WRESTLER SLAMMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21883, 20 August 1934, Page 12

WRESTLER SLAMMED

WALKER BEATS FELICE LOSER UNABLE TO CONTINUE ENDING IN FIFTH ROUND The professional heavy-weight wrestling contest between George Walker,'of Auckland, and Tony Felice, of Italy, held at the Town Hall on Saturday night, resulted in a win for Walker, Felice being unable to continue after being slammed in the fifth round. There was only a fair attendance, which was treated to a hard but unspectacular bout. Neither contestant showed a flair for showmanship, although Felice roused the crowd occasionally with solid forearm blows to Walker's jaw.

Felice gained a fall in the third round after dumping Walker heavilv several times, completing with a body press. The Italian kept on top of his opponent during tho remainder of tho contest, but, just as he appeared to have tho measure of Wflker, the last-named demonstrated that he had been foxing by coming up underneath for a backloop slam and gaining a fall. Felice, who was stunned by the fall, received medical attention, but he was still in a semi-conscious condition when the gong went for the sixth round, and tho verdict went to tho New Zealand champion. It was some minutes beforo Felice could recover sufficiently to leave the ring.

Visitor's Reception

Felice, whoso weight was announced at lost. 101b., received a fine reception on being introduced to tho crowd. Walker, 14st 101b., was not so popular. Mr. C. Pollard refcreed the main contest and also officiated in the amateur preliminaries. There was a very lively opening. Walker took Felice to the mat with a stomach throw, and then Felice swung from one side of the ropes to the other as if contemplating a flying tackle, but Walker backed off. warily. Reverse headloc'k throws had Walker in difficulties and he was roundly hooted for seeking sanctuary beyond tho ropes. Felice put plenty of pressure into a short-arm scissors and had Walker writhing, but the hold jsvas countered quickly, and at the gong Walker had the Italian in a standing splits. A barred toe-hold had Walker in trouble in the second round, and, when he managed to escape, he was thrown repeatedly with headlocks. A kick in s the abdomen from Felice curbed slight facetiousness on the part of alker and Felice pursued his advantage by throwing his opponent heavily with a flying-mare. First Fall to Felice

The third round had not been -long in progress when Felice got A\ alker clear of the ropes and picked him np and dumped him three times. It was a simple task for the Italian to complete the fall with a body press. Felice caused considerable amusement by bowing in a highly-selfcongratulat-ory manner in acknowledgment of the crowd's plaudits. Walker -came out determined for action in the next round, but Felice frightened him off by reaching low for a dump. The Italian was showing considerable strength in lifting Walker, who seemed chary of taking any risks. A laboured attempt at a living-tackle might have got Walker into trouble, but ho rolled cleverly to bring his opponent down with a lving-splits. When Walker defeated an attempt on Felice's part for a dump by holding the ropes, the Italian cornered his opponent and delivered a series of forearm jolts to the jaw. Apparently groggy from several throws in the fifth Walker drew his opponent in close and slammed him. The hold broke at the top of the loop, but the impetus brought Felice down heavily on the 'back, of his neck. Walker threw himself on Felice's head and the Italian, completely flattened out, was an easy victim.

Amateur Preliminaries Middle-weight.—F. Paton, list 101b.. beat- S. Scott, 12st., by two straight falls gained with bod3'-presses in the first and second rounds respectively. Middle-weight.—H. Johnstone, list. 41b., drew with J. McDonald, list. 21b., on points. Middle-weight.—E. Johnson, list., beat W. Hanken, list., by one fall, gained by submission with a toehold and bar in the first round. Light-weight.—F. Murphy, 10st., beat S. Hobbs, lOst. 51b., by one fall secured in the first round with a headlock and press. Feather-weight.—W. Boag, Bst. 71b., beat H. Hurren, Bst. 51b., bv two straight falls. Boag secured his falls in the first and second round with presses. MEYER AND BEY DRAW" MATCH AT NEW PLYMOUTH [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday Fred Meyer and Ali Bey wrestled here last night, the match resulting in a draw, with one fall each. There was plenty of showmanship, but not much good wrestling.