CLASS WRESTLER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 8 September 1939, Page 13

CLASS WRESTLER

TALL VISITING SPANIARD MATCH WITH BLOMFIELD The wrestling match to be staged in Gisborne on Saturday night will feaure two of the biggest and most jopular wrestlers who have been campaigning in the Dominion this eason, “Lofty” Blomfield, the New Zealand champion, and Ignacio Marinez, the big Spaniard whose matches -nave caused considerable enthusiasm. There has been an exceptionally strong selection of imported wrestlers u New Zealand thi's year and consequently only those who have shown tutstanding merit have been able to ,-etain their places right through. Martinez had done this because every time he has taken the ring he has .liven exhilarating displays and has proved to be extremely hard to beat. He has had nearly all his bouts at ha large centres, where he is still in -ery keen demand, and consequently .Ilaborne has had to wait for his first ppearance here. Martinez has size, youth and vigour, nd he makes the most of these as2ts when he goes into action, Standng 6ft. 4in. in his socks and wcighng nearly 18st., he is 2G years old nd hai been wrestling as a profesional for the past five years. In oarch of bouts, for which he has ever had very far to look, he has -een all over the United States and lanada, as well as to South America and Europe. In France he defeated Henri de Glane, former holder of the world title,, and, shortly before he left for New Zealand he capped a run ■>{ highly meritorious performances by ho'/ling IBronko (Nagurski to a draw. He is the present holder of the Latin title toy virtue of a win over Vincent Lopez, the big Mexican. Besides using all the fast and spectacular manoeuvres which are so popular with the wrestling crowds, such as droplocks and tackles, he has some specialty holds of particular interest and effectiveness, such as his Corrigan body slam and his rolling Spanish 'leg splits. Martinez never allows time to hang on his hands and he can toe depended upon to make Blomfield work his hardest over the whole distance, not that the New Zealander is likely to need much encouragement.