INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1685, 15 June 1904, Page 51

INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING

MKLLOIi UKI'EATS LAJETON.

- There is always an '•'indefinable something/’ as the persecuted heroine often has it, which tells us when we are watching a match, wrestling, boxing, or whatever it may be, between two men who have made, it their ambition to attain to that physical fitness which means victory in the case of exponents of equal skill. At the Crystal Palace recently 5000 people saw a most skilful contest, the genuineness of which could not have, heen doubted by ono of the onlookers who assembled to see J. Mellor do a little to justify (after his defeat by Yukio Tani) his presence on the platform to contest the light-weight catch-as-eatch-ean championship of the world with 'Hugh Lannon, of America. Curtain-raisers in the shape of an extremely pretty bout between J. Carroll and Y. Whistler, which went to the former, a "contest” in which Joyce defeated Parker, of Monmouth, in 2osec, and a meeting between M. Calve, of France, and Court-Detelii were very instructive. On behalf of the latter, who is the newly-arrived Turk, a challenge was made with excellent discretion to Madralli and : S'eigfried to step upon the platform and “try a fall ” Nobody expected either. of these wrestlers to take up the gauntlet,” but an opponent was -found for Court-Derelli in the M. Calve just mentioned, The latter was an no manner of condition to stay thirty minutes to gain the £25 offered, or, even give one a clue as to Court-Derelli’s real ability. He Iffy on the mat’ like a iboy with Court-Derelli ; on top, and at the end of half a minute looked more

likely to ; have an apoplectic fit than win the offered money. After he had, as far as could be seen by the spectators, been down quite three times in less than three minutes, the referee tapped Court-Derelli on the back, and gave him the long-delayed information to the effect that lie was the win-1 ner.'

Then came the Melior-Lannon contest, and it was one of the prettiest wrestling struggles we have ever seen. The customary look of determination upon Mellor’s otherwise inexpressive face when he faced his opponent spoke eloquently of a warm time for Lannon, and a mighty resolve to show to the world that, though he had been beaten, the sporting public of Lancashire (so well represented there) should not see their fellowcountryman succumb again. For nineteen minutes of fast, gruelling work Lannon showed just as much cleverness as Mellor. and the latter was obviously astonished by many a neat move of the American’s. This period was sufficient to show us that Lannon knows as much of the game as most people, but just as he had nearly got the first fall he met with defeat. - THE FIRST FALL.

The American had Mellor well under, and Avas striving to force one of the Lancastrian’s shoulders to the ground, the other had been there some time; but Mellor, with Tani-like sAviftness, tAvisted out of the grip, and caught Lannon as he was. scrambling away to a safe position. In a flash Mellor’s arms Avere clasped around Lannon’s body, and the latter’s shoulders forced down to the mat, at the end of 19min 51sec. - The second bout Avas short', for the American’s acclimatisation is far from complete, and although he at times had Mellor hard put to to escape telling holds, the latter was superior in strength, and Avon the second pin fall in 10min 20sec, and the match. There was not a dull moment in the thirty-one minutes of keen wrestling. Either man was far too much in earnest to allow the other breathing time, and Occasionally a little feeling Avas throAvn into the affair, such as Avhen Lannon stopped one of Mellons rushes by a rather forcible application of his forearm against the latter's mouth. Lannon is posibly not less clever than Mellor, but the latter’s superior stamina and determinedly: aggressive tactics Avere too much for the American.

Mellor’s aggression,’ in fact, is almost irresistible. There ,is not a hold or trick with which he is not familiar, but he had almost exhausted bis stock when he turned imminent defeat into the triumph which sent the huge asembly into a paroxysm -of enthusiasm. We shall hear, of Lannon to more advantage later. The deduction to be made from this encounter is that Yukio Tani is the light-Aveight cateh-as-catch-can champion of the world, and that Mellor runs him a very close second. We AA'ere sorry to’ see about the proceedings a lack of that good English hospitality which is usually extended to visitors, Colonial or foreign. Lannon had been on the stage some time before anyone appeared to second him, and even Avhen these gentlemen did appear they were ftier© figurehesidSj while Mellor’s nicely and professionally-attired squires had a very business-like appealance. A, gentleman challenged the world on behalf of the winner, who may be matched for £SGG. In a match with Tom Clayton, George Lurich once more showed what a very strong man lie is. Strength was the feature of this Graeco-Roman contest, and naturally Lurich Avon.