RIVAL CLAIMANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 31

RIVAL CLAIMANTS

BRITISH EMPIRE TITLE

CHALLENGE TO WALKER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) 1 AUCKLAND, July 5. There are two claimants for the

title of British Empire heavyweight wrestling champion, George Walker, of Hastings, formerly of Auckland, and Earl McCready, Canada. Walker states that he won the title at ths Empire Games in 1911 and has since defended it in New Zealand on several occasions, and has always been willing to accept challenges. : '

"Walker's statement is childish," said Mr. Walter Miller, manager and trainer of McCready, in commenting ". on Walker's claims to the title. "Walker claims he won the title at the Empire Games in London in 1911; You may as well say he was born with the title. I have never heard of professional titles being at stake at the Empire Games gathering. Contests at the Games are purely for amateurs. McCready won the British Empire amateur title at the Empire Games at Hamilton, Ontario, in 1930.

"My answer to Walker is that, ■ if he does not think that McCready is the champion, all he has to do is to step into the ring, and there would soon be no doubt on the part of Walker or the public of New Zealand as to wi™ is the champion. Championships a*re won and lost in.the ring; not by claiming them. McCready, is the champion and he is willing to prove it.

"I am ready to back McCready .up to £3000 against Walker at any timei" said Mr. Miller. "McCready won. the British. Empire title in 1933 when lie defeated Jack Taylor in matches in Calgary and Winnipeg. Taylor : ,was the recognised Empire champion before he was defeated by McCready. Taylor had won the championship from Pat Connolly, of Ireland, in a title bout, and he was officially recognised as tha champion by wrestling commissions in Canada and the United States. McCready was likewise recognised."