HARBAN SINGH OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1935, Page 13

HARBAN SINGH OUT

WALKER'S LOOP SLAM

EMPIRE WRESTLING TITLE

EXCITEMENT AT STADIUM

George Walker's famous back loop slam, applied with all its old devastating force, spelt defeat for Harban Singh in the professional wrestling match at the Wellington Show Stadium on Saturday night and incidentally clarified the position in regard to the much-disputed British Empire title to the extent of eliminating the Indian. The bout was billed as a title contest with Walker the defender, and it remains to be seen what will eventuate to settle the issue so far as the other Richmonds in the field are concerned.

That there are" other claimants was made clear before Walker and Singh opened hostilities. The "announcer (Mr. H. F. Wood) had just told the audience or tne National Sporting j Club's willingness to provide a purse jof £250 for a McCready-Duala match when the stalwart figure of George Hopkins stepped through the ropes. His plea for an audience was granted, and he proceeded to say a few words to the effect that there seemed to be an impression that he and others under the Dominion Union's banner were afraid to meet Walker and Duala. He assured the public.that this was riot so and said that he as an Englishman "would have to be considered in any Empire title series. Hopkins received a somewhat mixed hearing, and when he could no. longer make himself heard he walked over to Walker's corner and melodramatically slapped its occupant across the face with his gloves.;

Walker, naturally, resented this treatment and made as if to reply to it, but restrained himself and vouchsafed ho response.other than a fleeting derisive smile. ..Hopkins then marched across to Singh and shook "himby the hand before retiring to his ringside seat. Walker then had a word with the announcer, after which it was stated that Walker wished he could have wrestled Hopkins that night. A further delay of a few minutes occurred while the inspector of police waited for the contestants' certificates to be placed in his hands. Consequently it was about 9.30 p.m. before the big event started, but an entertaining series of preliminaries, followed by Hopkins's little gesture, had prevented the time from dragging. ' ' AN EXCELLENT CONTEST. . ; The bout which followed was easily the best that has been staged at the Stadium this season, and it served to re-establish the prestige which , the National Club had been in danger of losing. There was always something happening, gruelling work on the mat being varied with more lively action, and a high standard of wrestling was maintained throughout; A crowd of healthy dimensions followed the exchanges with the closest attention, and applause repeatedly punctuated the successive rounds. •• ;• Harban Singh, whose weight was given as 14st 41b, compared with Walker's 15st 21b, showed that he was a worthy challenger and he took the first fall at 7min 46sec in the fifth round with a body press following a series of shoulder butts. Hammering on the back pf Walker's neck with locked hands and producing a further supply of butts, he endeavoured to unsettle Walker further in the next round and he succeeded to the extent that Walker, showed convincing signs of distress. "Walker's done" was on many lips, but the position was better realised' by those who called to Singh to be careful. Suddenly Walker secured a crotch hold and it looked as if he was going to hoist the Indian for a slam, but he changed his mind. Locking the Indian's arms he- threw htm over his head and flattened him out with a bump. Singh had no further interest in the bout, and the fall which was awarded to Walker in lmin 58sec, ended.the proceedings. POPULAR VICTORY. It was also the signal for a remarkable demonstration in Walker's honour; The hold which Walker has secured on the New Zealand wrestling public's imagination is something which time does riot seem to be able to change and his victory fairly brought the house down." It was followed by an excited rush to the ringside to see how Harban Singh was progressing .towards recovery and there was a crash when the trestles under the Press table collapsed beneath those who made use of it to climb on to the staging. .In the early stages.of the bout the initiative was generally taken by Harban Singh, and he handled his heavier opponent in workmanlike fashion, in addition, to knocking him off i}ls^ eet several times with shoulder butts. Forearms, and elbows were employed in a display of feeling as early as the second round. Walker showed a partiality for using barred toe holds, and once the referee had to intervene to save Singh from being, emptied out of the ring. Singh proved a hard man to hold and several times he managed to secure splits holds without, however, making much headway. In retaliation Walker gave the Indian a gruelling with a crucifix LIVELY EXCHANGES. Walker, was soon perspiring" freely, but scarcely, a drop of moisture showed on Harban's brown skin. There was a roar from the crowd early in; the fourth round when Harban, after felling Walker with a butt, used Man Mountain Dean's broad jump. Walker sprang to his feet and ran round the ring to escape a second dose. They then set upon each other with their arms working like piston rods, jumping about- in lively fashion until Walker stepped through the ropes for a spell, earning a chorus of boos. When bmgh set upon Walker with rabbit punches a kick in the stomach checked his impetuosity. Dumping Singh, and following up with chancery throws, Walker quickened the tempo, but was halted by receiving Singh's shoulder m his midriff.

Singh pressed his advantage and. after bowling Walker over several times, tried for a fall with a press. While the crowd yelled "Fall! Fall!" the referee held his hand as Walker kept daylight between one shoulder and the canvas. The ringing of the gong gave Walker a rest from this treatment, but the proceedings were again marked by plenty of energy on botn sides when the fifth round opened. Singh eventually got going with his shoulder butts again, and the subsequent developments were as described above. Mr. A. Jenkins was the referee. AMATEUR PRELIMINARIES. S. Bradley (9st) beat O. Mautner (9st slb). Mautner took a fall in the first round, but had a penalty fall given against him in the second round for slapping his opponent. Bradley took the deciding fall after a dump. S. Scott (list 51b) beat J. McNeely (list 61b). Scott flattened McNeely with a flying tackle off the ropes in the.second round, and the latter was unable to resume. T. Wright (12st) beat R. King (12st 91b) on points. T. Seminoff (12st 91b) beat J. Leach (12st 61b) by one fall to nil. Mr. B. Bidder was the referee. .