WRESTLING BOUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 3

WRESTLING BOUT

DEFEAT OF IiLOMFIELD KATAN AWARDED ODD FALL MOST UNEXPECTED ENDING Lofty Blomfield, of Auckland, lost his professional wrestling match with John Katan. of Canada, at the Town Hall on Saturday night in a most unexpected manner in the final round. Katan had obtained a submission fall in the fourth with 'a reverse figure-four leg scissors and Blomfield had also won a submission in the seventh with an octopus clamp. It was left to the last round therefore to decide the issue arid Katan commenced an attack which would assist in gaining him at least a points decision. He ha/1 Blomfield fastened in a full nelson when the latter struggled toward a corner of the ring. He bounced quickly back off the ropes and fell heavily on top of his opponent, who was flat on his back, but managed to raise one shoulder off the mat to avoid a fall being awarded against him. Blomfield appeared to have the Canadian in difficulties, but. in exerting pressure, he lay back on the mat, obviously unaware of the fact that both his shoulders were touching the canvas. To his great surprise and to the general astonishment of patrons, the referee parted the men and awarded Katan a fall which decided the issue. The decision was most unpopular and was roundly hooted, more so because of the fact that a >arge section of the crowd did not approve of the methods of attack which Katan had used earlier. Had trio referee, started to count three, as is sometimes done, Blomfield would have had a warning and could easily have raised one shoulder or both off the mat. The contest was witnessed by a fair-sized house. Both wrestlers were accorded an ovation upon entering the ring, but Katan soon lost his popularity. He was warnal for using his knee in the opening round and his action of swinging Blomfield in hcadlocks away from the referee so that he could administer jabs and smacks to the face met with cries of protest from all parts of the house. In the next round Blomfield became annoyed when his opponent resorted to hair-pulling in order to force his head over the ropes and he jolted Ivalan through the ropes and then jumped on him. Later in the round Katan held the .New Zealander on the mat in a hammerlock and aggravated the position by joughly grazing his boot several times down the side of Blomfield's face and over his ear. After BlomScld had submitted in the fourth round, the pace continued fast, with the pair exchanging punishing holds and keeping the referee busy watching for the emplovment of illegal holds and tactics. Blomfield held the visitor in a reverse head scissors for some time in the sixth round at the end of which Katan was hooted for arguing with the referee. After Blomfield had evened the falls and looked likely to gain the winning one in the final round, his supporters were greatly , taken back at the sudden termination of the contest. Katan weighed 16st 101b and Blomfield IGst 91b. Mr. J. McLean was referee. Preliminary Bouts.—Two Auckland professionals. T. Yates, 14st 21b, and V. Carey, 14st. staged a bright contest which greatlypleased the crowd. No falls were obtained and the decision of the referee, Mr. McLean. was a draw. The amateur bouts resulted as follows:—W, Williamson, 9st 71b, beat L. Hawkins, 9st 71b. by one fall; C. Hammond, 9st, beat B. Sigley. Sst Sib, on points: D. Harding, lOst 101b, beat J. Wright, lOst Gib, by one fall. The officials were:—Referee, Mr. F. Murphy; judges. Messrs. C. O. Browne, G. Heaid: announcer, Mr. C. W. Hall.