THE SQUARED RING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 16, 31 October 1935, Page 7

THE SQUARED RING

EMPIRE WRESTLING TITLE.

POSSIBLE WAY OUT OF IMPASSE.

(By “Referee:”)

When the current wrestling season has come to its inevitable close and the smoke of battle lias cleared away there will probably be one memory that will be as lasting as any others, and that, will concern the challenges and counter-challenges which were launched froln various quarters. The main point at issue, ol course, lias been the much-disputed Empire title, but there have been other gauntlets thrown down.

The writer has taken little cognisance of these since they have given the impression of being scarcely-con-cealed attempts to force or entice men from one of the two rival camps to the' other and, for that reason, it has been apparent to anyone closely in touch with the position that there has been no small prospect of their being decided in the ring.

In the course of a conversation with officials of one of the . controlling bodies, a suggestion (more irf jest than in seriousness) was made, which, on further consideration seems to offer the only way out of the impasse which hafe arisen. If any reader has a proposal with better prospects of achieving practical results it will be welcomed by ail those who would like the “natural matches for which the material is in the country to eventuate. It was to the effect that the two wrestlers concerned should meet in the ring and decide the issue between themselves. The usual 80 per cent, of the net gate allowed to the contestants would be theirs and they could split it on a 60-40, winner-take-all, or any—Bther. basis on which they might agree. The remaining 20 per-cent, would go to the promoting and controlling body from whose camp the winner was drawn. If Glen Wade were to wrestle Tiger Duala, for instance, the 20 per cent, of the net gate would go either to the Wellington Wrestling Association *and the New Zealand Union, or to the National Sporting Club and the Pioneer Club, according to which man proved the victor. An Array of Boxers. Writing in the English “Sporting and Dramatic,” B. Bennison gives further comment on his suggested competition between the boxing outsizes of the Dominions. He says that there are so many , who are fight-hungry and cannot dictate and some steps will have to be taken. These are his views:—

They and their managers, perhaps, have not heard of the Coronation Tournament, organised and financed by the National Sporting Club some years ago in which no fewer than nine of the foremost American pugilists took part, among them Tom Sharkey, the Dundalk sailor, considered good enough to fight Jem Corbett, Jim Jetfries and Bob Fitzsimmons; Gus Ruhlin. Joe Walcott, “the Barbados Demon” ; Tommy Ryan whom Jem Mace voted the finest welter ho ever saw; Sandy Fergusson, and “Denver” Ed. Martin.' In this severely commercial age such an array of talent may not be seeu in the one and the same ring, but present-time fighters, whales and minnows, will at, least allow that, nnleis something is attempted in the way of breaking entirely new ground, they aiid the game which they practise will lose favour, if not founder on the rocks of bankruptcy. I have been told already that their is not enough money in competition fighting, that tournaments are meant for novices. I disagree. What, might I inquire, would a contest between Gains and Cook be worth if staged as a promoter’s trump card, or Fool’d m opposition to Strickland, or the meie launching of Ambrose Palmer ? Net :vj much, I venture, as they would command if they set out to prove that they were the best of their respective countries. A Boxing Fiasco. Although such action contravened the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control, Jackie Brown, then flyweight champion of the world, but nowdeposed, met two opponents in one ring at Manchester recently. Brown had agreed to light Jackie Quinn, the official bantam-weight champion of Ireland. over 12 rounds. Brown weighed in at the stipulated time, but Quinn was absent, and it was found that he had not left Ireland. He was then brought’to Manchester by aeroplane. The Irish lad was found to be seven pounds overweight. In the meantime one Syd. Rose, of Preston, had been secured to act as substitute for Quinn if necessary. Brown left it to the spectators to decide who should he his opponent. The crowd called for Quinn. HowoveiT Quinn made little attempt to fio-ht and without landing a. blow went to the floor. In the second round he made little more attempt to fight, and went to the boards again after receiving a light blow from Brown. 'he referee seht Quinn to his corner, and soon afterward the Irishman left the line, to tlie accompaniment or nmcii booin''. The crowd clamoured for Bose and Brown agreed to meet him over six rounds. But ltefec was knocked out m the third round.

Wrestling Upsets. The calculations of American promoters. have been sadly upset of late Chief Little Wolf, who has had a sensational rise to prominence in the last few months, was being primed for a match with Jim Londos for the world championship, but there is a many a slip ’twixt cup and lip. Lopez was matched with Chief ’Little Wolf and defeated him, but a worse blow was to befall the promoters. Dan O’Mahoney (the Irish wrestler) was pitted against Londos, and not only did he take the championship from the Greek, but to add insult to injury he broke Londos’s arm and a couple of ribs. A general mix-up.