BLOMFIELD STILL TOP

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20504, 21 May 1938, Page 23 (Supplement)

BLOMFIELD STILL TOP

“BEAT FRALEY NEXT TIME” PAT MEEHAN’S IMPRESSIONS CRITICISM OF NEW HOLD (By “Ringsider”) Of the fine batch of wrestlers io the Dominion at the present time none, among the visitors, has made such a hit as Pat Fraley, “The Singing Cowboy.” No doubt he is a splendid wrestler and after he defeated Biomfield recently the fans began to sing his praises more than ever. “Was he number one in the Dominion at the present time?” they asked. Another of the talented group in New Zealand now, Pat Meehan,, answered this question when he was in Hamilton on Thursday. Just before meeting A 1 Baffert for the first time Meehan said he did not think Fraley should have beaten Biomfield and when the pair are matched again Blomfleld should be the winner. Pat Meehan has wrestled Lofty Biomfield once this season and he happens to be one of the few grapplers who have not tasted the sting of the famous octopus clamp. Even so, Meehan knows a good fighter when he meets one in the ring and it is his opinion that Blomfleld is a top-notcher. Meehan thinks that a man can't fly all over the country wrestling four or five nights a week and still maintain top form. That was Blomfleld’s trouble at the time of meeting Fraley. He was a tired man needing rest. The Octopus Clamp Although Meehan has not had much experience of the octupus clamp he has his opinions on it just as other visiting wrestlers have- The exMountie considers that if Blomfleld is able to stand up with the clamp adjusted in any round prior to the last then a wise man will allow a submission immediately. It is no use trying to hang on when there are other rounds to come, otherwise the wrestler may find trouble in coming back and in any case his chances of evening the falls later on will be seriously diminished. But, Meehan has an idea that to any wrestler but Blomfleld the clamp is not as useful as the Boston crab. It is a Blomfleld specialty and the other grapplers have not yet learnt the art. When Blomfleld obtains his balance and releases his real thunder into the clamp then it is practically impossible to break the hold, thinks Meehan. There Is no doubt in Meehan’s mind that Lofty is the hardest wrestler to meet in New Zealand at the present time and next time Fraley might take his first defeat of the season. Fraley’s “Back-Breaker” Not Fair “If a wrestler can beat me in straight wrestling in ‘the ring I will take my hat off to him,” said Pat Meehan when he was in Hamilton on Thursday, “but when Fraley was responsible for my first defeat in New Zealand 1 think he got me in a manner that should not have been allowed by the referee.” Meehan was making reference to the “back-breaker” which Fraley unearthed against him in Wellington on Monday night. It was in the sixth round after both men had given an exhibition of sound wrestling, that Meehan cornered Fraley and was issuing fore-arm Jolts. In a flash, the “Singing Cowboy” picked up the ex-Mounted and deposited him on the guv wire supporting the ring to the ring posts. The first time did not affect Meehan a great deal, but on reentering the ring Meehan was dumped again—this time with more vigour—and strained his back on the guy-wire. Meehan, obviously injured, made a gallant effort to come back but collapsed with his head through the ropes. As Meehan said on Thursday, “I was paralysed in the back and couldn't make it.”

Fraley’s View on the Affair The fact that the crowd demonstrated against Fraley is indicative that the majority thought with Meehan that the hold was not lair. Fraley savs that the hold is often used in America, hut Meehan considers, on the other hand' that “the referee has the final word and that must be accepted, but if I had been refereeing that bout I would not have allowed the fall.” Fraley considers that he did not infringe on any rule. Meehan gained popularity over the affair and he was welcomed in Hamilton this week. On the evidence it appears that his complaints are justified because there surely is some danger in Fraley’s tactics of the other night. Probably the cowboy will think before he employs it again.

Straight Wrestling Preferred “Ai Baffert is a straight wrestler, with very little of the ‘rough stuff,’ and that*'is the type I prefer,” said Pat Meehan prior to the bout on Thursday. "Showmanship may be all right in small doses but it can be overdone and is liable to spoil even the best of matches. My preference is to wrestle hard and wrestle straight.”

Twice Canadian Champion Five years’ amateur wrestling was included" in Pat Meehan’s training for ids debut as a professional and during that, time he met with a fair measure of success. At that time Meehan was P member of the North-West Mounted Police and in 1934 and 1933 was holder of the Canadian heavyweight amateur championship. Since his entry into the professional ranks he has taken part in about 250 matches, numbering among his opponents Dr. Fred Meyer, Stanley Pinto, King Kong Cox Gus Sonnenberg, Chief Little Wolf. Garibaldi and Cliff Olsen. The last-named wrestler has been rated hv one authority as sixth in the world and Meehan gained a victory over him in New York City. World-title Bout in New Zealand? There has been a great deal of talk about a world title bout for Loft} B loin field in New Zealand. First of all it was thought Bronko Nagurslci would come to New Zeaalnd. then that was denied.' Later Australia claimed to have him on the way in company with Jim Londos. Now the ; whole affair is changed again. Apparently the Nagurski-Londos tour to Australia has been called off for the latest information to hand suggests that for a purse of 150,000 dollars .'the largest yet). Londos will face Xacurski for a title bout at Los \mreles, in July. If Nagurski loses the crown there is still a prospect of Biomfield getting a chance for a title(Continued In previous column)