Arizona republican., 1911-04-16
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS
ALMOST COMPLETED
FANS PREPARE FOR THE YEARS
GREAT WRESTLING EVENT.
Gotch May Not Use Dangerous Toe
Hold on johnson.

The man who made the statement
a few years ago If YOU lock me in
a room with any man in the world
for a free-for-all l will be the one to
open the door and come out" will
take the mat in Phoenix next Tues
day evening at the Third Avenue
theater with l. \. johnson. a wrestler
Of good metal, and man well known
here as a husky and formidable OPP
ponent. If the local fans had just
a trifie higher opinion of Johnson,
and just a mite smaller opinion of
Gotch-it would be even money for
the match but in spite Of Johnson's
reputation as powerful man and a
skllful wrestler. his best friends are
not hoping To see him do more than
draw Gotch out To the fullest exertion
Of his strength in filling the terms Of
the agreement.
Many people who follow the wres-
Ting game wonder why other Crap
piers beside Frank Gotch do not use
the toe hold. which has been put into
practice 50 effectively by the cham
pion. and "a number of questions have
been asked seeking a reason for the
inability of any wrestler who has
met Gotch To break the hold. He
has a llnack OF getting the difficult
hold on an opponent in a tightening
maUeuver, ana il seldom fails to put
an adversary on his back Most
wrestlers who Try To- initiate Gotch
with this grip work, try 10 take the
hold while on the floor, which is diff
terent from the champions method
of putting Il into use while still ON
his feet. In securing this hold Gotch
generally works around a mans head
as a sort of ieint and suddenly
reaches around srasping an opponent
by the ankle and one arm. Standing
up, he lets his hand slip down until
ne has graspcd his man toes. when
he pulls the leg back. and giving the
subject Il quick jerk, throws him
heavily on his head or shoulders. 1t
was with this toe hold that he threw
Sampson 50 hard in Chicago recently
that the big German was unconscious
ior several hours after the fall, al
though this was the result OF an ac-
cIdent, the champion not having any
intention Of allowing the otner wres-
tiers head 10 strike the floor just off
the mat, as il did. Since the acct
dent in that match with Sampson
Gotch seldom uses the toe hold 10
throw an opponent, but shows the
audience how il should be worked
without injuring the grappler. His
almost superhuman strength makes 1t
impossible for him to use a number
of holds in everyday use among other
WreStlerS and he is seldom called up
ON To exert his fullest powers.
II remains to be seen whether The
Terrible Swcde" is conner. His
match with Frank Gotch can make
him famous in the wrestling world if
he stands up we'll before the cham
pIOn. The terms Of the match, Oblg
atiug Gotch To throw him three times
in one hour give him an opportunity
To make the champion hustle for his
winnings, ana admirers of the husky |
giant will give him d VOlley Of cheers |
ii he succeeds in making Gotch lose !
under the conditions OF the agree |
ment. The seats for the match viii |
range from fifty cents FOR the gallery |
to two dollars for seats on the stage. |
The usual preliminary bouts will pre- |
cedc the main event. and the first |
contest will be staged promptly at |
5 80.