WORLD WRESTLING TITLE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 300, 15 September 1937, Page 6

WORLD WRESTLING TITLE

New Zealand Elimination

Tournament

WINNER TO HAVE MATCH WITH CHAMPION

A New Zealand tournament to find a challenger for the world wrestling title, at present held by Bronko Nagurski, is to open on Monday, September 27, the contestants including, all wrestlers at present campaigning in New Zealand under the Dominion Wrestling Union, as well as others likely to come from overseas. One such wrestler, Francis Fouche, is now on the water en route from the United States. At the beginning of the season the Dominion Wrestling Union entered into a contract with the then holder of the title, Dean Detton, to engage in a series of matches in New Zealand. The amount involved was stated to be the largest guarantee ever made to any sportsman to visit the Southern Hemisphere. Late in June, however, Detton lost the championship to Nagurs'ki. to whom a similar contract to that made with Detton was offered. Hopes were entertained that the new champion would make the trip south but cable advice to the Dominion Wrestling Union now states that pressure of home engagements renders this impossible. Offer of Title Bout. The well-known American wrestling promoter, Mr. J. (“Toots”) Mondt, who holds Nagurski’s contract, has cabled to the Dominion union suggesting* that, since Nagurski is unable to. deiend .ins championship in the Dominion, a Kew Zealand elimination tournament be held, the winner of which will be guaranteed an immediate match with the. title-holder.

The secretary of the Dominion union, Mr. A. G. Washer, stated yesterday that, in view of all the circumstances, he considered Mr. Mondt’s offer a highly satisfactory one. Unquestionably the finest team of wrestlers ever to visit New Zealand had been seen in competition this year, most of the men having made the trip only on the understanding that Detton would defend his title in New Zealand. Thus the offer to guarantee a New Zealand tournament winner a match with the champion meant that the Dominion Wrestling Union was relieved of the moral responsibility of disappointing the wrestlers who had come to New Zealand on the distinct understanding that they would be given opportunity to work themselves into line for bouts with the world champion. Belt Likely to bo Offered.

While no final decision had yet been made, it was probable that a valuable tournament belt would be offered by the Dominion union, which body would also pay the winner’s expenses to whatever place was decided on in the United States for the championship match. No doubt, too, a guarantee would be made the winner by those responsible for arranging bis meeting with Nagurski. Decision had not yet been reached as to whether the tournament would be held on a knock-out or points system. However, no attempt would be made to centralise matches, contests being available to the promoting associations in the ordinary way. Meanwhile, until the tournament (which lie expected to run to the end of October) commenced, no matches apart from those already scheduled would be made. Most of the wrestlers had had a strenuous season and, with so much at stake, were anxious to give themselves time to recuperate before the tournament commenced. Mr. Washer said that an early meeting of his executive would be held and he hoped in a few days to be in a position to reveal further details of what lie considered would be an important event in New Zealand’s sporting history.