AMERICAN WRESTLERS ARRIVE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 6

AMERICAN WRESTLERS ARRIVE

Joe Tonti’s Good Record The Dominion Wrestling Union, anticipating a full season in New Zealand this year, will make an earjy start, and already six well-performed professionals from America are available for matches. After a fine trip across the Pacific, in which they were able to retain the form they had reached as a result of their activities during the American season, the men arrived lit and well. Their Striking physique, combined with what is known of their past achievements, gives the impression that they should provide entertaining wrestling. One of the most likely of the advance contingent is Joe Tonti, who, although he is of Italian extraction, is an American. Among a class of athlete noted for its splendid physical type, Tonti must be regarded as outstanding. His sturdy build, with barrel-like chest aud magnificent shoulders, has caused him to be called "Londes the Second,” and his feats of strength have been so amazing as to be included in several of the “Believe It or Not” features produced by Ripley and others. Tonti's most difficult “stunts” are those in which the strain is thrown upon the arms and shoulders. He has, for instance, pulled a motor-lorry full of people —of a total weight of five tons—by a rope held between his teeth while walking on his hands. Again, on his hands, he can walk up -and down stairs as easily as most people can on their feet. A native of Pittsburgh, Tonti, at high school aud college, excelled at almost every kind of sport, and he also developed his powerful muscles by working in 'the iron foundries and at other hard manual tasks. Body-building became something of a fetish with him, and it is not surprising that his studies at tlie Temple University, . Philadelphia, were directed toward obtaining the degree of bachelor of physical education. Because of wrestling’s body-building qualities, Tonti decided to take up the sport as a profession after he had left the university and, after a short spell among the light-heavyweights, he was seen in the open heavyweight class, Tonti is only sft. 9iu. in height, but he weighs several pounds over 15st., and his wrestling is marked by vigour, strength, and speed. A pupil of Bifiy Sandow, famous strong man and former manager of "Strangler” Lewis, lie has all the wellknown wrestling holds at his command and several specialties of his own. As he is an expert in the use of the flying tackle, there is invariably plenty of action when he is iij. the ring. Also, Tonti does not mind how rough the proceedings become. He says he has a good idea of the style of wrestling wanted in this country aud feels confident that he ean provide it.

Tonti has a fine record, the men he has beaten including George Covelli, one of the roughest men in the game, Frank .Spiers, Tiny Roebuck. Vic Christy Floyd Marshall, Paul Boesch, Tom and Chris Zaharias, Howard Cantonwine. Carl Davis and Abe Coleman. He once bent Tony Catolino in nine minutes, and took only a little longer to beat Rustv Weseoatt. J