South African Wrestling Champion To Compete In New Zealand

Southland Times, Issue 23819, 17 May 1939, Page 11

South African Wrestling Champion To Compete In New Zealand

Frank Forster, heavyweight wrestling champion of South Africa, has accepted the offer of the Dominion of New Zealand Wrestling Union to compete in New Zealand this season, and will leave South Africa on May 22. He should arrive in New Zealand near the end of June.

Frank Forster is not a beginner in the wrestling game. The greater part of his experience was gained in Europe, where he wrestled successfully in Paris against Henri de Glane and other stars.

Returning to Africa, he put up remarkably fine exhibitions against Earl McCready and, in a special British Empire title bout, lost by one fall in a limit match. His showing impressed the South Africans, who had not seen much of him, due to his absence abroad. An attempt was made to match him against Johannes Van der Walt, former claimant of Earl McCready’s British Empire title. In spite of a demand by the sporting Press that Van der Walt put up his title and meet Forstefi, a match could not be secured so Forster claimed the title by default. A TITLE MATCH As McCready defeated Van der Walt by two straight falls—in the third and fourth rounds—and could not do more than take one fall from Forster in a limit match, it was not to be wondered at that Van der Walt should be chary at letting a fellow South African have a shot at the title.

Forster should find a place among the big men in New Zealand this season. He stands more than 6ft in height and weighs approximately 17st. He has a variety of holds, and was rated by Joe Koepach Woods as the most promising Empire wrestler he has seen since leaving New Zealand. With Forster in the country, the union should be able to arrange a British Empire title contest, with the winner of a special Blomfield-Forster match to meet McCready. IGNACIO DE MARTINEZ

Ignacio Juan Jose Nicolas Alberto de Jesus Navinete de Martinez is a big name for one man to carry. Ignacio is the latest addition to the Dominion Wrestling Union’s forces. He will probably be seen in action in Wellington on Monday. Ignacio, is six feet four inches _ in height and weighs 174 stone. He arrived in Wellington on Saturday, complete with Mrs Martinez, whom he married in Czechoslovakia a couple of years ago. He is a big, bold Spaniard, 26 years old, who went to Mexico 10 years ago. His father is a friend of General Franco, but “Nacho” did not fight in the late war, because he had no desire to shoot off various cousins who had other leanings. Instead, he learned to be a professional golfer and then a wrestler. He won the Latin title off Vincent Lopez and travelled all over North and South America as well as visiting England and France.