WRESTLING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 15

WRESTLING

—*— RAINES AND LOPEZ DRAW MOST EXCITING BOUT OF SEASON POLICE INTERVENE AT ONE STAGE Since all-in professional wrestlinß reached its present - status, Christchurch audiences have seldom seen as lively and exciting an exposition of the sport as was provided in the Theatre Royal last night by Vincent Lopez and Dick (“Cowboy”) Raines. Excellent wrestlers both, with a wide knowledge of the game, each had also a vigorous equipment of those aids and devices which make the crowd roar with' applause. They used all the ruses of good showmen, including such 'unusual ones as biting, punching after the gong had gone, and talking sarcastically to each other through the bout—and heavy sarcasm sounds well when the man who is making it has at the same time such a violent hold as a Boston crab. Raines is easily the “toughest” wrestler to be seen here. He cun lake punishment enough to cause an ordinary man to thfow in the towel—or so it looked—and then come back as fresh as ever, although not improved in temper. Lopez is a tall and very clever wrestler, with a special flair for elbow jolts. A penalty fall given against Lopez for punching in the fifth round caused such a dispute and illegal fight, after the gong, between the two men that the reieree. Mr Gordon Mowat. who had a strenuous task could not keep the peace. The police came to his aid, and a press of blue uniforms about the ropes had a quietening effect. Lopez evened the score with a Boston crab in the last round. The Bout Described A fast first round provided its first excitement when Raines sent Lopez reeling with an elbow-jolt, and followed up his advantage with a punishing headlock Raines threw Lopez through the ropes and tried to attack him again as he crawled back. The referee stopped that. Thrill followed thrill for the rest of the round, and some brilliant holds, and rough showmanship, revealed that both men were at the top of the entertainment class There was a minor skirmish after (he gong went, but only the refereeminded. Heavy-weight boxers rarely punch each other as often as these two good wrestlers did in the second round. The referee, going In to separate the two, himself received some of the punches; but he finally parted the wrestlers. After a short interval for good wrestling Lopez again rushed in and dhow-jolted, only ceasing when Raines threw him hieh over the rones •mrl out of the ring. After the melee that followed, Raines took n short-arm scissors Lopez cot clear of that by the unethical. but effective, counter deterrent of biting, and himself look the initiative, finally selecting a toc-hold as his preferred grip Then the pong went, and the (we began a little nrivate war again Roth men charged each other with great force and vim in the third round, with a)l the tricks thrown in—rebounding off the roa'os. drop-kicks, and the other variants- Holding a wristlock, Raines worried Lopez hv such painful additions to it as hanging his arm on the ropes and across his leg Lopez. got clear of that, and after another boxer-like exchange of punches. I.oncz took a P'Miiful arm-stretch The fourth round onlv heightened the excitement More elbow-iot's. mere clever holds, and skilful counters, and for variety Raines used a big knee to some advantage in tolling Lopez in the stomach Once lie tried to drag Lopez across the ring by his hair. Lonez nearly took the (ir-t fall of the match wilh. a perfect Boston crab. but Raines was far enough out o( the ropes to escape that wry. The tactics of both men caused ihc referee once more to separate the (wo: but lust to show their repentance, so to speak, Lopez, did a little biting at the end of the round. The Police Step In The pace was not slackened in the fifth, and the only reason wjiy the applause from a wildly excited crowd sounded less was that most of them were hoarse Three times Lopez dumped Raines—(he whole I6st 21b of him —so that the echo filled the theatre, and then Raines twice dumped Lopez. Both men had a turn at being thrown through the ropes Raines wanted to bring the bucket back, ps an extra weapon perhaps, after one such trip through the ropes. It was the most exciting wrestling of the season. After a sensatipna) mix-up of punching, cautions by the referee, and chases round (he ring with the referee vainly trying to separate two determined heavyweights. a penalty fall was given against Lopez for punching. Then the fun began. Both men resented the decision, and although the gong had gone, both men fought on savagely. This time, it required the- police, not the referee, to keep the peace. Both men received an official caution, and thp bout was allowed' to go on. Tlte sixth round was almost as exciting and was better to watch, because both men were now showing thefr real knowledge of wrestling and using excellent holds. Lopez had an advantage at the end of the round when he sent Raines flying ever his head with a spectacular backr loop slam. Lopez worked well for a crucifix at the beginning of the seventh round and finally gained it. Raines broke, and look a hamincrlock and a barred tqchold to-? gether. (he toehold applied bv his body. He finally concentrated on the toehold, but Lopez, although vocal enough, would not submit. It was excellent straight wrestling for a change. Then, by a sudden change of fortune, Lopez took a spectacular Indiap deathlock, but the gong went a second or so after the hold was applied. The last round was fast and furious. Lopez elbow-jolted Raines round and round the ring, finally knocked him fiat, and took a Boston crab for a sure fall. The bout was giver; a draw. Amateur Preliminaries The amateur preliminaries, for which Mr J. C. James was tire referee, resulted as follows; F. Mauger, 9st 121 b, beat A. McAlpine, Ost 71b by one fall. T Owen, Ost 131 b, beat S. Robson, 9st 71b. bv one fall. R W. McKay, list 121 b, beat S. Robson, list 51b, by one fall. R. Beasley, 12st 71b, beat P. J. Pope, list 71b. by one fall. J. Capill. lOst 131 b, beat F. Coy, lOst 31b, by one fall. R. Queree, lost 91b, beat J. L. Cowan, lOst 101 b. on points. A trophy given by Mr W. Heeney for the most scientific amateur on the night was won by F. Mauger.