WRESTLING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3825, 23 October 1936, Page 7

WRESTLING

N.Z. LIGHT-HEAVY CHAMPIONSHIP. BATROS’ UNSUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE. The National Sporting Club staged the first New Zealand Championship ever held in Te Awamutu at the Empire Theatre on Thursday evening, when Anton Koolman, ot Wellington, defended his light heavy weight title. The challenger was Fred Batros, of Syria, who about a month ago met Charlie Pollard in a professional contest at Te Awamutu, when a points decision was given in favour ot Pollard. The attendance of the public was only fair, due no doubt to a counter attraction at Hamilton, the professional heavyweight contest between Blomfleld and Perischeft. Some interesting amateur bouts preceded the professional contest. THE AMATEURS. The first contest was a lightweight match between A. Gyde, 9.5, and J. Smith, 9.4, three five minute rounds. Gyde quickly pulled his opponent over and tried for a body press, but Smith worked free, and from a cradle hold turned the tables. Both were quickly on their feet again, and then Smith applied an arm bar, but Gyde went under the ropes. Smith got a body press that ended in a fall being awarded. In. the second round Gyde went straight for a drop kick, but missed. Then he got a head lock, but Smith broke it and rushed his man to the ropes, following with a body press that won him. the verdict—two straight falls. S. Turner and R. Parker, each 14.0, next engaged in a heavyweight, contest, three five minute rounds. Turner promptly dumped his man, and then applied a head lock that caused Parker trouble, but Turner could not hold it. However, he was quickly in position again, with a head scissors that got a decision. In the second round Turner soon got a head lock, and hung on to get a decision—again two straight falls. A. Gyde, 9.5., was again in the ring, this time to meet All Moses, 9.0. After some sparring that provoked laughter, Moses got a head lock that the referee broke. Then Moses tried for a flying tackle, and when Gyde rushed him he dodged through the ropes. Next Gyde seemed to have Moses in chancery, but Moses was elusive. However, he was in trouble with a toe hold when the gong sounded. In the second round there was more showmanship until Moses pulled Gyde down with a head lock, but Gyde was soon free. After some more sparring Moses tried for a flying tackle, but missed. Gyde got a double toe hold and hung on, but Moses slipped free. Gyde tried for a head scissors but could not hold it. and the second round ended without a fall. The third round saw them go to the mat each with a head lock, and soon Gyde had Moses in trouble to get the verdict. THE PROFESSIONALS. Batros’ (Syria) weight was given as 12.7, and Koolman (Wellington) 12.0—but they looked heavier. The bout was scheduled as eight ten minute rounds. Koolman pulled Batros down and with a foot on his neck applied what is called an arm stretch, but he lost his balance and Batros quickly rose and got an arm bar, but in a flash Koolman had a toe hold that Batros broke by rolling over. Next. Koolman cross-buttocked-his opponent and they were soon in a body scissors, Batros working for a key lock, but Koolman rabbit punched him to break free. Batros had Koolman in trouble, but he went under the ropes. On resuming Koolman got a standing splits, but again Batros broke free. Koolman then threw his man, but Batros got a leg scissors, only to have Koolman break it. Batros seemed to surprise Koolman with elbow jolts, but Koolman promptly retaliated. Then they went to the mat, where Koolman was applying a Japanese arm bar and crucifix when the gong sounded. The second round opened with plenty of rough tactics, and then Koolman applied a hammerlock twice in quick succession, but Batros got to bis feet, tossed Koolman to the mat and applied a leg scissors. Koolman was soon in position again and twice threw Batros with head locks. Then Batros elbow jolted Koolman, but the latter promptly rushed him through the ropes. Next Batros got a standing splits, and when that failed he got an arm bar, but Koolman applied a leg scissors and pressed hard, and then converted to a Japanese arm bar. Batros eventually broke free and returned the compliment, but Koolman was soon free. Next Batros got a toe hold, but Koolman • countered with a head hold and hung on till the gong. In the third round Koolman quickly had an arm bar that Batros promptly broke, and converted to a full nelson applied with the legs to get a decision within 60 seconds. Round four opened briskly. Koolman tried for a drop kick, and then they rushed each other in turn, and Koolman pinned Batros against tire ropes, but the referee broke them. There was plenty doing, and both men went under the ropes. Back again and Koolman was soon in trouble with a leg cradle, and Batros had to break it. Koolman forced Batros to the ropes and they exchanged knee jolts to the body, and then Batros trapped Koolman into a leg scissors, and soon applied a rocking chair splits, and hung on, and then tried to convert to a body press, but Batros broke free and tried for a Boston crab, but Koolman quickly applied a key lock, and an exchange ot forearm jolts saw them up on their feet again. The gong sounded with Koolman doing best. Round five saw lively work with Batros getting a Japanese arm bar and leg scissors, but Koolman locked and they rolled into the ropes. Then Koolman got a head lock, but could not hold it, and Batros was applying a crucifix when they went under the ropes. Koolman next applied a full nelson, but Batros rolled over. Then Koolman got an arm stretch and hung on, but could not force both shoulders down. Batros eventually kicked free, but quickly Koolman ap plied a head lock and body press, then a leg scissors, but Batros finally broke loose. Koolman threw his man three times and was the aggressoi when the gong sounded. The sixth round opened with an elbow jolt that caused Koolman to pick Batros up and dump him. Koolman rushed in, but Batros was obviously injured, and Koolman applied a full nelson and sat down hard on him.

A fail was awarded to Koolman. It was a hold in which Koolman specialises, and is called a "Koolman crab.” Batros was unable to respond at the call for the seventh round and the verdict whs awarded to Koolman. Mr V. Young, of Auckland, was the referee.