Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-12
Bone Crushers
To Meet for
Worlds Title
Dope Favors Dodge, Neb.,
Grappler; Challenger's Head
Lock One Of Most Danger
GUS In Modern Game.

New York, Dec. 1.-THE match
ing of Ed "Stranglers Lewis witt,
Joe Stecher means that another cx-
tremely interesting contest is in
view for local followers of the an
cient art OF grab and twist here on
Monday. Lewis has had numerous
tries at Stecher ard never has beat
en- him, though he once held him
to draw in bout that went five
hours. Since that time Stecher has
improved steadily. so that on form
Lewis does not rank with him. There
would not be much use in making
u a.match between Lewis and Stech-
er if it were not for the formers
possession of one OF the most dan
gerous grips known to- modern
wrestling-the deadlock.
Lewis has taken this grip, which
was not his own invention, bu:
which was, accoi ding to all avail
able dope, first conceived by Fred
Bcals, who developed it to a high
degree. 1t is not. like the body scis-
scrs or the toe hold, grip which
will win for a man with one ap-
plication. 1t is, however, a punish
ing hold that Lewis employs to
wear down his opponents. One "
two will not materially affect him,
but a succession OF them after a
match has lasted an hour and half
or so usually spell defeat for the
gentleman around whose head they
are curlcd.
Headlock Beats Zbyszko.
The latest Lewis -Wladek Zbysz-
.ko match illustrates the truth of the
foregoing. AS soon as the men went
into action in that contest Lewis
slapped a deadlock on the big Pole
and held it for minute or so. This
single grip did not hurt Zbyszko,
but after he had absorbed few
more of them at intervals during the
match he began to feel the STRAIN
of them. When the contest had
gone about an hour and 20 min.
utes, with honors about even, Lew
is apparently figured the time was
ripe for the defeat of his foe by
means othis favorite grip. He then
Hinged at Zbyszko and in flash
had him in cl,ancerv. Zbyszko
broke the grip, but was seized with
another. He struggled out OF that
too, but his strength, severely taxed
by the gruelling work he had done.
fast ebbed under the terrific pres
sure OF the dread grip. Once more
the hold was applied and again he
broke free, but he was dazed and
his knees shook beneath him. Lew
is missed one try at him, but con-
rected an instant later, and this
time the match was. lost for the
mighty son of PolanV.
great extent by his deadlock, but one
can never tell. The deadlock Is like
knockout, wallop.. II it gets over the
Gm misses hss sa'S n.@s Is one II
the, wrestlers Dr. Roller had in mind
when he said there were number If
men who had been beaten by steeher
that Joe could do It again. and who
thought the same thing every time 1t
happened. Lewis having lost to stecher
other shot at him, and apparently hasn't
doubt that he can take Joe's measure
next time"
Stecher will BE in Condition.
The form which Stecher displayed in
his brief but mildly thrilling match with
Leon ODonnell leads one to believe that
the champion will be about on edge when
the date of his proposed bout with Lewis,
December 16, rolls around. His meeting
with O'Donnell was only his second since
he quit wrestling early last summer to
play ball, his first having been with Ivan
Linow in Charlotte, s. C. He is not yet
In quite as good condition as he was
when he wrestled here last spring, but
few more matches will put him in tip-top
shape.
One sign that he has not been on the
mat very often of late was the ease with
which he was bruised in his short go with
the Frenchman. He had been In action
only minute or two when he skinned
his right elbow SO badly as to cause
blood to flow freely from It. A moment
o. two later his right knee was burned"
by contact with the mat. When he Is
in shape. stecher. can go through one
match after another without sustaining
any OF these minor but very annoying
injuries. for then his skin is hardened
ard toughened.
Joe is about to get started in earnest.
a He will leave here soon on a. trip that
will take him over a wide territory and
on which he will take part in number
OF matches. q