KAMEROFF BEATEN BY COSTELLO ON POINTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27993, 13 June 1956, Page 14

KAMEROFF BEATEN BY COSTELLO ON POINTS

WRESTLING

The only unusual feature of the professional wrestling performance in the Civic Theatre last evening was in the choice of trunks by the principals. Al Costello (Australia) and Ivan Kameroff (United States). Both entered the ring wearing shorts of the same shade of purple, but even this breach of etiquette failed to produce sufficient antagonism to make the bout a lively one, and hopes that the similarity of colours might lead to one or other working vigorously on his own limbs fell Apt. Costello won on points after each man had taken a fall, and if the evening lacked the usual activity, there was a good deal of solid wrestling. Moreover, they were a convincing pair, and there were none of the awkward pauses which mark the movements of a less gifted team.

The main contribution in the first round came from Costello’s head scissors. He shook Kameroff’s head with the hurried vigour of a fishmonger applying the salt, and Kameroff returned to his corner with the worn and battered appearance of an unwanted public service file which has been passed among departments for comment.

There was little of note in the second round, when Kameroff brought Costello down heavily and then apparently listened for his opponent’s heart beats. There was no-one to share his concern. But the third was much more lively, although at its peak the bout never held half the vigour of a Waikato Rugby match. Costello spun around rapidly to rid himself of a Kameroff headlock, and Kameroff objected heatedly to the waltz. But as soon as Costello clenched a fist, the spectators were permitted another glimpse of the familiar Ivan the Peacemaker. With supplicating hands raised, Kameroff begged off, but he went out of the ropes and was dragged back over the top, went through them again and was once more retrieved. Sitting in a corner, he again raised a pleading hand; Costello, an intensely practical man. stamped on the other one.

In the fourth round Australia lost its first wicket. Kameroff used some knee jolts and then the dreaded hangman’s hold. Costello submitted, and there was a dismal silence to greet Kameroff’s feat. He did not look surprised. In the fifth Costello once more resorted to his strategem of yelling in his opponent’s ear to win release; he would have made a successful town crier, and he cannot be unfamiliar, in his present profession, with the “Oyez” of the other one. After the round ended, there was some surreptitious tiptoeing, first by Kameroff to attack Costello, then by Costello. When Kameroff darted off in alarm. Costello shrugged his eloquent shoulders, dismissing the world and its wicked ways.

In the sixth, Kameroff attempted to emulate a Costello drop-kick, but performance and the performer fell far short of the requirements, and in the seventh Costello bustled about with his avalanche hold to take a fall. The last round was quite strenuous, but inconclusive. Kameroff complained that Costello was not wrestling, an odd remark, and moments later was in a full nelson. Then his face was twisted violently, until he looked like a small boy stumbling over his first French verbs, and Costello went on to his points win, the only decision which could have sent the customers home. AMATEUR BOUTS Results of amateur wrestling bouts at the Civic Theatre last evening were:—J. Thistoll. ?st (Health and Strength), beat B. Foord, 6st 71b (Toe H. Linwood), by one fall to nil; F. Paviell. Bst 21b (Toe H. Linwood), beat R. Gilchrist, Bst 11b (Health and Strength), on points, no falls; B. Earnshaw. 9st 61b (Health and Strength), beat D. McWhinnie, lOst 2ib (Crichton Cobbers), on points, no falls; M. Walker, Bst 131 b (Toe H. Linwood), beat J. de Malmanche. Bst 131 b (Toe H, Linwood), on points, no falls: R. Moir, 12st 61b ((Crichton Cobbers), beat M. Fernley, 13st 61b (Toe H. Linwood), on points, no falls.