EMPIRE WRESTLING TITLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 15 November 1937, Page 6

EMPIRE WRESTLING TITLE

RETAINED BY McCREADY EXCITING CONTEST WITH BLOMFIELD TBy Telegraph—Preßß Association! AUCKLAND, 14th November. Earl McCready, Canada, retained his British Empire wrestling title after an exciting, and strenuous struggle with “Lofty” Blomfield, New Zealand, in a professional heavyweight contest on Saturday night. Over eight spectacular rounds the wrestlers battled to gain the advantage, but when the final gong sounded the referee, in the absence of any falls, would not differentiate between the two men on points. Blomfield held up one finger signifying that he desired another round and, after the referee had interviewed McCready, it was announced that the bout would continue. However, as the men were preparing for the deciding round, the announcer entered the ring again and intimated that the police authorities would not permit the contest to be extended. Blomfield made a great effort to lower the colours of the experienced Canadian, exploiting a wide range of telling holds and almost matching his opponent in ring-craft. He punished McCready with powerful jolts from time to time and in the sixth round he almost gained a submission fall with his favourite octopus clamp. The New Zealander was unable to stand up in order to apply the maximum pressure, however, and McCready was saved by the gong. Though harassed throughout the bout, McCready still seemed to have a slight advantage over the challenger.