the match should be full of excitement. Kara Pasha Blind According to Jack Kennedy, the popular wrestler who visited New Zealand some years ago. Kara Pasha, "the terrible Turk,” has been stricken with blindness. Wrestling Fixtures The following are the fixtures for the Dominion during the next week:— To-nfght—Meehan v. Kennedy, at Dunedin; Moen v. Jensen, at New Plymouth; Blomfleld v. Tonti, at Dannevirke. Monday—Blomfleld v. Moen. at Auckland; Fraley v. Meehan, at Wellington. Thursday—Meehan v. Baffert, at Hamilton: Blomfleld v. Yourist, at Nelson; Kennedy v. Fraley, at Palmerston North.