WRESTLING CHAMPION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 212, 6 August 1940, Page 4

WRESTLING CHAMPION

BLOMFIELD v. CORBETT. Baltling bis way through eight gruelling rounds which kept a packed audience in the Wellington Town Ilall excited, last night, tho No. 1 man in the New Zealand wrestling ring, Sergeant-Major “Lofty’’ Blomfield, lifted the British Empire heavyweight wrestling championship crown from John Katan. Blomfield, who has now had several months’ continuous army training, is no longer the mountain of flesh and bone that he was. lie is a tall, lithe arid agile grappler toughened by continuous training and able to hold his own with the best. The man against whom Blomfield will wrestle in the Opera House here on Thursday night is as tough as,, if not tougher than, Katan, and certainly well up to Blomfield's standard, Joe Corbett, although named “Tho Boston Adonis,” loses his classic beauty when engaged in his gruelling profession and is at his best when elbows are flying. When he and Blomfield met before a veritable fracas resulted and they can-be counted upon to “mix : tilings” for the full 80 minutes on Thursday night. As this will definitely bo Blomfield’s only appearance here this season, booking is expected to be exceptionally heavy, and those intending patrons who have not already dotie so are advised to reserve now at Collinson and G'unninghame’s. EMPIRE TITLE WON. BLOMFIELD BEATS KATAN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 5. For the second time the British Empire wrestling championship title' changed hands in Wellington, to-night, when “Lofty” Blomfield won it from John Katan, who has l>cen the holder sinco ho captured it from Earl McOreudy a month ago. Blomfield obtained the sole fall of tin exciting and vigorous bout in the sixth round. Blomfield was pinned on the mat by Katan. but kicked upwards and connected with Kataii’s face, tumbling him backwards/ Blomfield then took tho fall with a body press. The Town Hall was ja-mbed full, and many stood throughout tho lengthy bout, which was interrupted for half an hour when the ring collapsed and had to bo re-erected. McCready, who watched tho bout from the ringside, challenged the winner.