IN THE RING

Evening Post, Issue 2, 2 July 1932, Page 20

IN THE RING

By "Aeneas" WRESTLERS HOOTED

THE NEW SEASON

OPENING AT, AUCKLAND

Hoots instead of cheers greeted the opening of the 1932 wrestling season in the Auckland Town Hall on Monday night, when a big crowd saw George Wilson (America)" beat Tommy Thompson (America) in the fifth round of a tame bout. It was the Auckland Wrestling Association's misfortune that the contest fell far below expectations (states the Auckland "Star"). .

For the first couple of, rounds the match was deadly quiet, and the crowd did not hesitate to express its feelings in hoots and catcalls. Wilson, who entered the ring in an American football pullover, had been introduced as "The Wildcat," and he was advised from all sides of the house .to "get wild." Then all the action that there was came at once, and three falls, the last one of which made Wilson the winner, were registered within a few minutes. There were a lot more hoots than cheers when the contest finished, for what had promised to be a bright opening for the new season had turned put almost, a complete flop. On behalf of the wrestlers it may be mentioned that both were a little uncertain as to what length the New Zealand rules would allow them togo, but that fact does not fully explain their disappointing showing. Thompson won the first fall following a flying head scissors,1 but he crashed when trying for this' hold in the next Touhd, and was so dazed that Wilson was able to gain two falls in quick succession and win the match. Churchmen's Impression. At the invitation of the Auckland Wrestling Association, the Eey. Lawson Marsh, president of the Council of Christian Congregations, and the Rev. G. Budd, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery, attended the match between Tommy Thompson and George Wilson. A few months ago Mr. Marsh protested against what he termed "the increased disorderly conduct and the unsportsmanlike behaviour" displayed at professional matches in various parts of New Zealand, and Messrs. Marsh and Budd were deputed to wait on'the City Council to protest against the letting of 4 the Town Hall for carnivals that were not under strict control. Interviewed after the bout both Mr. Marsh and' Mr. Budd expressed themselves as agreeably surprised. "Ithoroughly enjoyed the'amateur exhibitions," said Mr. Marsh. "As regards the professional match, the men apparently did not rise to the expectations of a portion of the crowd. There appeared to be to me a desire on the part of the wrestlers to give a thor-1 oughly sportsmanlike show. Certainly no exception could, bo taken.: to anything we saw to-night. The association is to be congratulated -on' the standard of sportsmanship displayed." Mr. Budd said that he, too, had been well entertained by the amateurs. "The crowd," he said, "was much more orderly than I had expected. There were no women's screams, as were heard over the radio last season." Palmer and Stribling. According to one critic, three things stood out in the Palmer-Gora fight in Sydney recently. They were Palmer's variety of punches, his deplorable lack of a knock-out blow,-and Gora's durability. The Australian will;be Young Stribling's first opponent, and-they will face each other on either tho 11th or the 18th July. 1 . Miramar Club's Year. At the annual meeting of the Miramar Boxing Club recently the energetic and popular secretary, Mr. J. C. Troy, was presented with a' gold-mounted pen and pencil and an attache case by.the members in recognition of his work in the interests of the club. During the past year the club promoted four tournaments, at which 91 contests were decided and 125 boys fought. After'paying out, inter alia, £31 6s 6d for ti-o-phiea and £.19 7s in expenses for visiting boxers, the club ended the year with a credit balance of £9 16s 7d—excellent testimony to the enterprise "and careful management of this progressive body. -.--...., , . - Carterton Tournament. The Wairarapa Boxing Association held a tournament at Carterton lastMonday night, when a large' crowd saw some willing if not particularly brilliant boxing, A team of Wellington boys went through, Hawker, Pickrang, Young, and Sindall winning their bouts. R. Reid lost after a close contest, and Mace came out with a draw. : , Ringside Notes. : George Walker was given an enthusiastic reception when he was introduced from the ring at Auckland on Monday night. The Canadian has fallen into line in at least one respect for he had adopted a norn de guerre. 'I The White Terror", was the description given him by the announcer to the apparent delight of the crowd. The ex-Wellington . amateur, Bill Tyree, now. boxing under the name of Sullivan, is to get a chance at the New. Zealand heavyweight title when he meets Alan Campbell at Invercargill to-night. Besides the title tho boxers will.fight for the big end of an £S0 purse. , . . ■ Bobby Blay lias, now grown into *i welterweight, for ho weighs 10st 31b, without any superfluous, flesh. Ho. is to meet Delaney in their third bout on Monday night, but it is most-unlikely that. Blay wi)l try to get: his weight down to the lightweight,limit Young Jack Thompson, ex-welter-weight champion of the world, has decided to give the game best. There is a probability of- a wrestling match being staged at the Winter Show Stadium on Monday week . between George Walker and Peter Limutkin. The bout, if it takes place, will be put on by the permission of tho New Zealand Union,- which, despite tho efforts of certain other interests, is still the virtual controlling body for the sport1 in New Zealand. ; - Tommy Thompson, the ' American' who wrestled in Auckland last Monday, has gone on to Australia, but Wilson; a free-lance, who came to New Zealand on his owr accord, is remaining.

;, K. ls vow practically certain that trials at the end of the season will precede selection of the Australian Eugby team to tour South Africa.. J. L. Kerr, the well-known cricketer, has been receiving favourable? mention in the southern papers for his displays at full-back for the University team in; the Canterbury competition. A. W. Boberts,_ another prominent batsman, has again been showing good form ra the same position.