WORLD'S WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8944, 19 December 1907, Page 2

WORLD'S WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

RIVALS OF HACKENSCHMIDT.

"RUSSIAN LION" CHALLENtj|t),

Since the day, eighteen mouths ago, when Georges Hackouschmidt so sum* raarily defeated Ahmed Madrali at Olympia, the Russian Lion" has been the acknowledged champion of the wrestling world. Many of his rivals have envied his position, but no one has been fouud to seriously challenge his supremacy in a genuine money match. At last, however, some serious competitors have appeared upon the scene.

The best known of the new men is (says the Daily Mail) a stalwart Galician, Gygauiwicz Zbysco, who last year won the great Continental tournament at the Casino de Paris.

This giant is twenty-five years of age, and a splendid specimen of the strong man. He is about the same height as Hackeuschmidt, but is bigger dimensions, having an enormous arm, aud lie scales 16 stone.

Unlike many of the exponents of wrestling, Zbysco is a man of gr°at refinement aud education, graduate of Warsaw University. jß_;e all his countrymen, lie is an apt linguist, ancl has made a small wager that he will speak Euglish fluently within a month of his arrival in this country.

Zbysco is out entirely for matchwork, and has deposited £200 to wrestle any mau in the world. His backer is a well-known man in. sporting and racing circles.

Iv addition to Zbysco, there is another Russian giant, Padoubny, who is now touring England, and recently made every effort to get at grips with his fellow-countryman, Hackeuschmidt. Like Zbysco. Padoubny is the winner of innumerable tournaments.

Zbysco's mauager has suggested a three-cornered contest. The idea has generally been favourably received, aud would undoubtedly prove very popular. Should the final arrangements be satisfactorily arranged, the struggle betweeu Hackenschmidt, Padoubny aud Zbysco would be one of the greatest events in the annals of British sport.

There is yet another aspirant to championship honours in Joe Ro§s|k, an Americau, standing 6ft 2ii_Wm height, who has been brought to this country by the veterau boxing mauager, Tom O'Rourke. Rogers has beaten Tom Jenkins and Frank Gotch in America, and has won several big tournaniens.