The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-02-11
CLUBS IN HARD FIGHT
FOR BIG MAT STRUGGLE.
Rival Chicago Promoters Want Match
Between Pole and Turk-Pri-
vate Match Off,

hCi 2 II OO SOluC 1uh yCt, ooio q
prominent wrestling fan in Chicago,
where the graphing game is more
popular than in any other part of the
country, If not in the world. 1T
has made me laugh to watch these
managers work up interest in the
game.
Il don't believe there ever was any
Mahmout to wrestle in private. 1 can't
understand how the sporting writer's
fell for that line Ct talk at all. It
may have been on the square, but it
looked to me, as we'll as to dozens of
persons to whom l have talked, that
1t was only scheme to boost the pub
lie match which is sure to come be-
fore long"
There has been great struggle be-
tween the National Athletic club, of
which DR.. Message, one of the squar-
est sports and a great wrestling pro-
moter, is the main factor, and the EN-
pire Athletic club to get the match.
1t seems that the National club had
the men signed up for match at Dex-
vi l al N PofhlOh. ACA CduO lAC
Empire club with claim on the ser.
vices of the men for a bout at the Col.
iseum.
Next, Lou Houseman and Jimmy
Callahan came out with fiat offer
of $4,000 for the bout to take place
in February. Houseman and Callahan
stipulate only that the bout be on the
square and say they care not how the
wrestlers divide the coin. They name
Edward W. Smith and Harvey T.
Woodruff. sporting editors, and Frank
Gotch as the men from whom the
wrestlers may select the referee.
Woodruff and Smith are capable men.
Smith refereed the Gotch-Hacken-
schmidt match. The Russian Lion put
up yell after he got back to Europe
and had to explain why he couldn't
throw Gotch, but all those who saw
the bout. and there were thousands,
said Smith gave him a square deal.
But with Gotch as referee there
would be an added attraction. 1t is
hardly probable that Frank would
agree to act as the Judge of the
match, for it is understood that he is
to wrestle the winner for the worlds
championship.
Both Mahmout and Zbyszko have
improved greatly in their work since
they have been in this country. In
his first matches Zbyszko was as slow
as pillow horse. He was as fat as
Clydesdale and didn't seem to have
anything but great strength. OF this
he seemed to have an abundance and
when he once got his man where he
wanted him he put his shoulders to
the mat with ease. The same is true
of Mahmout, though he never was as
heavy as the Pole. Both have picked
up many American tricks and have in
creased their speed. There certainly
will be some fun as the fan says,
when the two hook up
The wrestling game got black eye
years ago because Of the tendency of
the mat men to fake in their matches.
1t is much easier for the wrestlers to
fake than it is for the fighters to put
up crooked bout. A wrestler may
seem to be doing his very best and it
is hard for the crowd to tell whether
he is exerting all his strength
1t has been pretty well demonstrat
ed that DR.. Message and his followers
will stand for no taking and if House.
man and Callahan get the match it is
certain that they will permit nothing
crooked to come off, so if Zbyszko and
Mahmout come together under the
management of either of these men
the bout will be on the level and the
best man will win. Then will come
battle with Gotch.
1t is doubtful if Gotch has improved
any in his work in the last two years.
His bout with Hackenschmidt was the
last in which he was put to a real
test. He threw Mahmout, but the
Turk wasn't as good then as he Is
now. Gotch failed to down Zbyszko
in handicap match in Buffalo, N. Y,
several weeks ago, but in finish af.
fair conditions would be different and
the result might not be the same.
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