Evening journal., 1916-04-18
LEW|S-ROLLER BOUT
TO Be MAT CLASSIC
Best of WreStlerS Will Com
pete in Playhouse on
Thursday Night
IRSAM ALSO ON
THE NEXT BILL

What promises TO be the greatest mat
entertainment ever staged in this city
will take place at The Playhouse on
Thursday night when DR.. b. f. Roller
and Ed Stranger" Lewis. the worlds
championship. meet in a finish grap-
Pile
Wilmington fans haEElearned to re-
spect the wrestling ability Of each Of
these catch-as-catch-can artists, and
there is a great deal Of doubt as TO
Lewis ability to put the shoulders Of
the doctor where he will have to pin
them in order to win the bout.
The last Lewis-R Roller match was a
grand battle. a fight Of endurance.
speed and science. Roller gave Lewis
all he sent and at times waged a ter
rife battle. The match Thursday night
will positively be clean and scientific
throughout. Both men are known for
their clean work on the mat. The fans
who enjoy the good. clean mat work
will see a whirlwind bout from start
10 finish both men are aggressive as
well as strong grapplers.
The bout between Lewis and Roller
ls without doubt one Of the most inn
portant matches staged this season.
Or. Roller. the famous physician grap-
pier. realizes the importance OF this
match and for that reason will be at
his best Thursday night To be the
drawing card he has been in the past,
Roller must regain the title from
Lewis CT be forced TO drop In the
ranks OF second raters: but should
Roller lose TO Lewis his chance OF
winning the championship would be
gone forever. Roller himself realizes
this and he intends to go the limit
In order TO beat the Stranger.
Roller and Lewis both enjoy the
warm regard of local patrons Of the
game. They have both delivered the
goods" in their matches here. and in
dications today are that they Will be
greeted with a big house Thursday
night.
Ever since the return match be-
tween Lewis and Roller was arranged
the local fans have been busy talking
wrestling. The majority Of mat fol-
lowers are looking forward to a long
and fierce bout or course Roller
on the other hand believes he is go
ing to win. in fact the doctor thinks
\ he has too much science for the Ken
lucky boy and will be able 10 out
General the young champion. In a
letter TO the local promoter, Roller
stated. Il will go in the ring with
Lewis having more confidence than
ever did in championship match
and I think that's half the battle.
"You may think that line Of talk
smacks OF overcOnfdence. but, know
ing my physical condition as I do,
] can have no other opinion than that
can beat Lewis"
"A larg number OF fans turned out
to witness the first meeting between
Lewis and Roller, but the advance
sale Of seats for the bout Thursday
night assures a capacity attendance
The reason the interest is so great is
that both men are top notchers. then
the fact that Roller and Lewis are
evenly matched and the graphing
will be OF a more scientific nature.
Both men are speedy Those who Wit
ncssed both men wrestle know this
much.
There will be another finish match
on the same bill Anton Irsathe.
crack Bohemian champion, will meet
another frst-class heavyweight grap-
pier Irsa was seen in action in this
city against Stranger Lewis and
made a good impression with his fast
and clean wrestling