WRESTLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 2

WRESTLING

SPELLMAN DEFEATED COX GAINS POINTS DECISION After doing everything in the way of rough wrestling that could reasonably be expected of him, Ted Cox, in the final round of his contest with Jack Spellman on Saturday night suddenly revealed an unexpected vein of chivalry. With Spellman completely at his mercy from _ the beginning of the round he refrained from taking what would have been the deciding fall, and draggjd and jolted his opponent all around the ring for a full 10 minutes. Why, none of the spectators seemed to be able to determine. Spellman secured a fall in the fifth round and Cox equalised in the seventh, but when it was all over, Cox was so far ahead on points that the referee ctuld not do other than award him 'he decision.

Cox, whose weight was given as 17.0, looked every pound of it, and hi Falstafnan contours made the 16.0 Spellman appear almost slender by comparison. In fact, his nickname, King Kong, is just about as apt as anything could be, for both in appearance and mannerisms he is by no means unlike his famous namesake who was once immortalised by Hollywood. He is a spectacular and unruly wrestler, but his stock-in-trade by no means consists entirely of showmanship, for on occasions on Saturday night he revealed a knowledge of his holds and a speed in applying them that vvas really surprising in one of his bulk. The crowd which packed the Town Hall was hugely intrigued by his antics. One, his imitation of a seaelephant coming up to breathe, was gem. As soon as he reached his corner at the conclusion of a round he would seize the water-bottle, tip half the contents over his head and the other half down his throat, and then, throwing his head back, blow a spray far into the air. By the end of the bout he was standing m a puddle of water. The officials received this demonstration coldly; they could see at least portion of a valuable and perfectly good mat being ruined. Spellman tried his hardest to make the contest tight, but after a few rounds he found this of no avail and decided to meet his man halfway. When the wrestlers entered the ring the crowd was intensely pro-Cox, but, with characteristic fickleness it took a decided dislike to him after he had indulged in some of his jungle tactics, and hooted him just as earnestly as it had previously cheered. Cox did not worry He simply bowed with old-world courtesy, and airily blew a few kisses. The first few rounds were fast, and mixed with all the jolting and barring was some really good wrestling. Cox used headlocks with considerable success, while Spellman, while he did some good scissor work, generally, when in a tight corner, resorted to his favourite toe-hold counter. At one stage, after Cox dropped him with a jolt, he caught his opponent in a forward toe-hold, and for a moment it looked as if the big fellow would be forced to submit. Cox tried everything, from gougint to jolting, to break the hold, but Spellman hung on, and it was not until an arm of the general proportions of a roll of bacon caught him full in the face that he let go. Cox then introduced an arm-twist which he rendered doubly punishing by standing on his opponent's face.

The fifth round commenced with a merry exchange of elbow jolts, from which Spellman emerged the victor. Two vicious jabs to Cox's chin shot him into the ropes. Spellman hauled him out, head-locked him three times to the mat, banged in another jolt, and finished up with two devastating flying tackles which paved the way for a body-press and the first fall. A good deal went on in the next round that missed the eye of the referee, notably a shrewdly delivered punch to Spelman's chin, but at the same time there was more straight wrestling than there had been at any stage of the contest.

Spellman brought off two headlocks at the commencement of the seventh round, but Cox came out of the second and launched a barrage of jolts, which sent Spellman staggering all over the ring and rendered him an easy prey to the crotch-hold and dump which followed. Spellman was still groggy when he came up for the last round, but Cox did not appear to be in any hurry to secure the fall that was practically his for the taking. Instead, he preferred to " rough" his man, and Spellman, after taking a terrific battering, was a very weary and sore wrestler when hostilities ceased. PRELIMINARIES C. Keach (lOst 41b) beat S. Wilson (9st 121 b) by two falls. F. Keach (lOst 81b) beat A. Bennett (list 81b) by one fall. C. Reid (9st 31b) beat R. Meinung (lOst) by one fall. A. M'Millan (12st) beat H. Stevens (list 21b) on points. Mr D. Samson acted as referee for ihe preliminaries and Mr F. M. Anderson controlled the main contest.

WALKER RETURNS

MATCH IN AUCKLAND (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 20. After an absence from Auckland of over two years, George Walker made his appearance in the Town Hall on Saturday evening in a wrestling contest promoted by the New Zealand Wrestling and Athletic Club. He defeated a young Hungarian. Lou Szabo, by two falls to one, ending the match in the fifth round with a back-loop slam. Looking particularly fit, Walker was given an ovation when he entered the ring by a crowd which filled the Town Hall. He weighed 15st 81b, and Szabo was 21b heavier. Prior to the commencement of the match the Indian Karam Singh was introduced, and the announcer held up a cheque for £IOO as a challenge to the winner. FELICE DEFEATED NO MATCH FOR SAVAGE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. Tony Felice was no match for Steve Savage when they wrestled here on Saturday Savage won by two straight falls, both submission, sained in the fifth and sixth rounds. The bout was marred by overmuch showmanship and illegal tactics on the part of Felice, and once the contestants were counted out by the crowd. The referee was closely identified with the match, having

several altercations with Felice, and once actually going down on the mat and getting into holds with him. On another occasion forearm jolts and shoulder butts were exchanged between Felice and the referee. Savage concentrated on toe holds, and it was by these that his submission falls were won. At no stage did he appear to be in difficulties. BLOMFIELD BEATS KIRILINKO ; (Per United Press Association; NEW PLYMOUTH, June 20. Lofty Blomfield defeated Matros Kirilinko by two falls to one in a clever, exciting bout. With the falls even in the last round, excitement was running high. Kirilinko held Blomfield in a strangle and the New Zealander was awarded a penalty fall.