WRESTLING PARADOX

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1931, Page 7

WRESTLING PARADOX

"WOKLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP"

MEESKE JAKES THE TITLE

ALLEY KEEPS BELT

Billy Meeske, of Australia, is the champion light-heavyweight Tcrestler of the world. At least, this was the announcement made in the Town Hall last night prior to Meeske's bout with Tom Alley, the previous claimant to the title. The affair was billed as a "championship contest," but owing to Alley failing to make the weight (12st 71b or under) Meeske was crowned champion. He does not, however, take the belt, the usual emblem of such victories, for under the peculiar and somewhat unique rules which governed this contest the holder of the belt has to be actually beaten in a contest by a man who makes the light-heavyweight weight. The temporary owner of the belt, it seems, is not bound by any such restrictions, and he can wrestle at any weight he chooses. STRENUOUS WRESTLING. After reducing over a stone in weight in i-bout a week, Meeske just failed in his attempt to take the belt as well as the championsuip from A.lley, the latter receiving the referee's decision after eight rounds in which each man gained a fall. The verdict met with an exceedingly mixed reception, Meeske being loudly cheered when he left ihe ring, while Alley was faced with a storm of hooting as he stepped under the ropes. It had been a solid and not particularly brilliant contest, with most of the action coming in the last two rounds. There were no istances o? flamboyant showmanship, the \Testlers working away steadily on the i lat all night, providing few thrills but jilenty to interest. After Meeske had ron a fall with an intricate combination eg and toe hold in the fourth round, Klley squared the match in an exciting seventh session when the referee accidentally became mixed tip with Meeske. The Australian was helping the referee ti his feet when Alley took advantage of the position and dumped Meeske. This action incensed Meeske's supporters, who were clearly in the majority, and they did not give up hooting and making caustic remarks to Alley until he had disappeared into his dressing-room at the end of the bout. The match drew a large "house," a particularly, noticeable feature being the larger .proportion of women than usual. ROUND BY ROUND. Meeske weighed 12st 31b, and Alley lSst 101b. They spent some time playing for an opening, Meeske trying to fasten on one of his jiu-jitsu wristlocks. Alley took uo chances, and he quickly withdrew his hand whenever Meeake made a grab for it. At length Meeske took Alley to the mat with a headlock, and the pair spent a couple of minutes struggling hard. Up again, Meeske fastened on a hand hold which, to judge by the expression of pain on Alley's face, was not exactly the most gentle of holds. The Australian followed this up with a short arm scissors, and then various toe-holds, at which he was working when the gong sounded. The pace was not exceptionally fast, but the pair were providing plenty of straight wrestling, which kept the interest well maintained. They played around with wristlocka in the second until Meeske quietened Alley with a really fine hand lock. He bent his opponent's hand right back, and the perspiration broke out on Alley as he writhed and struggled to get free. When he did escape Alley put his hand behind his back for protection, but it was not long before the Australian was again at work on it. Some punching to' the short ribs enlivened the proceedings, but so far the wrestling had been hard rather than spectacular. FIRST FALL. It was again solid going in the third, and when in the fourth round Meeske got three reverse, toe-holds-in. succession which had Alley kicking frantically there was loud applause. Working at tho last of these holds Meeake also scissored Alley's leg, and there was wild excitement us Alley's ahouJriers touched the mat long enough for the Australian to be given a fall. The round ended at 3min Jusec. Alley came out for the fifth round apparently intent on business, and for a moment it seemed as if he might succeed in applying hia "crucifix." Meeske's arm strength and cleverness, however, saved him, and Alley's burst faded out. It was all Meeske until Alley caught him in a toe-hold, but the Australian countered with another lock on Alley's hand. Alley was working hard on top of his man when he suddenly clapped on a body scissors* which he as quickly developed into a "crucifix." The crowd roared, but it roared still more when Meeske, refusing to give in, courageously struggled and gradually broke the much vaunted hold. The main excitement of the sixth round was supplied by Alley, who suddenly came to life and threw Meeske around the ring with headlocks. He misjudged his opponent's condition, however, and found when he dived in to, finish matters that the Australian was still strong. , EXCITING WORK. Meeske lost no time in going .into action in the seventh round, and he rushed Alley to knock him to the ropes with tackles on the four sides of the ring. Allo,' did not appear to relish the treatment, but he waited his chance and sidestepped when- Meeske came at him again. The Australian continued his headlong rush to catch the referee and ground him. The audience made the most of the incident. Discovering that he had caught a referee instead of a wrestler, Meeske held -up his hands and then went to assist Mr. Creeke up. Alley, who was behind Meeske, seized the opportunity and, rushing in, he picked Meeske up and clumped him for a fall. Pandemonium followed. A large section of the crowd hooted aud counted Alley out, while Alley's supporters raised countercheers. The crowd continued to cheer aud shout advice throughout the last round. With a flurry of arms both wrestlers started off as if to end it, and Alley again threw his man with headlocks. Meeske came back to spend a long time in a head scissors. The Australian was now thoroughly exhausted, and he unsuccessfully tried to keep Alley out by waving his arms. Alley bored in and had all the better of the round, receiving the referee's verdict at the finish. It was undoubtedly an unpopular ending. AMATEUR BOUTS. E. W. Hutchinson (Bst 131b) made short work of J. Drew (Bst 91b), winning straight falls in the first and second rounds. After a strenuous first round, H. Chown (lOst 101b) won a fall from C. Lowe (list 21b) in the second by means of a headlock. Both boys were evenly matched, and Lowe squared the match in the last with a combination head scissors and arm lock. They were loudly applauded for their hard-working display. As usual when J. Stewart (12?t 31b) appears, his bout with H. R. Godfrey (list 91b) became a torrid affair. Stewart, who once had boxing ambitions, mixed the two sports with abandon, but for all his punching and jabbing he could not prevent Godfrey from gaining a fall Stewart earned the inevitable disqualification in the second session, and despite Godfrey's appeal to the referee to let it go on, that was the end of the bout. The great difference in the speed of modern catch-as-catch-can wrestling and the Cumberland style was shown by E. A. Brown (14st lib) and A. Glastynburg (13st 81b). The pair wrestled three rounds, Cumberland style, in which Glastynbury received the verdict, and then went one round using the modern methods. The pace was on in the last bout, Glastynbury getting the referee's decision. Mr. J. Creeke refereed the professional bout and Mr. J. H. Thompson the amateur contests. LATE MR. SHALLCRASS. As a tribute to the memory of the Jate Mr. K. W. Shallcrass, lion, treasurer of the association, the audience stood for a moment in silence piior to the main cpntestt ..■■•■■