IN THE RING

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 88, 13 April 1935, Page 27

IN THE RING

WRESTLERS ON THE MOVE

MANY BOGUS CHAMPIONS

(By "Aeneas.")

Some space was given last week to discussing wrestling in general terms, with special references to Australian conditions. Further news from Australia has since been received. The most momentous so far as the squared ring is concerned relates to the change in the management of the Rushcutter Stadium. It will be recalled that Mr. Charles Lucas passed through Wellington last year on his way back from America wlitnce he was dispatched by the National Boxing Club to select a team of boxers. Whether the failure of the team imported on that occasion had anything to do with the change is not known, but the fact remains that the majority of the eight boys did not make good, and that Mr. Lucas is no longer the manager of the big stadium in Sydney. .

Mr. Jack Munro, the new manager, had occupied the same position some years previously, and it is reported that he thoroughly understands the admittedly delicate job of handling boxers and wrestlers outside the ring. When questioned, Mr. Munro declined to say that the N.B.C. was itself importing wrestlers this year. It is, however, known that syndicates around Sydney are in competition for the favour of a few of the best-known wrestlers in the States. LONG FEUD ENDED. Then there are the Leichhardt Stadium authorities. The latest from that quarter is that Billy Meeske, of Brisbane, and Tom Lurich, of the Leichhardt, have become reconciled, thereby ending a long feud, and that these two leading lights have decided to combine. As a direct result a match well spattered with novelties was staged recently, providing much cause for cynical criticism by those "in the know." !.

The South African authorities were rather surprised when a: Brisbane paper informed them ' that1 a: Peter Venter was the South African champion and. holder of a belt" emblematic Of the British Empire title,: presented (the paper declared) by the Transvaal Sporting Club! Many other similar cases of unblushing impertinence could be quoted on men masquerading under false colours. Nor is the evil restricted to Australia. Gus Sonnenberg and Dan Kolbff, for instance, met eight times in the : States before the pair came here, and on each occasion the duel was for a\ world'title.. The/joke was that Dan KolofT used his 'own name only once. J : - : '■ TREK TO SOUTH AFRICA. Those who saw "Whiskers" Blake wrestle in New Zealand and watched this extraordinary' human specimen prancing around local rings,:will be interested to know that he has left Australia and is now. in South Africa. Joe. Gotch, is another whose... welcome iri-Australia has'run-out and-who will make tracks for' Johannesburg.. While on, the subject of, South .Africa, it might be mentioned, that a Tom Kent is wrestling in that territory under the ring title of "The. Taranaki Tiger," claiming (so his publicity goes) to be a New Zealand champion! There is no end to it. Harry Mamos is back in Sydney, and has stepped down to being the third man in the ring in some of the smaller towns. It is expected that he will sail for China with Wong Buck Cheung very shortly. George v Tiki, a fourthrate Maori, who will be remembered in Wellington as being'a party to a very poor exhibition with Limutkin three years ago, was recently pitted against Ali Bey at Perth, but failed,to break his very persistent run of bad luck. MEN NOT FROM BOWSER. In New Zealand it appears that much is being done quietly, but there is nothing much for publication. Interviewed by the writer, Mr. H. D. Bennett remarked that he had nothing to say, and that he was taking things quietly. "In view,, however, of the many misleading statements that are being made," he stated, "I might say for your information that Paul Bowser is not in any way responsible for the men that might be coming over here this season under the direction of Koloff and Gunson." , Some further speculations will be made in this column on another occasion. . '.■•'....■