The Wrestling Stars ol T.V.-only in

THE I

GPEC/Al FEATUIEG

'70

SPECTACULAR

RAJENDRA

SINGH

ACTION ON

THE MAT

RINGSIDE

CANADA

JLJLY 1970

URGENT HA'VE YOU

ROBERT SEEN

GEORGE COE?

Born 14.3.27

Interests:

Last heard of Plumstead, 1965

Wrestling and Part-time Bouncer for Dance halls and clubs.

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Telephone: 01-247 6831

Reason for contact: Mr. Charles J. L. Coe, father of Robert G. Coe, is seriously ill.

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Page 2

OFFICIAL MONTHLY OF THE EUROPEAN WRESTLING AL LI ANCE

Regular Contributors

Russell Plummer Bob Leonard John Rackham Ken Osborn Tony Flood Eddie Caldwell Dave Pirie John Gledhill B. R. Bale David Burwash

DESIGNED, PRINTED and PUBLISHED By

" THE WRESTLER" L TO., CAXTON HOUSE,

SHOREHAM-BY-SEA, SUSSEX.

Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication the publishers do not hold themselves responsible tor any errors or inaccuracies that may occur.

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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS will be received with consider­ation providing such items (articles or photograph) are accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope. No responsibility will be accepted tor the return of contributors' manuscripts or photographs if this condition is not observed. The editor cannot accept responsibility tor loss or injury

during transit.

Wrestling Round-up Ken Joyce Tommy Grant Angelo Mosca Royal Albert Hall Spectacular

Fans Angry as Londoners Emerge Victorious Title Bout- Maxine v Colbeck Charles v Zimba Marino v Wasser .. Faulkners v Angels

Rajendra Singh Action on the Mat The Sultan's Real Champion Johnny Eagles Jo Zaranoff Bert Royal Amateur World Ringside Canada Down Memory Lane Around the Fan Clubs Emile Czaja Wrestlers on Parade-Jim Breaks Wrestling in the South .. Best Bouts of the Month Wrestling in the North . .

JULY 1970

A di W asser heaves on this head­lock as he holds Mike Marino to the canvas during the bout at

the Royal Albert Hall. (Photo: H. G. Stevens )

VOLUME X

page 4 and 5

6 7

8 to 10 11

12 and 13 14 15 15 16 17

18 and 19 20 and 21

22 23

24 and 25 26

27 to 29 30 31 32 32 33 34 35

No. 2

**************************************

Clayton Thomson, the British Middleweight

Champion, is well known for his keen interest in

the amateur wrestling scene. In connection with

the British Commonwealth Games which took place

in July, Clayton has been helping in the training

of some of our leading amateur wrestlers, including

R on Grinstead, the British Amateur Middleweight

Champion, and Norman Warren, the ex-Northern

Counties Amateur Champion.

**************************************

Ever since Brian Maxine grabbed the British Welterweight Title from Alan Sargeant at the tail end of September last year, he has been ruffling quite a few feathers. It seems there is no holding back his arrogance. Nothing seems to stop the irrepressible flow of self-praise which emanates from his lips. More recently, he has been adding the printed word to his barrage of verbal claims. Before most of his bouts, he is placing leaflets extolling his wrestling abilities on seats around the ringside. These leaflets, which show Maxine posing with the Admiral Lord Mountevans' Gold Belt around his waist, carry the bold message: "Thank you fans for coming to see me in action. You've come to cheer and cheer you .will, when I display MY wrestling skill." The leaflet is signed "Goldbelt Maxine".

But this is not all, for immediately after climbing into the ring before a bout, Brian Maxine tosses

Page 4

British Amateur Middleweight Champion Ron Grinstead (centre) pictured with Clayton Thomson (left) and Tibor Szakacs at the Redbridge Gymnasium (Photo: I. Estrin)

printed cards to the audience. The printed message on these, trumpets Maxine's belief that he will still be the British Welterweight Champion in 1973-and even after that! The mind boggles at the effrontery of the man. Meanwhile, many fans are already referring to him as "Bighead" Maxine. But Maxine doesn't care. He says that his deeds are backing up his words. And, he pointedly states: "I've successfully defended my title eight times already since winning it last September. How many champions have defended their title as frequently as that?" Now cheeky Maxine has set his sights on winning the British Middleweight Title. Look out Clayton Thomson!

Middleweight Eric Cutler- infamous as being one half of the Black Diamonds tag team- has given up being landlord of The Angel Inn, Eckington. Eric's wife hasn't been in the best of health lately,

and with Eric's wrestling commitments taking him frequently away from the pub, he felt it was putting too much strain on her in the circumstances. Hope your wife's soon feeling in much better health, Eric!

"Hooker" Ted Heath once played rugby professionally for some well-known Northern Rugby League clubs. Recently, he had an offer from a rugby club to return to the game on a professional basis. Ted tells me he is weighing up the prospects. It isn't an easy decision for him to make. He loves wrestling, but still finds the lure of rugby very strong. I'm sure even those fans who deplore Ted's merciless ring tactics won't find much joy in the announcement that he might be leaving the wrestling game.

This July sees Lindy Caulder off to Spain for six weeks of wrestling. After a two-week break in England, he then expects to set off again, this time for a wrestling tour of Mexico, which is expected to last several months. In August, Robby Baron and Dick Con/an set off for a month's tour of Spain. Meanwhile, ever-wandering Steve Haggetty has

turned down two recent offers to wrestle on the Continent because of his heavy wrestling commit­ments in Britain. But he will be going to Sweden for a few bouts next October.

With World Cup football stealing most of the sports headlines last month, it might be appropriate to mention that the All-Star T.V. Wrestlers XI had a bumper season last winter, with plenty of money going to charities. Quite a few bookings have already been made for the coming season- it's not so far off now! - and Eddie Capelli and Rob by Baron, who look after the organisation of the football matches between the All-Star Wrestlers XI and other teams (mostly Show Business XI's), are anticipating the best season of soccer yet to aid deserving charities.

JOHN RACKHAM

Ted Heath (Photo: Geo. Re id)

Lindy Caulder with an arm lever and wristlock on Eddie Capelli ( Photo: H. G. Stevens)

Page 5

KEN JOYCE Ken Joyce, of Rushden, Northamptonshire,

must rate as one of the top middleweights in the country, though it is only two years since he stepped up from the welterweight division.

He has been wrestling as a professional for over 20 years and is one of the most respected men in the lower weight classes.

Ken held the European welterweight title for seven years after winning it in France before a capacity crowd of 3,000. He defended successfully against top liners such as Ish Isreal, of France, Eddie Capelli and George Kidd, to whom he lost the title and then won it back in a return bout.

Ken Joyce adds pressure to a leg lever on Tony St. Clair (Photo: H. G. Stevens)

Joyce eventually had to relinquish the champion­ship as he could not defend it in France as the European body laid down.

Ken rates as his hardest opponents Mick McManus, Johnny Eagles and Brian Maxine, who recently took the British welterweight title from Alan Sargeant.

Page 6

He has beaten all three during his career, but overall has come out more or less even in his tussles with McManus.

Asked if he ever held grudges against his opponents, Ken said: "Sometimes there is bad feeling if you believe that a wrong decision has been given against you or if your opponent has repeatedly infringed the rules.

I have occasionally bent the rules, but have always tried to use a scientific style. My brother Doug gained a tremendous reputation as a tough guy because he found that using a scientific style brought him little success.

It all depends on the individual, but personally I don't think the fans prefer rough and tumble tactics to a good, clean bout.

The public do not understand how much punishment wrestlers take. Apart from the disloca­tions which we all get at some time or other, it usually takes us some days to get over aches and pains.

Many wrestlers I could name have suffered from back trouble for years and a few have had to retire because of it.

After a bout I sometimes feel completely exhausted yet at other times I have had a shower and felt on top of the world. It depends mainly on the amount of punishment you take and to a lesser degree whether or not you gained the verdict.

Wrestling to me is a pleasure, but I still have the killer instinct and go all out to win as quickly as possible. My brother and I run our own business, selling tyres, so we no longer rely on wrestling as our livelihood.

But wrestling has been my whole life. My father was a promoter, putting on shows all over England, and I was brought up in the game.

The professionals' styles are still very similar to those they adopted as amateurs. The only difference is that some wrestlers choose to bend the rules and others use gimmicks. Otherwise there is little difference between the two codes."

I asked Ken if he had any ambitions left. The man who has appeared in Canada, America and most Europearn countries replied : "Not really, simply to carry on enjoying my wrestling,"

TONY FLOOD

Tommy Grant

lt was Tommy Grant sitting at the back of the hall at Croydon, watching the first bout of the evening's wrestling programme. Mind you, I wasn't too sure at first, because Tommy has the habit of sporting a beard one month, then the next month, it will have been shaved off again. A point which doesn't aid instant identification!

This time, I found the Epsom-based middle­weight clean-shaven. And it seems likely that he will remain that way for some little time. You see, it isn't so long ago that he added another string to his money-making bow by taking up advertising Modelling. Recent jobs for him have included adver­tising carpets, scooters and walkie-talkie sets. Now if you're going to be considered for advertising projects, it's safer, perhaps, to remain cleanshaven. After all, if an advertiser wants someone with a beard to appear in a television commercial or on a poster, the beard can always be added in the make-up studio.

Tommy Grant shot into professional wrestling after successes in the amateur field which included a period as Southern Area Amateur Middleweight Champion. An early hazard which he had to surmount as a professional was a tendency to easily put on inches around his waistline- now weighing approximately 13st., he once hit the scales at an alarming 16st. plus! He has dealt with this problem by discipline and rigorous exercise. I still haven't got over the fact that he regularly runs ten miles a day, wet or fine, to keep those encroaching pounds and ounces at bay! And it certainly adds stamina.

Tommy's other sporting interests include boxing and swimming, while more recently, he has added golf to his activities. No one can possibly say that he doesn't do his best to keep his physical condition in tip-top state.

Tommy can always be relied upon to put up

Tommy Grant with an against-the-joint leg lever on his opponent (Photo: H. G. Stevens)

a sterling performance in the wrestling · ring. One of his severest tasks in recent times took place at Ipswich, where he faced British Welterweight Champion Brian Maxine. Although the Epsom man lost on this occasion, much of the glory was his, for most fans will agree that Maxine was in his most truculent mood, gaining victory from a combination of ruthlessness and illicit moves calculated to wear down his opponent- these moves being made on the blind side of the referee.

Tommy Grant hopes to wrestle overseas more frequently in the future. He benefited from a wrestling tour of Spain, and looks forward to further opportunities of meeting top Continental stars on their home territory.

He has come back into the ring after a variety of injuries over the years, proof of his toughness and tenacity. A reliable wrestler, fans warm to the way he deals with some of his more bad-tempered and rule-bending opponents. Wrestling primarily in the South, it is hoped that Northern fans will have more opportunities to see him in the future.

JOHN RACKHAM

Page 7

"MR. CONTROVERSY" WOULD BE AN APT NAME FOR THIS DOUBLE-THREAT MAMMOTH WHO'S BOWLED OVER THE BEST IN THE WORLD'S ROUGHEST PAIR

OF SPORTS SINCE THE DAY HE BLASTED INTO THEM.

BOB LEONARD INTRODUCES ...

ANGELO MOSGA A STUDY IN

Page 8

CONTRASTS

"The fans, the officials, the news media . . . they never get off my back! And all they're knocking me for is doing what I'm supposed to- getting out there and fighting to win!"

The big man in the black turtleneck sweater hunched forward over his coffee cup, the slow, resonant tones rolling out with just the merest hint of disappointment tinging the words. Disappoint­ment, because 6ft. 4ins., 20st. Angelo Mosca comes to play, as they say; disappointment, because the buffs and officials and sports scribes, the people who should recognize better than anyone else a fierce competitive spirit, call it " the killer instinct" when Angelo Mosca displays that spirit on the football field or in the wrestling ring.

But a note of pride replaces the disappointment as Mosca talks on, about his long gridiron career that's been bannered in headlines from one end of the nation to the other, about his budding ring career that could make him one of the biggest double-threats ever to hit the sports world. "It isn't a killer instinct that drives me to play hard," he explains, citing a couple of headline barbs that have been aimed at him, barbs like "Dirtiest Player Injures Star" when he ended the gridiron career of dazzling Willie Fleming. "I'm hyper-aggressive on the field or in the ring, filled with a will to win that just won't let me slow down. I play to win, and I've bought a pretty rugged and controversial reputation with that approach.''

"Big Angie", as he's known to fans of both sports, started buying that tempestuous reputation early in his teen years in Waltham, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. He went from high school football stardom to the fabled uniform of "The Fighting Irish" of the University of Notre Dame, where he was ranked All-American lineman; sports scribes selected him for two more All­American teams sponsored by Ed Sullivan and Perry Como, and given world-wide coverage on their television shows. But Mosca deserted a prime spot as the third draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles to barge headlong into the tough Canadian Football League, and a career with the Hamilton Tiger Cats that's headed into 13 seasons this fall. ''I'd like to make 15 seasons, then hang up the cleats for good," Angelo notes, " because not too many men can last that long in a rugged sport like professional ba ll ."

During the last dozen seasons, Angie's been chosen all-professional lineman nine times, played in eight Grey Cup games- Canadian football's Kentucky Derby- and slugged it out in the front wall alongside international figures like offensive centre Gene Ceppetelli and defensive halfback Dick Lynch, and all of it has guaranteed his first-string, hard-as-nails reputation. And on top of all that, he's found time to blend a wrestling career into his busy sports life. "But I couldn't tell you which sport is toughest," Mosca smiles. "They both hurt like hell the morning after!"

Mosca started grappling in Montreal, Quebec, back in 1960, under the aegis of the famed Eddie Quinn, coincidentally a native of his own hometown. That first season was a great one for the hulking Hamilton lineman, as he set 'em up and mowed 'em down with his power tactics, and set the news headlines afire with his long chain of victories. Angie didn't migrate back to the mat until 1968, though, when he turned up in the sprawling territory marshalled by veteran Stu Hart and promptly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. Mosca went from strength to strength that season, capping a long series against the brawling "Stomper'' by wrestling the North American Heavyweight Championship right out of his clutches and keeping it through a tough string of defenses.

That was the season, too, that the violent contrasts that Mosca presents came sharply into focus: the one-man-gang of football had half the

audience cheering wildly for him, and the other half hoping he'd get his payoff in spades! Much of the furore seemed to depend on who promoters matched the larruping lineman against. Tangling with Teutonic belters Waldo van Erich and Bans Schmidt in a tag bout with Edouard Carpentier at his side, Mosca could do no wrong; blasting into "The Stomper" or rampaging Russian Yvon Koloff or Sudanese slasher A bdullah The Butcher, he brought the entire house to its collective feet when tossed a tackle or a punch. But put Mosca up against

So wrestling isn't rough?? Don't tell that to Gordon lvey the man on the receiving end of Angelo Moses's boot

Mormon mammoth Don Leo Jonathon or Hawaiian thunderbolt Dean Higuchi or Britain's sparkling Bill R obinson- even though his style didn't alter by so much as one punch- and ringsiders did every­thing but tear the arena apart in their lust to berate the bruising gridder.

But love Big Angie or hate him, the fans see torrid action everytime he comes through the ropes.

Page 9

Blazing tackles, the kind he's thrown a thousand times on the football field, are the backbone of his offense; slamming his opponent into a turnbuckle, Mosca charges him from mid-ring, crushing that huge shoulder deep into his stomach with enough force to make ringsiders wince. Or he might nail his man in the centre of the mat when he's groggy, slamming that shoulder in at chest height with power enough to floor even the biggest foe. Searing body slams, crashing fists, a joint-tearing arm stretch and a python body scissors are other stock-in-trade items, each calculated to do lots of damage when Big Angie turns the power on full. And that's what he does every time he grabs a hold!

Searing \ackles like this one, during an Indian Strap match against "The Stomper", bring Mosca the majority of his victories

The famed Mosca football temper carries over to the mat too. Angelo blows up at the slightest provocation, but it's a controlled temper that lets him do a lot of damage; push him too hard and he'll explode with those wrenching tackles that seem to come out of nowhere, just like they do on the field. He's had plenty of practice defending himself there . . . "a big fellow named V er non V arnell tried to play a little cute after a hard tackle," Mosca recalls just one of the stories that are legend in Canada's football parks. "He booted me right in the solar

Page 10

plexus on the next play, and knocked me out of the game. But it seemed he had enough after our next game against his team, the Toronto Argonauts - just packed up and left town, without even a goodbye!" And when Angelo relates the story with that certain twinkle in his eye, there isn't much doubt just who Varnell collided with in the furious line play.

The newspapers hit Mosca hard over that tangle too, as they did with a dozen others before; characteristically, Mosca had little comment other than, "I'm in there to play tough football, and if Varnell can't take the heat, he'd better get out of the kitchen!" Of his whole reputation, Angie says simply, "everything I do seems to turn out con­troversially . . . ", and leaves it at that.

At the tail-end of his 1968-69 stint on the mat, Mosca came under the influence of another gridder who made it big in the ring, former global ruler Gene Kiniski. The titanic Canadian sees great things in Angelo, by his own admission, and tag teams with him at every opportunity, usually up and down the Canadian and U.S. West Coast. San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria have all been major-league stops along the way for Mosca, and in every one of them, he left a trail that had half the fans for him and half against him.

"There's a major difference between football and wrestling," Mosca points out. "I've never tried to maim a football player on purpose, because he makes his living the same way I do, hitting hard and fast, the way the game should be played. But in wrestling you have to fight for your life some­times, countering fire with fire, because only one of you will come out of the ring under your own power. You know that when you go in, and it makes a lot of difference ! "

Mosca is headed back to training camp for his 13th gridiron season right now, and barring injury, he'll be back in wrestling late this year with a new thirst for action. And there's lots of assurance that it'll be controversial action every minute of every match, the kind that Angelo Mosca seems to come up with in spite of himself.

Mosca says it best himself. "I'm hyper­aggressive on the field or in the ring

Reported by RUSSELL PLUMMER

·; :.

\ ·\

' j': 3 · . ;_

·:.\.,..~~·/

Wrestling extravaganzas always seem to pose more

questions than they answer and this year's Royal Albert

Hall spectacular was no exception. Almost inevitably the

evening's main events were distinguished only by the

negative results they produced.

Just about everybody who is anybody in British

wrestling was featured in the seven bout bill that packed

the vast arena to capacity and left hundreds disappointed

outside.

Whether those unable to obtain tickets would

have been quite so distraught had they known

that the clash of Mick McManus and George Kidd

would be over in little more than 12 minutes, and

that Les Kellett's bout with Jackie Pallo, although longer, ended just as unsatisfactorily, is another

matter.

Perhaps I'm getting cynical, but really, isn't

it time that some of the wrestlers in that exclusive

super-star bracket started beating each other by falls or submissions?

Fortunately the supporting programme adequately

compensated for the short earnings of the main event

contests. Alan Colbeck showed that Brian Maxine has some

way to go before he can really be classed as a European title challenger and the Faulkner Brothers emphasised their

tag mastery in a riotous battle with the Hell's Angels

combination.

Mike Marino disposed of yet another continental

opponent, highly rated French star Professor Adi Wasser

while Tony Charles was always one move ahead of Honey

Boy Zimba.

Completing the line-up in the "London versus the Rest"

tournament that provided the main events was Steve Logan

who knew too much for Lancashire's Ray Glendenning,

making his Albert Hall debut.

Page 11

(Pholos: H. G. Slevens)

FANS ANGRY AS LONDONERS EMERGE VICTORIOUS

Kidd v. MtManus Even with Jackie Pallo being counted out when

he turned his back on the ring and opponent Les Kellett and strutted arrogantly back to the dressing room, London were already ~ssured of victory in their top-of-the-bill team tui>sle with The Rest­.\-1ick McManus and Steve Logan saw to that!

Split second before release as George Kidd lifts his knee to hook his hand and then jerk down to break McManus' hold

Undoubtedly the season's most controversial Albert Hall result came in McManus's bout with the one and only George Kidd, the Southern England welterweight champion being awarded the verdict when Kidd sustained a gashed forehead and referee Joe D'Orazio intervened.

Par;:e 12

For the opening round world lightweight kingpin Kidd had been content to allow McManus to make the running, several times displaying his uncanny ability as an escapologist.

McManus, sun-tanned and looking in the peak of condition after a trip to Spain, tired of being made to look the fool and quickly collected warnings for illegal moves as the second round got underway.

Angered by the Londoner's tactics, Kidd swung his opponent across the ring by the ears and fo llowed-up with a deftly delivered straight left to the stomach as McManus came off the ropes.

Bitter moment for George Kidd when Joe D'Orazio stops the bout due to the cut over the eye caused by McManus' boot

McManus became increasingly rugged and after one public warning, he quickly received another, kicking Kidd on the forehead while he was down on the canvas. When the Scot regained his feet he was bleeding and while the bout continued briefly, the referee soon had to step in.

logan v. Glendenning Earlier Steve Logan had accounted for new­

comer Ray Glendenning from Bury in the only one of the three contests in the team match that was settled in submissions and falls .

Well-built Glendenning waded into the South London "Iron Man" straight from the ·first bell and after 90 seconds very much on the receiving end Logan was glad to secure a pressure points move and slow Glendenning down.

Logan, aided by some dubious blind-side moves appeared in command then after six minutes Ray earned a big ovation, using an overthrow and shoulder press to take the first fall.

Scowling through the long hair that swished about his face, Logan was given a public warning in the second and another, for punching, in round three,

Ray Glendenning leans his full weight on to a backhammer pinning Logan to the canvas

Then, subjecting Glendenning's left arm to a punishing rope drop, Steve continued the softening­up process with a couple of postings, gaining an equalising submission with a straight arm lever.

Glendenning tried hard to keep his injured arm out of Logan's reach in the fourth round, succeeding to throw the Londoner single-handed with his other arm on two occasions.

Logan was able to await his opportunity and it came after three minutes, Glendenning submitted almost as soon as pressure was applied.

Kelletl v. Pallo

Leg pull for Pallo as Les Kellett winds him up for a centre ring spin

Each of the team bouts was over fom ten­minute rounds, a duration hardly looking likely to do them justice beforehand, but which in practice proved sufficient.

Although the finish left the crowd in mid-air, Kellett's clash with Pallo provided the most entertainment of the three and also more wrestling. There were several hilarious interludes in the first round and at the end of the second when the bell sounded with Pallo well and truly trapped in an Indian death lock.

It took two seconds and referee Tony Mancelli almost a minute to extricate Pallo and while this was going on Kellett was quite happy to lean forward, putting most of his weight across Pallo's wind pipe.

Les Kellett in trouble as Jackie Pallo holds him to the canvas with a reverse arm lever and wrist lock

The bout took on a more serious tone in the subsequent round, Pallo using a series of slams and a couple of postings as a prelude to a folding body press which gave him the lead after 13 minutes.

Kellett was twice tossed across the ring as Pallo rushed him in round four although the Brad­ford favourite nonchalantly stepped aside as Pallo raced in again, the Londoner sailing through the ropes.

Pallo's efforts to clamber back were impeded by Kellett's knee slam which promptly put him back at the feet of ringside spectators. Instead of making another attempt to get back Pallo chose to argue and when the referee started to count Pallo simply turned and walked out of the arena.

The Highbury television personality made a surprise appearance in the ring earlier in the evening. The Albert Hall's general manager Mr. F. J. Mundy was making an appeal to the crowd to support the £500,000 fund to pay for the restoration work now under way at the hall which celebrates its centenary in March next year.

Mr. Mundy was introduced by master of ceremonies Frankie Blake and while he was speaking to the crowd, Pallo climbed into the ring and gave Mr. Munday a £5 note- to start the ball rolling!

Page 13

Maxine v. Colbeck MAXINE'S BID FOR SECOND BELT

ENDS IN DISQUALIFICATION

British welterweight champion Brian Maxine's confident predictions that he would leave the Albert Hall with two belts, having added the European title to his collection, cut no ice with Wakefield's A lan Colbeck. European kingpin for more than a decade, Colbeck didn't even bother to bring his belt into the ring with him.

Brian Maxine trapped in a head scissors by Alan Colbeck

It was hardly the most classy championship 15-rounder seen in London in recent years yet there was a dour, down to earth quality about the wrestling, especially in the earlier rounds when Maxine stuck to the rules.

Maxine was surprisingly subdued when the wrestling started after making his now customary entrance handing out pictures and parading around the ring wearing his Lord Mountevans' Belt.

In round four Maxine managed to turn Alan away from referee D 'Orazio and whipped home a vicious close range punch to Colbeck's cheek bone,

Page 14

Alan Colbeck aims " Gold belt" Maxine for a sl ing shot ride to the corner post

a blow that appeared to trouble the Yorkshireman for the rest of the contest.

Maxine quickly capita lised on this dubious move, snatching away Colbeck's legs to take the lead with a simple folding press.

Colbeck's fighting spirit was now roused and he caused Brian trouble with two spectacular body lifts for a face down knee drop. Then in the sixt h he made the ring shake, hurling Maxine for a couple of tremendous postings.

The Y orkshireman then moved in for the equaliser only to be stopped by a blatant punch, referee D'Orazio disqualifying Maxine who had already received two warnings.

Maxine protested his innocence but to no avai l and had to console himself with parading the British title belt around the ring.

The former professional boxer from Ellesmere Port has come a long way since taking the welter­weight crown from Alan Sargeant, yet the European belt will remain out of his grasp for a little time to come if this bout was any guide.

Only by illegal moves did Maxine really trouble the cool, experienced Yorkshireman and Colbeck was looking set to finish the match in his own way when Maxine flung that final punch too many.

Marino v. Wasser With A ustrian heavyweight Gene Wiesberger's

arriva l in this country untortunately delayed, Franco­Spanish top liner Professor Adi Wasser flew in from Paris to face dual mid-heavyweight title holder Mike Marino.

After some of the giant foes tackled by Marino at the Albert Hall over the years it was almost a change to see the Anglo-Italian favourite going into action against a man of his own size.

Unusually for a heavyweight bout at the Albert Hall this one was over five-minute rounds, the opening period being spent in mainly exploratory moves.

Adi Wasser, a man who has de­voted much time to the study of Oriental forms of unarmed combat and completely transformed his

Mike Marino gets a double own wrestling style wristlock on Adi Wasser in the process, cut

loose with a spec­tacular back handed chop to the stomach in the second round.

He concentrated on a powerful reverse side headlock in the third but Marino was able to turn this to his own advantage, overbalancing his man and scoring with a top body press.

Marino used a double wrist lock to good effect in round five, putting Adi Wasser down with a colourful whip. When he went to repeat this move and was winding-up for the whip, Adi Wasser turned inside and produced a clever submi ssion counter to draw level.

The pace quick-ened in round six, Adi Wasser coming in with chops until he left himself

A beautiful throw as Adi Wasser launches Mike Marino

momentarily unprepared and this was all Marino needed to take him down with a body cradle for the deciding fall.

Charles v. Zimba Although quite a contrast to the usual light­

weight curtain-raiser to Albert Hall bills, there was 28 minutes of high-speed action before Tony Charles sna tched the one fall needed to gain the verdict over Honeyhoy Zimba.

The muscular coloured heavyweight from Sierra Leone soon showed he could match Charles for speed, yet Charles just had the edge.

The opening five rounds brought few pinfall or submission attempts, Zimba getting on the wrong side of the crowd on a couple of occasions when he showed undue haste to get on with the contest before Charles was back on his feet.

Tony Charles turning Honey Boy Zimba for a Boston crab

Charles went out of the ring during the second minute of round five, clambering back to be swept off his feet as Zimba went for a body slam. Charles managed to turn the tables, forcing Zimba backwards to the canvas to hold him with a cross press to take the contest.

Page 15

Faulkners v. Angels FIGHTING FAULKNERS COME SOUTH AND PUT THE "ANGELS" IN THEIR PLACES

Bolton brothers Bert Royal and Vie Faulkner, generally accepted- by everyone apart from South Londoners Logan and McManus, that is- as the country's top tagsters, came south to face Hell's Angels, a combination that has come close to challenging their exalted position in the past year.

Adrian Street and Bobby Barnes have certainly taken the wrestling world by storm so far in 1970 and whether appearing in solo bouts or together as a tag combination, their bouts always seem to finish in uproar.

Bert Royal headlocks Adrian Street

Page 16

The majestic surroundings of the Albert Hall was no exception and the final session of their battle with the Faulkners was settled in a ring where the canvas was stained by fruit and other rubbish hurled at the Angels by irate fans.

The contest was over a 30-minute limit and little time was wasted in the first session, Street launching himself into a series of rushes that three times floored Royal, the heavy middleweight champion getting up to walk into more trouble, this time from Barnes after a quick team switch.

Adrian Street bridges out from a back breaker over the knee by Vie Faulkner

The Angels kept Royal in their own corner and soon received two quick public warnings for double teaming. Barnes used his weight to fling Royal face first into the corner post, storming in behind him to add a slam to the back.

After more of this treatment Street came in and hoisted Royal across his shoulders to take the opening submission with a backbreaker.

Despite the urgings of his brother Vie, who had spent almost the entire bout on the ring apron, Royal did not tag but went instead after Barnes. He looked to have made a mistake when the Londoner whipped him again into the ring post.

Barnes again came in at full speed but Royal jumped out of the way, rolling backwards to take Barnes down for the equalising fall with a reverse double knee press after fourteen-and-a-half minutes.

Faulkner got his first taste of the action when the third and deciding session began, Street stopping him in the centre of the ring with a controversial facial claw hold, a move which consists of little more than grabbing a handful of flesh in a tender part of the cheek.

Royal came in for the same treatment when Faulkner eventually twisted his way free although it was not long before the brothers gave the Angels some of their own medicine.

Vie Faulkner settled the issue after 24 minutes of wrestling, dodging one of Barnes' rushes and overbalancing him to score with a reverse double leg Nelson.

If you haven't seen muscular Sikh middleweight Rajendra Singh in action lately, it isn't surprising, for this fine wrestler has been studying hard for some time to gain a degree in business studies. He has combined this academic activity with a training officer's course in the glass industry. It has meant that Rajendra has had to restrict his appearances in the ring to about eight a month.

Like every other wrestler, he realises that wrestling can be a very precarious career, for just one bad injury in the ring can put paid to every wrestling ambition. Now, with the security afforded by the possession of a degree and the successful completion of a training officer's course, he can once more make regular ring <l'ppearances before the public. However, even though Rajendra will appear more frequently at wrestling venues in the near future, he is not leaving his studies entirely alone, for he has already started a course in personnel management.

Parallel with the re-emergence in the ring on a regular basis of Raiendra Singh comes the announce­ment that this 13st. 4lb. wrestler is to appear regularly with fellow-Sikh Ajit Singh (no relation!) for tag matches. The combination of Rajendra and Ajit should prove quite a handful for even the most skilled tag opposition. I especially look forward to seeing them in action against such terrible twosomes as Mick McManus and Steve Logan, The Dennisons and the flamboyant Hell's Angels.-

Incidentally, Rajendra Singh considers Steve Logan to have been his toughest opponent to date. He has not yet faced Mick McManus in the ring, but is most eager to meet the South London tearaway. He is not the least put off by the tough, rule-bending reputation of McManus.

Rajendra was born in Amritsar, North India, which is the religious centre of the Sikh religion. He came from a distinguished family. His father, Mela Singh, was prominent as a heavyweight wrestling star. His brother, Chanan Singh, now deceased, became a famous novelist and poet.

With a father renowned as a wrestler, it is not surprising to find that Rajendra took an early interest in the sport himself, though in his schooldays, he showed considerable skill as a boxer, and might well have established himself as a professional in this sport in the longer term. However, soon after he arrived in England with his family, his father took him to the Royal Albert Hall to see a bout between Dara Singh, the Indian Heavyweight Champion, and Lou Thesz, the one-time holder of the World Heavyweight Championship. After seeing this glorious struggle of wrestling giants, Rajendra

decided that wrestling would always take precedence over boxing in his sporting life.

From then on, he stepped up his amateur wrestling activities. He became lightweight champion of that well-known amateur wrestlers' club, The Forresters. Later, he reached third place in the National Amateur Championships.

He entered the professional ranks four years ago when he began wrestling for Dale Martin Promotions. Bouts were few at first, but as his style improved, and as he gained more experience, his skill began to show thwugh, more wins were chalked up, and more bookings came his way. Today, he is a potent force to be reckoned with, and opponents who underestimate him do so at great risk to themselves. Overseas trips have added to Rajendra's international experience- his favourite tour outside of Britain took place in Greece. Speed and skill in the ring is backed up by a fierce training schedule, for this Sikh battler believes that a wrestler can only give of his best if rigorous work-outs in the gymnasium aid in keeping the body fit and ever­ready for action. The fact that studies have taken up a good deal of his time in recent months hasn't been allowed to interfere too much with the amount of training time Rajendra puts aside.

Rajendra Singh has lived in London most of the time since coming to England at the age of ten.

JOHN RACKHAM

Page 17

• Alan Kilby head mares Leon Arras and Bobby Graham

(Photo: Geo. Reid)

Alan Dennison starts to spin his opponent

( Photo: H. G. Stevens)

Ajit Singh uses his feet to trap arm of Reg Trood

(Photo: H. G. Stevens)

•

lvan Penzekoll

Jim Moser head butts Tony St. Clair

(Photo: Geo. Reid)

hoists Peter Szakacs aloft prior to a body slam

( Photo: H. G. Stevens )

REAL CHAMPION

The excited audience frenziedly cheered as their idol stepped on to the mat. This was the "Gay Nineties" and the sporting idol of Britain was George Hackenschmidt, "The Russian Lion''. Hackenschmidt captured the public imagination in a way no other wrestler has done before or since. Wealthy fans had fought to pay £25 (50 dollars) for ringside seats for this bout against Ahmed Madrali, "The Terrible Turk", billed by the pro­moter, a Mr. Barnum, later of circus fame, as "The Personal Champion of the Sultan of Turkey".

Now in this packed arena the champions of Europe and Asia for the first time faced each other across the mat. The much vaunted battle was about to begin. Three minutes later it was all over and a humiliated Ahmed Madrali left by the back door.

Among the audience that night were two well­known heavyweights. Luckier than many "toffs" in the ringside seats they had seen the whole farcical affair from beginning to end. Afterwards in . a pub they mulled things over. If this was the best the Sultan's champion could do, there must be easy pickings in Turkey.

BUYUK YAGLI PEHLIV AN GURESLERI

A few weeks later they attended a wrestling contest in Istanbul in honour of the Sultan's birth­day. At first they could see nothing for no-one in

Page 20

A tense moment in a bout. 11 the wrestler using the " Kunde" hold can turn his opponent so that his stomach is " exposed to the sun and the moon" he wins the bout

the packed audience would make way for these "imansiz". They could hear none of the grunts and thuds normally associated with wrestling; only the piercing trills of an Oriental wind instrument, and the occasional frenzied beat of a drum. However, their portly guide, a dignified moustachioed figure in a fez, baggy Anatolian trousers and curly-toed slippers, assured them that they would soon see "Very very beautiful wrestlings"

At last they gained a vantage point. They stood in silence and stared at two oiled wrestlers locked in combat not twenty feet away.- "My God, we'll get murdered here."- They had seen the Sultan's real champion at last.

BUYUK YUSOF

Buyuk Yusof, or Big Yusof, the man they saw first, was a mighty Pehlivan over six feet tall and some 19 stone in weight. Despite his villainous appearance, unleavened by his shaven head, cauli­flower ears and flowing black moustache, Y.usof when away from the mat was really quite a benign soul. He had only one fault, but it cost him his life. Yusof did not trust banks.

Anton Pierri, one of the two wrestlers on the ill-fated trip to the home of the Osmanlis, knew a good thing when he saw one, and on a later trip signed up Yusof. They made a triumphal and much ballyhooed tour of the United States, where Yusof, with his Sarma, Kunde, Terssarma and Danaba, hardened and perfected by a lifetime in the toughest competition in the world, found America's streets "paved with gold". Therein lay his only dispute with his shrewd manager.

Yusof, illiterate, but with a hard peasant shrewdness, did not trust pieces of paper and always insisted on payment in gold coins, these he had sewn

Two "heavies" in action. The wrestler facing is countering a take down by using a technique known as er engel with his right leg

into his clothes. When he boarded the French ship, La Bourgoyne, one stormy winter's night to sail from New York to Europe to continue his lucrative tour, his was neither the slimmest nor the lightest figure to step up the gangplank.

When later that week La Bourgoyne sank in a violent storm, Buyuk Yusof was predictably not one of the survivors.

WILLIAM BAXTER

GOOD NEWS FOR WRESTLING AND SOCCER FANS

Wrestling and soccer would appear to be the top two attractions as far as televised sport is concerned.

In a recent survey carried out by "The Wrestler" columnist Tony Flood, who is also editor of the new end-of-season football magazine "Soccer Review", over 70 per cent of sports enthusiasts interviewed said they preferred to watch soccer and wrestling on T.V. than any other sports.

Says Tony: "This must also be very encouraging for magazines like "The Wrestler" and "Soccer Review". Their readership should increase con­siderably in the next few years."

Although the publication of "Soccer Review" - which includes an article by I.T.V. commentator Brian Moore naming Bobby Charlton of Manchester United as the "Most Outstanding Player of the Decade"-had to be delayed due to the F.A. Cup final replay, it is now on sale.

Other articles in "Soccer Review" deal with Tony Book of Manchester City, Dave Mackay of Derby, George Best of Mancheter United, Billy Bremner of Leeds and Peter Marinello of Arsenal.

"HALLO DAD!"

Page 21

Mid-heavyweight star Johnny Eagles loves

travelling and must be regarded as one of

wrestling's Globe-trotters.

He has wrestled in many countries, but is now

back from a visit to Africa talking about his

travels, Johnny told me recently:

"In October last year I went out to West Africa on a wrestling tour during which I spent six weeks in Nigeria and later moved on to Ghana. In all I had 12 bouts during the three-and-a-half months I was there.

The hardest contest was against a 27st. Greek heavyweight called A ttillo Daw in a top-of-the-bill tussle in Monrovia before an open-air crowd of 12,000.

I beat him by a disqualification after nine hectic rounds. He was very much a rule-bender and he must be one of the most awkward opponents I have faced.

After my visit to West Africa I came back to fulfil some engagements in England, but then returned to Freetown in February for business and a holiday combined.

I am the manager of a pop group called 'The Big Three' and had fixed up a tour of Freetown for them. After taking them over I had a chance to do some swimming and fishing with my fami ly.

One afternoon while I was there I came across a taxi driver arguing with a young boy. The taxi driver smashed a bottle and was about to slash the boy with it when I intervened by putting my arm in the way.

I received a deep wound which required 16 stitches and this incident obviously spoilt my holiday. But at least it prevented the youngster getting hurt. There is quite a lot of violence in West Africa I gather, but it is a beautiful country in which to spend a holiday.

I have done enough travelling abroad for the time being, however, and will be avai lable to appear in tag team bouts and single combat matches all over England in the coming months.

Page 22

Johnny Eagles with a backhammer on Mick McManus (Photo: H. G. Stevens)

My tag partner Terry Jowett is leaving for Spain for two months, so I may team up occasionally with another partner until he returns.

Terry and I have built up a near perfect understanding. I feel we could take on any tag team in the country- and providing the weight disadvantage was not too great we could more than hold our own.

My weight is 13 st. which makes me a mid­heavyweight but Terry is only a middleweight so we often come up against heavier opponents.

Our hardest tag opponents so far have been Steve Logan and Mick McManus, with whom we have had some rare old tussles . The results of our contests with them have been more or less even, with both teams having gained victory at one time or other.

In single combat I would again name McManus as my toughest opponent, but I am willing to fight him any time- any place. I have already beaten him twice, both on disqualifications, and feel that if he had not been disqualified I would have won anyway.

Now I want the chance to do just that, preferably by a knock out- then there is no di sputing the decision."

TONY FLOOD

JOSEF ZIRINOFF

Political disputes and unrest mean different things to different people. To lvan Josef Zaranoff, political changes in the U.S.S.R., have possibly deprived him of the European Championship.

Any self-respecting wrestling fan will give Jo credit for his ability. He ihas been one of our finest heavyweights for a number of years and has turned in constantly good performances. His few trips overseas have earned him applau~e and applause, but despite a number of opportunities he has been unable to have a serious ti1t at the European crown.

As an exiled Russian he is unable to travel in Communist-controlled countries like, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, etc., and therefore if he were to take <the European title, he would be unable to defend it satisfactorily. Rather than be stripped of the gold belt Jo feels that it is better not to win it in the first place and therefore avoid later disappointment.

"It would hurt me very much if I won the European Championship and then had to give it up", he told me. "I am now used to the idea that I can never win it and I just do my best in the competitions I am allowed to enter".

Apart from those who still fancy their chances as prospeotive champion, wrestlers and fans alike would love to see Jo given the opportunity of fighting for the crown. He has everything a champion needs, strength, intelligence and an undoubted ability. Plus, of course, a firm following of fans to spur him on to great things.

Jo seems to have been on our wrestling scene for quite a number of years and he cel'tainly wrestles wi·th the experience of someone much older. He lives in South London, where he runs a pub in his spare time. But most of his life still centres around the wrestling ring.

There are few venues in Britain where he has not made at least one appearance and as a motoring fanatic he has a very good knowledge of the island. His favourite venue is Liverpool , but, of course, he also enjoys engagements a•t the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Joe Zaranoff gives a twist to the toe and ankle hold on Pat Roach (Photo: H. G. Stevens)

Tibor Szakacs and Bill Robinson are two heavyweights he praises as much as possible. "I have wrestled them both several times and I think they are just great. I would wrestle them any time they wanted, it is a pleasure. They are hard men to berut, bu<t it is not ~he result that matters".

He is less enthusiastic about tougher customers, "I like to wrestle clean opponents, for then it is a pleasure, but when the other man is dirty, wrestling becomes just a job. I beat them because when they cheat it is usually because they are not very good or they are frightened" .

That makes sound thinking and it is a pity that more of our grappling stars do not take a more philosophical view of the sport.

A happily-married man, Zaranoff does not allow his working behind the pub bar to interfere with his fitness. He never drinks beer and only occasionally indulges in a vodka, which he drinks in true Russian style- straight down.

Perhaps he will one day adopt a different attitude in the quest for honours.

But Jo doesn't seem to care either way. He has a fine reputation as a top-line wrestling attraction. He is a ·television personality and a household name in wrestling circles. He doesn't ask for more.

Good luck to him.

BERNARD BALE

Page 23

Mrs. E. Wilson, a keen 94-year-old T.V. wrestling fan makes her first visit to a "live" show and meets her favourite wresller-Bert Royal

(Phi/ Photos)

Page 24

Every wrestling enthusiast has his own favourite grappler. True, most fans are broad-minded enough to appreciate skill in any individual, but there is always a particular mat star who has number-one place in their loyalties.

Many people have approached me at various venues trying to discover who is my own favourite among British wrestlers. I do have such a favourite but I feel that as a sportswriter I should maintain strict impartiality and refrain from expressing any personal preferences. However one wrestler who is high on most people's list of favourites is Bolton's Bert R oyal.

At the moment Bert has a number of things going for him. The reigning heavy-middleweight champion, he is also highly successful in tag, sharing a rope with his brother V ie Faulkner. He is a Liberal Councillor for Bradshaw North Ward,

Berl Royal with a head chancery on Jackie Pallo

Turton, near Bolton. And as if that isn't enough he bought a garage last year and has been spending quite a bit of time getting things in order among the pumps.

It seems only yesterday that Bert appeared on television with brother Vie for the first time in a tag match. In these days Vie was very much th';! junior partner of the tag team with big brother Bert acting as a brake on Vie's youthful exuberance. Vie was only 16 when he stepped into the profes­sional ring but in the last eight years or so he has matured into an outstanding middleweight and now more than earns his keep in the tag combination.

Bert Royal was one of the first professional wrestlers to branch out into politics. Bert came into power in May, 1967, dislodging a Tory. The following year London's "Judo" Al Hayes was elected as a Conservative councillor for Islington. However unlike Hayes, Royal (he took the ring surname in Coronation Year) has no parliamentary ambitions. Councillor Bert is extremely active in

(Photo: Geo. Reid)

municipal politics and serves on a variety of committees including public works, parks and planning, finance, health and housing.

Since Bert was elected, several members of Turton Urban District Council have taken a renewed interest in the mat sport. Chairman Joseph Jagger often occupies a front-row seat when Bert is fighting in the Bolton ring.

The son of one of wrestling's all-time greats, Vie Hessele, Bert himself has had a distinguished career in the ring. Of his many notable victories he regards his win against Tommy Mann for the British middleweight title as the highlight of his career so far.

With his heavy ring commitments, his politics and his garage Bert is clearly a busy man but he finds time to run a normal family life and indulges in his favourite pastime of collecting stamps.

As a politician a lot of people must respect Bert Royal. They voted for him. As a wrestler, I'd vote for him too.

GEORGE W. MITCHELL

Page 25

The English Senior Free-Style Championships were held recently at Irlam, Lancashire. left Hill in the mid-heavyweight had to retire in the second round through injury. Joe Kelliher in the lightweight much fancied to win was beaten into third place. Thirty-six wreslers passed the scales and some very fine bouts were wrestled.

RESULTS

Light-Flyweight R. Farlow, Sparta A.W.C., London .

Flyweight D. Palmer, Sparta A.W.C., London. A. Dobrozyski , Spart A.W.C., London.

Bantamweight T. Robinson, United A.W.C., London. J. Penrose, Sparta A.W.C., London.

Featherweight K. Dawes, Sparta A .W.C., London. A. Bailey, Manchester Y.M. P. Toole, Barton A.W.C., Manchester.

Lightweight D. Idle, Leeds A.I. S. Gilligan, Manchester Y.M. J. Kelliher, Kings, Chelsea, London.

Welterweight P. Amey, United A.W.C., London. A. Willstead, Birmingham A.I. A. Lines, Birmingham A.I.

Middleweight A. Shacklady, Barton A.W.C., Manchester. R. Gilbert, Viking A.W.C., London. A. Boden, Wirksworth A.W.C., Derbyshire.

Light-Heavyweight R. Barraclough, Manchester Y.M. M. Howley, Leeds A.I. G. Pullen, United A.W.C., London.

Mid-Heavyweight P. Buck, Liverpool. R. O'Connell, Borehamwood A.W.C. G. Page, Viking A.W.C., London.

Heavyweight D. McNamara, Met. Police A.C., London. J . Jeffries, Fairlands A.W.C., Stevenage.

Page 26

The team selected to represent England in wrestling at the British Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh were:

Flyweight- D. Palmer, Sparta A.W.C., London.

Bantamweight- T. Robinson, United A.W.C., London.

Featherweight- K. Dawes, Sparta A.W.C., London.

Lightweight-D. Idle, Leeds A.I.

Welterweight- F. Amey, United A.W.C., London.

Middleweight- R . Grinstead, Redbridge A.W.C., London.

Light-Heavyweight- R. Barraclough, Manchester Y.M.C.A.

Heavyweight- D. McNamara, Met. Police A.C., London.

Team Manager- S. Bissell, B.E.M.

Trainer- A. Aspen, National Coach.

~·~·-·-·-·-·-

A very successful Olympic and Commonwealth training week was held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Newport, Shropshire, under the direction of D. Ickringhill, Lancashire Police Cadet Training School, Stanley Grange, and W. Blackwell, Metro­politan Police Cadet Training School, Ashford, Kent.

The British Amateur Cumberland and West­morland Championships will be held at Ocean Edge Caravan Park, Heysham, on August 2nd, 1970. Entries to M. Lamb, 285 Lancaster Road, More­cambe, Lancs. Entrants must be registered members of the B.A.W.A.

Any reader requiring addresses of Amateur wrestling clubs I will be pleased to forward a list. Stamped addressed envelope please, Secretary A.W.A., 60 Calabria Road, London, N.5.

We have a good book on wrestling for beginners Know the Game Wrestling, price 4 I -, post free. Send to Secretary A.W.A., 60 Calabria Road, London, N.5.

A . WISHART

ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER, THE KNOCK-DOWN, DRAG-OUT SUDANESE SLASHER WHO'S LEFT OPPONENTS AND FANS ALIKE IN A STATE OF SHOCK ALL ACROSS THE PRAIRIES, MAKES THE HEADLINES THIS MONTH AS BOB LEONARD SITS AT

DATELINE CALGARY :

"Look out, Jerry . . . he's got pepper! He's got pepper!"

The screams from a hundred throats sliced through the smoky air of the Stampede City's Victoria Pavilion, startling a sweat-drenched ferry Christy into action. Christy uncoiled his arms from around the thick neck of dark-skinned A bdullah The Butcher, releasing the tight sleeper hold; Abdullah speared his fist back into his voluminous white judo pants, just barely hiding the small cannister before referee Bob Frank caught sight of it. It was pepper, all right ... and Abdullah had every intention of using it to save himself and the North American and Canadian Heavyweight Champion­ships from that sleeper hold!

As wary as a fox now, Christy circled the groggy African, locked up with him, then rammed him backward into the ropes. Slipping neatly aside as The Butcher rebounded, Jerry snapped the sleeper back on as he wobbled past; holding tight to the hold, he listened again for the fans' cries. "Look out, Jerry!" they came, and Christy again backed off. Abdullah wheeled groggily at the release of the pressure, aimed the pepper straight at Jerry Christy ... but just as his arm shot forward, Jerry nailed him dead-centre with a dropkick!

The force of the kick knocked the African backward and Jerry crashed down on top of him for the pin fall ! One . . . two . . . three, and J erry Christy was the new holder of the North American and Canadian titles!

The Pavilion exploded in a maelstrom of frantic cheering, as jubilant fans rushed the ring to con­gratulate Jerry, oblivious to Abdullah. They

congratulated the tall Californian a week later too, when he sleepered his way to victory over rampaging Wayne Coleman, the super-strong grid belter, in spite of Abdullah's interference at ringside during the sizzling battle.

But there was nothing to cheer about the following week in Calgary. In a title rematch ordered by the National Wrestling Alliance, Abdullah and Jerry split the opening falls before The Butcher penetrated Christy with his brutal elbow drops after the champion missed a dropkick. The victory catapulted Abdullah right back into the roistering title picture, and that's where he stayed, cementing his claim to fame by clawing Hamilton Tiger Cat football bruiser Angelo Mosca into defeat when the hard-charging Mosca missed a tackle and slammed through the ropes to the concrete floor.

Stacking success upon success during their long stay in the west are the Christy Brothers, Jerry and Bobby . . . in addition to elder brother Jerry's sojourn as a singles titlist, the pair hold the Inter­national Tag Team Championship, and they'll defend the twin belts every time a logical challenger comes over the horizon. Latest to fall before the Christy tide were Bud and Ray Osborne, the tough guys who previously held the title; "since we hadn't wrestled the Osbornes for some time, we almost forgot how tough they are!", Bobby said following the bout, "but we managed to come through in the stretch."

Big Bob Lueck, the Calgary Stampeder lineman who turned in such a sparkling season on the mat, is back to the football wars this month. "I'll be back, though," the popular Lueck assured ring buffs after winning his last bout of the mat season, in convincing style. "I always thought football was the only sport, but wrestling is right up there with

Page 27

it! Give me another year, and I'll make those main events!" .... young blood is the lifeblood of any

.. sport, and a trio of new faces here proves once more that promoter Stu Hart is only too aware of that fact. Yugoslavian belter Danny Babbich is shaping up as a potentially solid tussler under Hart's watchful eye; at 6ft. lin. and 17st. lOlbs. he has the basic material to come on strong as a rough-'n'­rugged campaigner. "Thunderbolt" Cannon, an Alberta product and a stocky, powerhouse grappler, belies his you thful looks with a rip-snorting style that cou ld develop into a real winner. And round out the list with the son of a world-famous father: Johnny Valentine, Jr ., the 19-year-old progeny of the blond demon who ripped every arena in Western Canada apart a dozen years ago with his cold, calculating tactics . A physical double of his sire, young Valentine needs only experience to burst wide open as a big winner. "My father taught me how to defend myself," young John points out, "and when it works for him, it's good enough for me! "

A stack of mail arrives in Stu Hart's office every day, and the latest delivery from the postman brought back signed contracts that Hart has been after for a long time. Blond bombshell Buddy "Killer" A us tin inked his signature to one of the papers, and the other bore the scrawl of Hawaii's huge Curtis "The Bull" laukea; should both arrive here soon, they'll find a hot reception from A bdullah the Butcher who claims that they've both spent the last few years running from him. Iron Dave Ruhl is another who's after the pair, and Iaukea in particular ... "We've got an old score to settle," Dave gritted when Stu told him the news, "and I want the first match he gets here !"

DATELINE REGINA:

History repeats itself, so they say, and the old maxim came true again this past thirty days when jolting Jerry Christy belted out a second victory over Abdullah the Butcher in this "Queen City of the Plains", to annex the North American and Canadian laurels a second time. Matched with the vicious Abdullah at his own request, after breaking up a sadistic attack on his brother Bobby by the Sudanese killer, Jerry larruped the champion from pillar to post in the early going to take the opening fall.

Abdullah roared back in the second stanza though, fresh and ready while Christy was still recovering from his exertions; gradually wearing his challenger down, The Butcher finally ground out the pinfall after a steady application of his flying elbow drops to the throat. The attack left Jerry stretched writhing on the mat, so insensible that he almost didn't hear the bell to signal the third fa ll into action.

"He beat himself before," was the single thought that kept running through Jerry's mind as he desperately fended Abdullah off, back-pedalling frantically to keep out of range of the Sudanese assassin's karate thrusts . Then, slowly regaining his

Page 28

strength , Christy began slamming back with arm drags, dropkicks and punches. For a full five minutes he battled Abdullah tooth and nail, then made hi s move ... apparently weakening again, he

Recently selected as the most improved grappler of 1970, drop-kicking Dan Krolfat shows why as he zeroes in on huge Wayne Coleman

wen t down under a barrage of karate slashes, flopped near the ropes.

That was all Abdullah needed- ramming his 19st. into the ropes on the far side of the ring from Jerry, he raced across the canvas, launched himself in that swooping dive that signalled the elbow drop. Thud! The bandaged elbow hit Christy solidly below the throat! The Butcher came off the mat in a fl ash, rammed into the far ropes again, flew through the smoky air to plummet down on his victim. But his victim was gone!

As soon as Abdullah sai led into the air, Jerry rolled out of the way of the stabbing elbow; now The Butcher crashed down on nothing but the hard mat, a sickening "crack!" slicing through the arena as his elbow struck the canvas. Moving fast to gain the full advantage, Jerry dragged the shrieking Abdullah from the mat, set him up quickly, then stabbed him full in the chest with a dropkick! The African collapsed like a building under the

wrecker's ball, and a scant split-second later, Jerry Christy crashed across his heaving chest to hold him down for the count. And that left him once again holding those twin titles .. .

Once more, however, success was short-lived for Jerry Christy. Rematched with his arch-enemy several weeks later, he went down to defeat following a titanic effort that climaxed when Abdullah resorted to his hidden weapons to weaken him, then repeatedly slashed him with elbow drops to take the final fall. The battling pair h:lYen't met again since, but one thing is sure: if and when they do, it has to stack up as one of the wildest wars ever waged in the west!

While the Christy Brothers may hold the International Tag Team Championship, two of the toughest hombres on the mat today have teamed up here in an effort to wrest the belts away. They're Gil Hayes, the tearaway Canadian scrapper who held the same title in company with Wild Bill Dromo not too many months ago, and burly Bob "Bruiser"

"Gorilla" Marconi down, Carlos Belafonte up! Away up too, as he drops down to the chest of the veteran grappler

Sweetan, freshly-returned from a full-scale U.S. tour de force and at an increased weight of just under 20st., a hard-to-handle package for the lighter Christys.

Sweetan would normally have operated in tandem with cousin Fred Sweetan, but the fates ruled against the combination when fiery Fred suffered a shoulder dislocation in the pair's last contest in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. So serious is the injury that he may never wrestle again, but until that's found out for sure, Bob will operate with Hayes, whom he describes as "the only other man I fully trust to have standing behind me in a tag team match! " The rugged pair are hungry for the title, and with mutual trust and confidence like that, feel they're the only logical challengers around. "Either one of us could whip both of them on our own," Bob snarls as spokesman for the pair, "so together it should be just that much easier!"

Coming on strong here is sparkling Puerto Rican matman Carlos Belafonte, whose style is strongly reminiscent of the great Edouard Carpentier's high­soaring approach to the sport. Belafonte sliced through every matman thrown his way here, then went down to defeat at the hands of Abdullah the Butcher in a main event bout; but in a recent rematch scored heavily over the African savage with skull­busting head butts that dented even Abdullah's rock-hard cranium. In fact, they did more than just dent it- Abdullah scrambled for the dressing room covered with blood following the bout, and as this is written, has had his North American title held by the referee for purposely striking him to earn a disqualification and thereby hang on to the crown, in the wild set-to. "They'll wrestle again, with two referees, to settle the championship," ruled arbiter foe Lesperance, and he's got the power to make the ruling stick, little as Abdullah the Butcher may like it.

Chalk up a big win for Abdullah over 23st. Mexican mammoth The Mighty Ursus, after one of the most frantic series ever seen here! Twice in a row Abdullah fled the ring in mid-bout after Ursus opened his skull with his tremendous punch, leaving a solid result an impossibility; and in the second bout, tore right out through the arena foyer to the street to escape the Latin crusher's wrath. But Abdullah finally made it to victory, when promoters imprisoned the pair inside a steel mesh fence to prevent a third run-out, by scotching Ursus with a lethal dose of those searing elbow drops.

As we said to begin with, Abdullah the Butcher leaves fans and opponents alike in a state of shock . . .

LATE FLASH:

In one of the biggest surprises of the current season, "Mr. Irresistible", Sweet Daddy Siki, blasted back on to the western scene with all the ferocity of an exploding bomb! The strutting blond Negro has racked up three straight wins since coming out of retirement, once over Johnny Valentine, Jr. and twice over Dan Kroffat, and he's served notice that he has two targets here: Iron Dave Ruhl and surprisingly, Abdullah the Butcher!

Page 29

'Down memory lane' Every now and again collectors of Wrestliana

come across rare items which should where possible be shared. Photographs, in my view, come into this category. Recently I unearthed, from a most unusual source, a number of excellent photos from the days when strongmen and wrestlers were feted as pop stars are today, when photographs of the champions

Zbyszko

were highly prized and rwere on sale in newsagents and stationers. While these pictures could well go into an album with other gems from the past I think that readers will derive pleasure from seeing these and hearing of ,the fabulous characters whose exploits were like some~hing out of a story book.

I was delighted to find a couple of pictures of Alexander A berg, who was reputed to be a bigger villain in private life than he was in the ring! Aberg, born in Esthonia and a Russian citizen won the world's Greco Roman Championship and went all over Europe for challenge matches, tournaments and exhibitions. His greatest performances were in the 1900-1910 period- the so called GOLDEN ERA of wrestling. Later, around 1915 he wrestled in America with a considerable amount of success, although he was considered an efficient but unspectacular matman.

Many stories about Aberg's villainous traits went around the dressing rooms but these were probably originated by the great Stanislous Zbyszko who had no time for the Russian. What's more Zibby didn't keep it secret why he hated Alex Aberg.

It all started over a debt of 6,000 roubles which Aberg re£used to pay and when Stanislous pressed his claim Aberg got nasty. The Russian circulated a

Page 30

rumour that Zibby was an Austrian spy! There was a ring of authenticity about this for apart from his physical stature Zibby was an extremely peculiar pro. wrestler. Investigation revealed he was a graduate of Vienna University, a lawyer, a musician, a rare linguist- master of eleven languages- and extremely wealthy! Was he a spy? We don't know but we do have an account of what happened when he was lured to Petrograd at a time when the country was in tumult and secret executions were the order of the day.

Aberg was his opponent and he, Alex, hired a great many soldiers to support him. This must surely be one of the earliest recorded cases of paid cheer leaders in sport. The bout was a very good one anq the extremely well matched pair grappled in all for two hours forty three minutes! Finally Zibby pinned Aberg, a victory which did not please the Russiail soldiers. They seemed intent on collaring the winner as soon as he left the ring, so, fearing for his life Zibby waited until he got his purse of gold coins for winning, then ripped it open and threw the money among the assembled throng. In the melee whicp followed Zibby made his escape and fled to Odes>.<t . where his friends hid him. Finally after the armistice he returned to Poland a much thinner and poorer man.

Aberg

Although Alex Aberg went on to win the world's Greco Roman title he was never as famous as his great rival, a fact he resented all his life. He was, however, an extraordinary man and we think the photographs which have recently come to light show something of his tough character.

DAVE PIRIE

Soon it will be convention time again and a number of the leading British organisations for followers of wrestling will be making their claim for recognition in the Wrestli~g Fans: Internation~l Association's annual gathenng, takmg place this year at Miami Beach, Florida.

Clubs from this side of the Atlantic have been prominent in each of the two previous conv~ntions and this year's event, from July 28th until 30th looks like being no exception.

While none of the British club officials can be at Miami in person, Ray Message, president of the Four Star Fan Club has done the next best thing. One of his club's ever growing band <?f members now lives in the United States and IS

attending the convention to supervise the Four Star displays.

Miss Glenda Williams will be remembered by some British fans for the excellent fan club she operated for Australian wrestler Eddie ~wann before leaving her home country for the Umted States a year or so ago.

Now Glenda is in close touch with Ray Message as a considerable volume of material is on its way to the convention.

The Peter Maivia Fan Club's newsletters were

Peter Maivia, the popular Samoan in a new picture, by courtesy of his Fan Club

judged to be the best in the international section of the convention last year and Mrs. Dorothy . Paget, the club's president, has high hopes of carrymg off another award.

British clubs have been encouraged to support the convention by the W.F.l.A.'s European Vice­President, Mr. Ron Farrer of Yorkshire, and the world-wide organisation's European off-shoot will have its own display at Miami.

The organisation of this year's convention is again led by the W.F.l.A.'s executive director Don Wilson and the crowded three-day programme includes an all-star wrestling bill presented by promoter Chris Dundee at the famous Miami Beach Auditorium.

One of the newer British clubs still making steady progress is that organised by Miss Sue King of Kempsford, Gloucestershire, for welterweight Gordon Quirey. After a slow start Sue reports that membership is now well into double figures and the inquiries are still coming in.

Despite the success of British Fan Clubs there has been little call for similar podies in the other European countries, despite an abundance of colourful and extremely popular wrestling per­sonalities.

Now I hear of efforts to start the ball rolling with a club for that doyen of the French wrestling scene, Rene Ben Chemoul. With more than 20 years of top-of-the-bill wrestling behind him, Ben Chemoul, the tiger of the French rings, is still widely recognised as the world's middleweight champion.

In France he regularly takes on heavyweights and in the popularity stakes stands only second to A ndre Drapp, the almost legendary "Lion of Lorraine."

~·-·--·-·-·-·--FAN CLUB DIRECTORY

The Supreme F.C. (Steve Grey-Johnny Kincaid) Miss C. Hutchinson, 9 High Road,

Whaplode, Spalding, Lincs. Hell's Angels F.C.

Miss P. Henden, 48 High Street, Puckeridge, Ware, Herts.

Four Stars F.C. Mr. R. Message, 10 Wygate Road,

Spalding, Lincs. Peter Maivia F.C.

Mrs. D. Paget, West Littleton, Chippenham, Wilts.

Gordon Quirey F.C. Miss S. King, Dunfield, Kempsford,

near Fairfield, Gloucester, GL 7 4HE. International Wrestling Supporters' Club

Mr. J. Mawdsley, 2 Musden Walk, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, SK4 SNP.

W.F.I.A. (Europe) Mr. R. Farrer, 5 Turner Street,

Parsley, Pudsey, Y orks.

Page 31

Etnile Czaja

King Kong in New Zealand, 1966

Hated and loved in the ring as King Kong the man mountain, Emit Czaja, died in a Singapore hospital.

Czaja who weighed 28st. and claimed an Olympic Gold Medal was cared for in two beds strapped together following a road accident on March 12th in lpoh, Malaysia. Emile broke a leg and an arm and then complications set in and he suddenly got worse. When New Zealand heavy­weight Steve Rickard visited him in hospital two days before he died Emile said he was throwing in the belt- In other words he knew he was dying.

Czaja who always claimed to be Hungarian born, held a passport showing he was born in Brassov, Rumania, in 1909. He arrived with his wife in Singapore some time before World War II, but nothing has been heard of her since she left the Island at an unknown date.

All that is certain is that Czaja who used a wealth of aliases in his world wanderings, was Singapore's best-known limb twister of the 40's and 50's. During his younger days King Kong was a tremendous drawcard particularly in India and Pakistan. Crowds of up to 100,000 would go to watch him wrestle in these countries.

During his latter years he became renowned for his ability to organize successful wrestling matches in India, Pakistan and Singapore.

When he appeared in New Zealand in 1966 and 1967 he was well past his prime but he drew outstanding crowds. Several of his opponents were sent to hospital and were loathe to tangle with the giant in return contests.

He had an enormous appetite and while in New Zealand his usual breakfast would consist of three dozen eggs, five or six steaks, plenty of fresh fruit and about a gallon of milk. The eggs he would take raw whipped up with a shot of brandy and salt and pepper.

The wrestling world has lost a great personality and wrestler. Emile had always hoped to make a visit to England, but was so busy promoting and wrestling around the East th?.t the trip did not eventuate.

DAVE CAMERON

Page 32

Wrestlers on Parade

Name: lAMES BREAKS. Weight : llst. Height : 5ft. Sins. Place of Residence: Bradford. Titles :

Former British Lightweight Champion. Former British Welterweight Champion. Reigning European Lightweight Champion.

Most Difficult Opponent: Alan Dennison. Most Memorable Contest:

Against Melvyn Riss in 1964. Biggest Thrill:

Winning the British Lightweight title from Riss in 1964.

Biggest Disappointment: Losing the Lightweight Title to Zoltan Boscik.

Best Country Visited: France. Car: Volkswagen 1500. Favourite Food : Indian Curry. Miscellaneous Likes:

Football- Jim plays for Eccleshill F.C., a local Bradford team.

Miscellaneous Dislikes : Losing at wrestling. Favourite T.V. Show: Rowan and Martin Laugh-In. Favourite Singer : Frank Sinatra.

WRESTLING IN THE SOUTH

BERKSHIRE NEWBURY Corn Exchange 3rd Tuesday

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SLOUGH Adelphi 4th Friday

DEVON PLYMOUTH TORQUAY

Guildhall 2nd Tuesday Town Hall Every Thursday

DORSET WEYMOUTH

Pier Bandstand Enclosure Every Tuesday

ESSEX CLACTON

Princes Theatre, Town Hall Every Thursday

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BRISTOL Colston Hall 1st & 3rd Thursday CHELTENHAM F.C. Ground 2nd Saturday

HAMPSHIRE BOURNEMOUTH Town Hall

SOUTHAMPTON The Guildhall SOUTHAMPTON Pier Pavilion SOUTHSEA South Parade Pier

HERTFORDSHIRE

2nd Monday & 4th & 5th Thursday

1st & 5th Thursday 2nd & 4th Thursday 2nd, 3rd, 4th &

5th Thursday

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD Pavilion 2nd & 4th Tuesday

ISLE OF WIGHT RYDE Town Hall Every Wednesday

KENT FOLKESTONE Leas Cliff Hall MAIDSTONE Agricultural Hall MARGATE Cliftonville Oval

LONDON AREA CATFORD The Town Hall EAST HAM Granada SHOREDITCH Town Hall WAL THAMSTOW

Every Monday 1st & 3rd Saturday Every Mon. & Wed.

2nd Monday 3rd Friday 1st Wednesday

WEMBLEY Assembly Hall 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursday

The Town Hall 1st & 3rd Monday

NORFOLK GT. YARMOUTH

Marina Open Air Theatre Every Mon. & Wzd.

SOMERSET WESTON-SUPER·MARE

Winter Gardens Every Monday

SUFFOLK FELIXSTOWE Pier Pavilion 2nd, 4th & 5th Friday

SURREY CROYDON GUILDFORD

SUSSEX

Fairfield Halls Civic Hall

Every Tuesday 1st Tuesday

BEXHILL De La Warr Pavilion BOGNOR Esplanade Theatre EASTBOURNE

2nd & 4th Wednesday 3rd & 4th Monday

Winter Gardens Every Wednesday HASTINGS Pier Pavilion Every Tuesday WORTHING Pavilion Every Tuesday

WALES CARDIFF Sophia Gardens 5th Friday

Page 33

Best Bouts of the Month T.V. WRESTLING

JIM RYAN v JOHNNY KINCAID The first bout screened from the Fairfield Halls,

Croydon, was a light-heavyweight international contest between Jim Ryan, of Ireland, at 13st. 61bs., and the West Indian Johnny Kincaid, who had an advantage of Bibs.

Television viewers joined the bout in the second round and it was soon obvious why Ryan had already received one public warninq, but Kincaid was quick to retaliate and twice pulled Ryan's beard. This infuriated Ryan and after twice posting his opponent he jumped on Kincaid while the West Indian was on the canvas. This brought him a second public warning .

Jim was pulled away from Kincaid by the referee soon afterwards for usinq an illegal hold. While Ryan was caught off guard, Johnny took advantage to deliver a perfectly timed drop kick.

Kincaid showed plenty of aggression in round three and dazed Ryan with a head butt, but a straight arm lift enabled Ryan to get on top. Ryan later posted his opponent only for Kincaid to retaliate with another head butt. Jim eventually regained control by throwing Kincaid against the ropes as the round neared its end and delivered forearm smashes when his opponent rebounded. He body slammed Kincaid immediately afterwards and pinned him for the only fall required for victory.

GEOFF PORTZ v MAL KIRK The following bout was also screened from the

Fairfield Halls and was a heavyweight contest between Bradford 's Geoff Portz and Mal Kirk, of Featherstone, Yorkshire.

Rule-bending Mal Kirk, who had an advantage of almost 4st. over Portz, was a little baffled by the speed with which his opponent moved. In the first round Kirk deposited Portz outside the ring when he eventually caught him off guard, but Portz later did the same to Kirk.

Geoff then attempted a pinfall , but couldn't hold Kirk down for the count of three and the round finished with Portz sending Kirk tumbling to the canvas with a high hip throw.

In round two a straight arm lift had Portz in trouble. Soon afterwards Portz was trapped in a jap strangle hold and was finally sent crashing head first into a corner post. Referee Max Wall had to use all his strength to force Kirk to release an illegal strangle hold before Portz retaliated by grabbing Kirk by the whiskers. A bear hug by Kirk then had Portz in considerable pain, but he escaped by countering with a reverse side head lock.

Portz, the former mid-heavyweight champion of Great Britain, was trapped in a Boston crab early in round three. Eventually Geoff escaped only to receive a bear hug lift which forced him to submit. Mal would not release his opponent for several seconds and was given a public warning.

In round four Portz gained a figure four head scissors and followed up with two forearm smashes. Another figure four head scissors seemed to drain the strength from Kirk, but he recovered to use an illegal hold on Portz. Both men delivered several forearm smashes after this and a third figure four head scissors by Portz, followed by a body slam, almost brought him the equalising fall. But it was not long in coming for Kirk was trapped in an aeroplane spin early in round five and a cross press gave Portz the equaliser.

Kirk, a former rugby league player and a miner, pained a side head lock in round six. He then sent Portz out of the ring and kicked him as he returned . But a flying tackle by Geoff and a cross press only just failed to bring the winning fall and Kirk, who finished the bout by being thrown across the ring, was lucky to gain a draw.

Page 34

by DAV/0 BURWASH

TONY ST. CLAIR v PETER RANN The following two bouts were both screened from

Brent Town Hall. The first was a catchweight contest between Tony St. Clair and Peter Rann, who were in the middle of round three when the television cameras started their transmission. St. Clair was on the attack with a grapevine and an arm lever clamped on for good measure, but the ropes forced him to break. Rann used a back breaker and then attempted a double knee press, but the bell sounded to spare St. Clair any further pain.

In round four Peter used a back breaker across his knee and then three suplex moves, each time th rowing Tony's left knee (which St. Clair had hurt in a contest only five days previously) on to the ropes. Rann later applied a toe and ankle hold to his opponent 's left leg followed up with several forearm smashes.

He then attacked St. Clair before Tony could qet off the canvas, and the referee had to remove him. Within seconds Rann was applyinq another toe and ank·le hold to St. Clair's left leg, but the ropes intervened.

Tony used a head mare and a side head chancery before Rann received his first public warning for attacking after the bell had signalled the end of the round. St. Clair was in trouble with throws and an attempted toe and ankle hold at the start of round five, but he managed to twist out of the way and suddenly gained the only fall needed to win the bout with a folding body press.

STEVE VEIDOR v ROY ST. CLAIR The next bout on the bill was a heavyweioht contest

between Cheshire's Steve Veidor and Roy St. Clair, elder brother of Tony St. Clair, of Cornwall.

In round one St. Clair gained the advantage with a wrist lever, held on despite many moves by Veidor to shake him off. Steve finally escaped with the help of a somersault. Veidor retaliated by applying a side head chancery and then threw St. Clair while still retaining the chancery. When Rov escaped he clamped on a single interlock which Veidor soon switched to his own advantage.

Veidor used an arm lever in round two and continued the punishment with a back hammer on St. Clair's left arm. Roy, however, escaped by picking his opponent up and putting his head through Veidor's legs as he let him slide over his shoulders.

Many fine moves by both men followed, including attempted folding body presses. Veidor again applied a wrist lever to St. Clair's left arm, then switched to an arm lever. Near the end of the round St. Clair almost gained a pinfall but the bell saved Veidor.

In round three a body scissors trapped Veidor for some considerable time until he eventually wriggled free. He then attempted a flying press only to be caught in another body scissors. Later Steve turned Roy for a Boston crab, but the latter used his hands to push himself free. When Veidor attempted a folding press in round four the ropes intervened. He then used two whips and St. Clair was just able to stop himself being thrown across the rinq. With Steve caught off guard Roy turned, floored Veidor and gained the first fall with a folding body press.

Veidor almost gained the equaliser in the early part of round five, but couldn't hold the press on for long enough. He remained on top with a series of slick moves, but St. Clair never looked in real trouble.

Roy used a side head lock early in the sixth round and later both men attempted body presses. Both finished on the canvas but Veidor was first to get to his feet. He tried a crutch hold and when he attempted the slam he staggered backwards. dropping St. Clair awkwardly to the floor. Roy, a little dazed from this, found himself at the receiving end of a body check. He fell to the canvas and there he remained. unable to beat the count, and so Veidor won by a K.O.

(

WRESTLING IN THE NORTH

LANCASHIRE BLACKPOOL BOLTON

LIVERPOOL

MANCHESTER

The Tower Wryton Stadium

The Stadium

Every Sunday 1st, 4th &

5th Friday 1st, 3rd, 4th &

5th Friday

Kings Hall, Belle Vue Every Saturday MORECAMBE

Alhambra Theatre 1st, 2nd, 4th &

7.15 p.m.

7.30 p.m.

7.30 p.m.

7.00 p.m.

5th Thursday 7.30 p.m.

LINCOLNSHIRE CLEETHORPES SKEGNESS

Pier Pavilion Festival Centre

NORTH WALES

Every Sunday Every Tuesday

7.00 p.m.

DUMFRIES KIRKCALDY MONTROSE ST. ANDREWS

Drill Hall Town Hall

Town Hall Town Hall

SHROPSHIRE SHREWSBURY Baths Hall OAKENGATES New Town Hall

STAFFORDSHIRE BRIERLEY HILL Public Hall

HANLEY Victoria Hall WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall

WARWICKSHIRE BIRMINGHAM

3rd Friday 7.40 p.m. 2nd Saturday 7.30 p.m. 4th & 5th Thurs. 7.30 p.m. 3rd & 4th Tuesday

2nd & 4th Mon. 7.30 p.m. 1st Tuesday 7.30 p.m.

2nd & 3rd Friday & 4th Saturday 7.40 p.m.

Every Saturday 7.30 p.m. 2nd & 4th Tues. 7.30 p.m.

LLANDUDNO Astra Theatre 1st Friday & Digbeth Civic Hall Every Thursday 7.30 p.m. LEAMINGTON 3rd Thursday 7.30 p.m.

RHYL Gaiety Theatre 4th Saturday 7.30 p.m. Jephson Pavilion 1st & 4th Thurs. 7.30 p.m.

SCOTLAND ABERDEEN AIRDRIE

Music Hall Every Tuesday

Sir John Wilson Memorial Hall AVIEMORE Osprey Ballroom AYR Ice Rink

1st Friday 4th & 5th Wed. 2nd Friday

7.30 p.m.

8.15 p.m. 7.30 p.m.

YORKSHIRE BRIDLINGTON

HUDDERSFIELD SHEFFIELD WHIT BY YORK

Spa Pavilion 1st, 2nd, 3rd & ~tl\.. .M'onday

To'wn Hall 4th- WE!dnesday City Hall 3rd Wednesday

Spa Pavilion Every Thursday s.s. Empire 2nd Monday

lll! l llll l llll l llll l llll l llll l llll l lll ll llll l llll l llll l l!ll l llll l llll l llll l llll l lll ll llll l l l ll l llll l llll l llll l llll l llll l ll l l l llll l ll l l l l ll l l llll l l lll l l lll l illl l l ll t i iiii i i iii i iiii B

The above venues and dates are correct at the time of going to Press. Unless otherwise stated the tournaments listed are tor July, 1970.

See Local Press and Posters for Further Information l lll l l llll l llll l l l ll l lll l l llll l llll l llll l llll l llll l llll l lll l l llll l llll l llll l llll l llll l tlll l llll l llll l llll l li i i i iiii i iiii i iiii i iii i i iiii i iiii i ii i i i iiii i iiii i iiii i iiii i iiJ I I IIII I IIII

7.30 p.m. 7.30 p.m. 7.30 p.m. 7.30 p.m. 7.30 p.m.

Page 35

I I I I I I I I I • I I I I I I I I

PAT ROACH I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I