Alley-Meeske Wrestling

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 69, 15 December 1931, Page 11

Alley-Meeske Wrestling

Sir,—Having read the advertisements drawing attention to the fact that the world’s light-heavyweight wrestling title was at stake, I booked a seat and went along to the Town Hall last night. I was very disappointed—not in the actual wrestling, which was to my mind firstclass —but in the way things were handled generally. Can the Wellington Wrestling Association enlighten me on the following points:— (1) I understand in the recent New Zealand championship final between Pinto and Alley there were two judges besides the referee. Why is this not the case when a world’s title is at stake? (2) Why was it not made plain to the public that both men had to make a certain weight (12st. 31b.) in order to qualify for the title? (3) Stress, was laid on the fact that Meeske anticipated making the correct weight, and that he would take the ring some 211 b. lighter than Alley, yet the fact that the match was for the world’s light'heavyweight championship was widely advertised. Why are we told then just before the match, from the ringside, that as Alley had not made the weight, the contest would not be for the title, as it would automatically pass to Meeske? It was apparently known well beforehand that Alley would not attempt to make the weight. (4) We are also told from the ringside that as the match' is not for the title, it is for possession of the belt. Therefore, as Alley won. he gets the belt, and Meeske gets the title. How can Meeske prove his right to the title when Alley has beaten him for the belt? Apparently he is a king but cannot Wear a crown because someone else has a greater right to it. The whole position seems so farcical. Pardon my encroaching on your space. Mr. Editor, but I really think we are entitled to' some explanation.—l am, etc., CRAB.

Wellington, December 10. [When the above letter was referred to the president of the Wellington Wrestling Association, he said that noone had been authorised on behalf of the association to refer to the title or the belt in connection with the match. The Wellington Wrestling Association merely staged an Alley-Meeske wrestling match, and the private dispute between the wrestlers regarding the belt and the title was unfortunately dragged in by private publicity agents.- The president said that he regretted the incidents equally with the writer of the above letter.]