WRESTLING TITLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23721, 30 July 1940, Page 10

WRESTLING TITLE

RETENTION BY KATAN

DRAW WITH LOFTY BLOMFIELD EACH MAN OBTAINS FALL John Ivatan, of Canada, retained his titlo of heavy-weight wrestling champion of the British Empire by drawing with Sergoant-Major Lofty lilomfield, of Auckland, in a match at the Town Hall last evening. Each man obtained a fall and the decision enabled Ivatan' to still hold his title. Even a win to Blomfield on points would not have meant a loss of the cha nipionship. As on the previous occasion when the pair met, the Town Hall was crowded and the spectators were almost continuously on their feet, being thoroughly roused by the continued action and spectacular methods adopted by both challenger and champion. There was almost deafening applause and cheering when Blomfield obtained the first fa'l in tho third round with his favourite hold, the octopus clamp. Prior to this the contestants had indulged in one of the most solid exchanges of elbow jolis ever seen in the local ring. First one and then the other reeled before attack and counter-attack, and each in turn appeared to hold the advantage until Blomfield finalised matters with his hold, which gained him a submission. Champion Evens Fall There was another similar exchange of jolting In the sixth round before Katan weakened his opponent and Mien applied an inside Japanese toehold which enabled him to even the falls with a press. From then on Katan was much more on the defensive thaii the challenger and the final round was contested with the greater portion of the spectators on their feet, the occupants of the stalls having rushed to the ringside to urge on the challenger. Blomfield actually had the champion fastened in another octopus clamp, but Katan made use of the ropes to prevent ninisell being pulled Into the centre of the -irig and the referee was compelled to break the hold which, in the ordinary course __ of .•vents, may have brought the title to .New Zealand for the first tune. It was a very spectacular match, with a wide variation of holds which maintained the interest of the onlookers throughout. Plomfield was a warm favourite, ao doubt having a lot of sympathy on account of the result of his first challenge. In which the fall awarded against him was generally disputed. Last evening ho went risrht, out after victory from the first gong. His powerful iolts frequently rattled and annoyed the titleholder. witn the result that, there were many willing exchanges. When the jolts from either connected to the jaw, as they very often did, the men were knocked off their balance and sent staggering back- . wards. The referee, Mr. J. McLean, .was kept on the move watching for illegalities and he issued warnings to both men from time to time for punching, hair-pulling and using strangleholds. Tho controlling official performed a difficult task with credit in such an important match. Prior to the commencement a challenge. to the winner was read from Earl McCready, former holder of' the title. Katan weighed lOst 101b and Blomfield lOst (lib. Preliminary Bouts The Auckland professionals. F. Irvine, I3st 101b, and F. Boric, J Ist 21b, provided the spectators with an exhibition which put them in good humour for the major contest. Both adopted aggressive ■ methods which proved most popular. In the third round t.hcy went through the ropes and fell off the staging on to the floor. It was a race to see who could regain tho ring tjirst. the crowd roaring approval in the meantime. Boric won on points, no falls being registered. Mr. J. McLean was referee. The amateur bouts resulted as follows: — D. Harding, lOst, beat J. Wright. lOst 51b, on points; T. Yates, 13st 01b. beat A. Walker, I.lst 'lib. by two falls; R. Thomas, ftst 10s, beat G. Xelson. Bst 111b, on points. Mr. F. Murphy was referee and Messrs. C. O. Browne and G. neald were the judges. Mr. C. W. Ilall was announcer.