A WRESTLING CHALLENGE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1028, 18 November 1909, Page 13

A WRESTLING CHALLENGE.

To the Editor. Sir, —I am anxious to meet Joe Gardiner in a wrestling match, but so far I have been unable to get a match fixed up. Some time ago Mr. Gardiner wrote me asking for a match. I replied accepting his challenge. Much to my surprise Mr. Gardiner replied that I was too heavy for him. Before Mr. Gardiner wrote me he knew my weight, as it was stated in the newspapers when I defeated W. T. Colledge for the light-weight championship. I weigh lOst 71b, which is the weight given by the National Wrestling Association of Great Britain as the limit for light-weights. Now it strikes me as being a bit peculiar that Gardiner has been wrestling much heavier men than I am, yet so far has refused to meet me. If Mr. Gardiner wants a match he can have one with me for anything up to £lOO a-side, or if he is afraid to risk his money I will wrestle him for nothing and find a purse for the match. In the event of him meeting me on the latter conditions I will be prepared to let him take the whole purse if he wins, and if he loses I will let. him have half of the purse. I feel sure Mr. Gardiner will accept these terms. I am also willing to meet any light or middleweight in .New Zealand fdr any part of £lOO and the championship. I have issued several challenges since I arrived in New Zealand last January. W. T. Colledge, of Auckland, has so far been the only light-weight who has made a match with me. I trust you will find space for this letter in your esteemed journal-—I am, etc.,

LOUIS S. ROBERTSON. Stratford. Light-weight Champion Wrestler of New Zealand.

[As Louis Robertson’s weight is lOst 71b, whereas Joe Gardiner scales under lOst, this being the limit, he assures us, for the English lightweight championship, which he at present holds, it is hardly likely that Gardiner will consent to wrestle an opponent over half a stone heavier for a £lOO purse. Still, as Gardiner has gone South in search of matches, and will in all probability visit Stratford, we fee? certain that he will hot miss the opportunity of arranging a match with our correspondent for; a purse, as such a contest shpuld- prove a big draw. —Ed. S.R.] ■

Alf. Gault, the popular Auckland boxer, who recently uriderjvent an operation for appendicitis, is' still located at a private hospital,- where he is making good progress towards recovery. Alf’s illness has weakened him considerably, and he has lost weight rapidly during the past few weeks. It is his intention, on leaving the hospital, to have about twelve months’ spell, which should enable him to completely regain his accustomed good health before making his reappearance in the ring.

Mr. Hugh D. Mclntosh, the Australian fight promoter, who has returned to Sydney, states that Jeffries, owing to questionable tactics, is rapidly ruining his popularity. The public of the world (says Mr. Mclntosh) look askance at a champion who demands impossible terms, while loudly proclaiming his desire to box. I.myself offered a purse of £lO,OOO, * which Johnson accepted, and Jeffries de manded £30,000, and even then refused to say finally whether he woiild fight. If Jeffries accepts my offer, and it is the only legitimate offer made to date, arrangements are all ready for the fight to take place in England, France, or America.

Rudoplh Unholz recently remarked to a Sydney interviewer: —“I only got shown a point once in dis country, und dot vos by de New Sealan’ Boxing Association. Dey offer me vun hundred! und I accept, und that poor feller Tracey he ask me to cutid, und I agree, ’cos he dond get nod ings eef I dond. Und de association makes tree under feefty owad de fight, und dond gif me a bean. Dot vos a dirty point, ain’t it ?”

In ’Frisco, on September 20, Jack Johnson said: —“There’s no man liw ing that I am afraid of, but I want to knock Ketchel out, and I’ll do it, too, inside of twelve rounds. There has been a lot of talk of my lack of aggressiveness, and I am going to show them a few things with this fellow Ketchel. There will be no let-up in my work for this match.”