THE MAT GAME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 5

THE MAT GAME

BLOMFIELD-KIRILENKO CLASH TO-NIGHT

ißy “HEADLOCK”) The Wanganui Wrestling Association will stage their third professional contest of the season at the Opera House to-night, when Lofty Blomfield and Matros Kirilenko will meet in a special challenge bout.

What promises to be the hardest and most spectacular contest of tne present wrestling season is scheduled Lo take place at the local Opera House this evening—Blomfield v. Kirilenko. Surprises are always happening in the mat game, and one of tne biggest oi them occurred last week at Vvellington when Matros Kirilenko dropped a decision to "Lofty” Blomfield. ror six rounds there was only one man in the ring—the Russian—but in the seventh round Elomfield’s octopus clamp enabled him to ♦jualise the falls and in the last and deciding round Blomfield shaded his opponent almost for the first time in the bout. This was the Russian’s first defeat in the Dominion, but he showed cleverness and speed, altogether too much for his opponent, and the surprising thing was tne manner in which he dropped into the background during the vital period. Perhaps the clamp was the cause of his lapse. Well, this evening Kirilenko will have the opportunity to show that his Wellington form was all wrong. The men are so evenly matched that the writer reserves his prediction of the ultimate victor, but there is no doubt that Wanganui fans will witness of the most thrilling contests yet seen locally. There were two surprise defeats in New Zealand last Monday night— Blomfield beating Stein, and Cox downing Spellman. Blomfield put up a great performance in gaining the decision over such a renowned grappler as Stein. Cox's rought tactics were the undoing of John’Spellman. The past week has proved memorable in wrestling history, and developments which occurred will be awaited with interest. First, there was the announcement that a new organisation had been formed to challenge the Dominion Wrestling Union in the promoting field. Then Ted Thye, one of the big men, so far as the union is concerned, arrived for a short stay, bringing important news of the union’s coming attractions. Thye was accompanied by "King Kong” Cox, who will play a big part in this season’s activities.

The new importing organisation, the Dominion Athletic Club, and its affiliated promoting body, the New Zealand Wrestling and Athletic Club (Wellington branch) are undertaking an ambitious project in challenging the Dominion Union and its affiliated associations and if they are to succeed they will need to place before the public exceptionally high-class talent. With the expressed intention of presenting solid and scientific rather than spectacular wrestling, and with the competitive element kept alive, the new organisation will open up with a band of men who will include Steve Savage (who made a brief visit to New Zealand last year), Marin Plestina, a famous wrestler of the “old school,” Louis Szabo. George March, and Tony Felice (who first came here in 1934).

Ted Thye brought the information that Ed “Strangler” Lewis will be leaving America on a Pacific Ocean voyage on June 22. Lewis, whose first wife died two or three years ago, recently married again and he is spending a honeymoon in which much attention will be paid to his business—wrestling. After spending a couple of weeks at Honolulu he and his wife will come on to New Zealand, where he will have a series of matches, and Thye has stated that he will not confine his matches to the union’s men if others are willing to enter the ring against him. From here he will go to Australia and thence, in due course, to India, where he has some important matches in view, notably against the great Gama.

“King Kong” Cox is a professional wrestler of about seven years’ standing and, in private life, is a grape farmer in the famous Lodi Valley, California. He is 29 years old, about sft. Ilin, in height, and weighs 16st. 81b. He opened his tour against John Spellman at Auckland last Monday. Thye expects that, unless Cox’s tactics are curbed too much by the New Zealand authorities, he will prove an exceptionally hard man to beat and, in support of his assertion, points to Cox’s victories against the German strong man, Hans Steinke, and also against Dr. Carl Sarpolis, Howard Cantonwine, and Jaget Singh (among others). Cox also held Dick Shikat to a draw in a world title bout. On Monday night last King Elliot wrestled a draw with Tommy Nylan at Sydney. The bout was last and spectacular, and fiying tackles and drop-kicks were so much in vogue that the referee was forced to seek sanctuary outside the ring on numerous occasions. Kirilenko, who wrestles here tonight, graduated from the Graeco-Ro-man style of wrestling, which is very similar to the catch-as-catch-can style. Catching hold of the legs (holds below the waist) is barred, however, and tripping constitutes a foul- The rules of catch-as-catch-can which do not conflict with those mentioned above can be followed in the Graeco-Roman style. Because of an eye cataract in 1935 Sammy Stein, who has wrestled with such success in New Zealand this season and whose appearance is eagerly awaited here, had to quit wrestling for a time, and he turned his attention to refereeing, being rated one of the best on the Pacific Coast. Before taking up wrestling Stein spent some time as a boxer, and he helped to train Phil Scott when that worthy invaded American fisticuffs. In May, 1935, Sam’s wrestling career came to a dramatic close, temporarily as it proved, when his entry for the Los Angeles heavy-weight tournament was politely refused. Months later the California Athletic Commission granted this game challenger of champions a license enabling him to act as a referee. He has also played small parts in the movies. Advertising can reduce selling costs >nd lessen the time in which a pro-fc-ict moves from factory to consumer.

It is expected that "Jumping Joe” Savoldi and Glen Wade will be back again from Australia shortly, while Chief Little Wolf is on his way from America from where Earl McCready will sail this week. The time is also drawing near for Dean Detton's visit. Lofty Blomfield is recognised as the greatest trier of all wrestlers—a colourful matman if ever there was one, and one whose work this year suggests that he will be a serious contender for some, of the titles floating around. Any time that Jack Forsgren likes to settle down to straight wrestling, with all the fireworks cut out, he will prove a real handful to any grappler who visits these shores. Douglas Clark, who claims the heavy-weight wrestling championship of Great Britain, arrived in Adelaide by the Mooltan last Saturday week, under contract to Adelaide City Baths. Clarke stated in Perth that he had taken part in 125 wrestles in England since leaving Australia last September, and in none of them had a decision been given against him. He hopes to visit Sydney for a match against Tom Lurich, who won the Empire championship from him at Leichhardt Stadium. There will be some good amateur bouts prior to the big professional contest at the Opera House this evening, and should be the means of putting the largest crowd yet seen at a local bout in a happy frame of mind. The draw and order in which they appear is: A. Vernon v. D. Kennedy; A. Northover v. Ruepena; M. Tonga v. J. Phillips; M. Yunovich v. J. Galbroith. • • • ■ The following fixtures are scheduled for the week:— To-night.—Kirilenko v. Blomfield, at Wanganui. June 10.—Stein v. Forsgren, at Timaru. June 11. —Kirilenko v. Cox, at Hastings. June 12.—Blomfield v. Mclntyre, at Auckland; Kirilenko v. Forsgren, at Westport; Spellman v. Stein, at Dunedin. According to an announcement made by Mr. R. Lean, the Melbourne promoter, he has received a cable from Earl McCready accepting an offer of £2OOO to visit Australia and meet Dean Detton for the vjorld title at the West Melbourne Stadium. As reported last week, McCready left for Australia and New Zealand yesterday. Mr. Lean expects Detton to reach Australia in about eight weeks’ time.

After his victory over Kirilenko, at Wellington last week, Blomfield left for Auckland, where he was married last Wednesday. There should therefore be an unusually "big hand” for the New Zealander when he steps into the ring to-night. Vic Christy, the new American wrestler, went to a draw with Joe Savoldi at Rushcutters Bay the other evening. Christy is a wonderfullybuilt chap and a good wrestler. His way of escape from a Boston crab was clever and had not been seen before in Sydney. He nonplussed Savoldi when Joe thought he had Christy in the “winner.” Savoldi scored a fall in the fourth round with a rabbitkiller to the nape of the neck and then a drop-kick at his groggy opponent. Christy scored his fall in round seven with a crucifix hold. The Apollo Wrestling Club is unfortunate at present in having several of the most forward boys indisposed through sickness or accident. Mat Tonga, who has recently recovered from an accident, has his first bout to-night against J. Phillips of the W.A.C. school. K. Hogg has gone into training again after being off for several weeks. We are pleased to see W. Whiteside out of the hospital and about a o ain. Ron. Bougin is at present unable to train owing to suffering from severe mat burns. M. Ruepeno is also in light training the result of a strained back, while J Sutton and R. Willacy are on the sick list. M. Yunovich meets Galbraith of the W.A.C. School to-night. This promises to be a willing bout.

Amateurs at Fordell. The Fordell folks were treated to a good night’s entertainment last Monday night (May 31), when the Wanganui Amateur Wrestling Club migrated out that way. And did the boys put on a good show—ask the Fordell folk. There was not a large attendance, but those that did roll up were more than satisfied. The officials for the night were: Time-keeper, Geo. Benson; referee, Roy Wadsworth; announcer, M. Rosco; official seconds, S. Skinner and L. Trickett. In all there were ten bouts, and they were all very evenly contested. The following were the results:— Basil Kennedy (5.0) drew with Gordon Cornford (5.3). A. Northover beat Mete Kingi by one fall. Pete Wadsworth drew with Don Kennedy. A. Barnes beat S. Vines by one fall. Pat King beat Roy Parkinson by one fall. "Red” Jones beat E. Garland by one fall. Peter Wi Wi drew with Bren Shepherd. J. Galbraith drew with A. Kinniard, one fall each. E. Garland beat J. Phillips on points. All the boys wrestled really well, knowing that they were helping a good cause, namely the Y.M.C.A. at the Fordell camp. It is hoped to make more trips to Fordell as the committee out there is a very live one, and intend to have all their own gear next time. All the boys at the school are in good nick at the present, and hope that luck may be a little their way next time out in the Opera House. As the Apollo Club are three up on us at present we hope to reduce it a little next time.

The following W A.W.C. boys will be wrestling at Marton when the Marton Club hold their first “pro.” bout, probably in about ten days:—J. Phillips (10.4), R. Jones ,10.7), E. Garland (10.10), P. Wi Wi (12.7), Bren Shepherd (12.0), C. Marshall (11.6).