MCCREADY WINS PRO. WRESTLING BOUT; MARGIN OF ONE FALL

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 September 1948, Page 6

MCCREADY WINS PRO. WRESTLING BOUT; MARGIN OF ONE FALL

Earl McCready (Canada; 17.5, making his first appearance in Wanganui this season, defeated Bhl Kuusisto ' united States) 16.6, in the Opera House last night by one fall, obtained in the eighth and final round with a rocking-cnair splits. The bout was an entertaining one. While it lacked spectacular thrills, it had its moments and was a crowd pleaser. The attendance was not as large at’ at previous contests this season in Wanganui. The professional bout was preceded by several amateur contests. The referee for the major contest was Mr. T. Waldron. Messrs B. Bullock and D. Anderson were referees for the amateur bouts PROFESSIONAL CONTEST The contest opened with Kuusisto bringing McCready to the mat with a Japanese arm bar. The Canadian tried to counter the hold with a chin lock. McCready broke clear and trapped his opponent with a reverse head scissors and held it for several seconds, until Kuusisto kicked clear. Kuusisto went into the attack and took McCready to the mat with a reverse, headlock. McCready countered this with a Japanese arm-bar and converted it to a short-arm scissors. Kuusisto began to get tough and brought his knee to McCready s face, to that person’s discomfort. The Canadian retaliated as the gong went for the end Of the first round. Opening round two Kuusisto roughed McCready up. The last-named countered with a punishing reverse forward toehold and then followed his advantage up by applying an armstretch. Later Kuusisto applied a top body press, but he was unable to gain a fall as McCready fought his way clear of Kuusisto’s menacing clutches. Just before the end of the round the Canadian took his opponent to the mat with a forward headlock. The third round opened on a rough note with Kuusisto indulging in a series of jolts and punches. In retaliation McCready tried to dump Kuusisto, but got tangled up in the ropes. The pair went back to the centre of the ring, where Kuusisto brought McCready to the mat with a headlock, but the latter freed himself by pummelling his opponent's face. Later McCready staggered Kuusisto with heavy jolts which sent him staggering across the ring. The next round opened with Kuusisto seeking the refuge of the ropes as McCready tried to pin him with a body press. The referee ordered the pair to the centre of the ring, where the Canadian applied a step-over arm bar which had Kuusisto writhing. In a deft countering move Kuusisto broke clear and then twice head-lock-ed his opponent and tried hard to pit McCready with a top body press. Letting fly with a series of eloow jolts, McCready had Kuusisto on the defensive in round five. McCready was concentrating on a head scissors as a means of attack. McCready cornered Kuusisto and the latter whipped on a sudden body scissors which McCready broke by punching the American in the solar plexus. The next round opened sensationally with Kuusisto letting drive with three consecutive flying tackles which staggered McCready, and it looked as if a fall would be registreed, nut McCready weathered the buffeting with deft ringcraft which won applause from the crowd. McCready before ♦he end of the round had his opponent in an Indian death lock but the gong saved Kuusisto from an embarrassing position. Early in round seven McCready tried hard to entrap Kuusisto with a rocking-chair splits, but the American evaded the danger. Moves and «mn-ter-moves followed in rapid succession; then McCready dumped Kuusisto heavily. Regaining his feet, Kuusisto went after McCready, but ran into a series of jolts which kept him at bay. Both men stepped lively in the eighth and final round. Kuusisto rushed McCre»dy to the ropes, but the referee separated the pair. In the next two seconds McCready whipped in a rdpKing-chair splits and registered a fall to win the contest. AMATEUR BOUTS E. Hopkins (Wanganui) 7.13, beat O. Sun (Raetihi) 8.0, by two falls, gained in rounds one and two. A. Bullock (Wanganui) 9.2 beat L. Geraghty (Raetihi) 9.0 on points, there, there being no falls. Although the Wanganui wrestler tried hard to register a fall, Geraghty proved very elusive and evaded skilfully and successfully the holds of his opponent. J. Bing (Wanganui) 8.8 beat W. Makotea (Raetihi) 8.10 by two falls to one gained in rounds one and two. C. Berry (Raetihi) 10.5 beat G. Sharrock (Wanganui) 10.0 on points, there being no falls. V. B. Weenink (Wanganui) 11.2 beat W. Hammer (Raetihi) 11.4 by two falls to one. The winner registerhis falls in rounds one and three. Weenink was very fit and too experienced for the Raetihi wrestler. M. Cole (Raetihi) 11.4 and L. Vare (Wanganui) 11.4 gave an exhibition bout of three rounds.