WRESTLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 142, 18 May 1936, Page 4

WRESTLING

WOODS VERSUS BLOMFIELD. Few wrestlers have won popularity ' as quickly and effectively as has Joe (“Kopaeh”) Woods, llie boxer-wrestler from Michigan, who is to meet “Lofty” Blomficld in a return bout at the Opera House on Wednesday night. Woods is a formidable malrnan. Ho works with tireless energy throughout a contest, striving all the time to throw his opponent off his guard, and then moving in swiftly to take advantage of the opportunity. Though ho is not particularly big (he weighs about 15j stone), he is compactly built and as tough as nails. In 1925 Woods won the amateur heavyweight championship of the United States, while he also had an extensive career as a professional. For some time now it has been apparent that Blomficld is to occupy a prominent position in the sport which he lias taken up as a profession. Crowded houses follow him wherever lie appears, and it is fully anqticipatod that the Opera House will be taxed to the limit on Wednesday night. The pair recently mot at Hastings when Blomficld won the third fall to gain the honours. On that occasion the display was so thrilling that the onlookers went wild with excitement so Palmorstonians arc promised some “titbits” in turn. On the occasion of the Kcnt-Wadc bout here the former showed what an excellent matman ho is. But both Woods and Blomficld beat him. The pair then tried conclusions and the question - now is: Can Woods turn the tables? The American says lie can, hut the New Zealander differs. Wednesday night will show who is correct. A splendid series of amateur bouts has been arranged for the preliminaries, those matched bing: W. Smith (Downes Gym.) v K. Evans (United) ; E. Anth-onv (D.) VW. Roill (Rata); J. Clark (U.) v H. Ramsay (U.): T. Waldron (R.) v C. Matson (D.). The following have been called on as emergencies: P. Moss, C. Olliver, P. Milverton, J. McConachy, Jeff. Young.