The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
CLAIM CHAMPIONSHIP.
Zimmerman Twins, Six Years Old
Each, Are Clever Little Fellows.

Floyd and Lloyd Zimmerman, age 6
years each, claim a worlds champion
| ship title in boxing and wrestling.
Their championship claims have not
| been contested or questioned, SO can
not be denied. These boys are twin
| brothers and are the sons of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. S. Zimmerman, who are liv-
| ing in Usage City.
The twins appeared in Topeka re-
! Gently as one OF the preliminary fea-
lures in a wrestling contest. They were
accompanied by their father and an
| older brother, Charles, who acts as
| official referee. Charles is IL years
old.
The twins adopted wrestling and
sparring upon a suggestion OF their
father. When hardly years old they
began striking at each other and
wrestling while at play. Their parents
noticed this and bought them a sman
pair of boxing gloves for toys. The
youths were highly pleased with the
new toys and began using them for the
intended purpose They progressed
rapidly and soon developed the know
Ieoge of delivering an uppercut,
swing, the haymaker and number OF
the prominent blows that are used by
pugiIists. They showed that they ap-
preciate the game and thoroughly en-
Joyed it.
Their next lessons were in wrest-
ling catch-as-catch-can style. They
become interested in the mat sport
while accompanying their father to the
gymnasium where the different classes
were at work in the different CLUBS or
associations. They soon developed the
knowledge of placing the half Nelson,
full Nelson, scissors, hammerlock ana
other favorite holds that are used by
the scientific trained athletes.
First Public Appearance.
Their first appearance in public was
in a preliminary to the Mike YoKeI-
Henry Gehring wrestling match In
Salt Lake City, Utah. rms was out
short time before the Jeffries-Johnson
fight in Reno, July 4, 1911. The boys
appeared in a three-round sparring
exhibition and then in a match IN
wrestling. They proved to be great
attraction. The Yokel-Gehring con-
test was for the world IS WeItefWelghl
championship.
They have been big drawing card
in every place they have appeared
They have appeared three times in
lpreliminaries in which Frank Gotten
has taken part in championship events.
Two of these appearances We're in St
Lake City and the other was in Og-
den. They have appeared a number of
times before the members of the Kan
sas City Athletic club, and the
Knights of Columbus club, at the
clubs of the Baltimore hotel in Kan
SaS CITY, De1Ofe the SraHu louSe meet
ing of the Shriners and before the
southwest division of the Associated
Ad clubs. These appearances have
been in four different states.
Their fathers business causes him to
move from place to place and his fam
ilv usually accompanies him. For this
reason the twin champions have trav-
eled extensive and have had the
to appear before numerous
crowds They enjoy the sport and are
happy when they succeed in pleasing
their audience. Applause caused them
to make greater effort to please and
they are usually successful.
Their older brother, Charles. who |
acts as referee, also IS interested in |
athletics and athletic events. They |
have younger sister who enjoys the |
sport and occasionally attempts to dup |
lfcate the feats of her larger broth /
erS.