Evening star., 1931-12-22

n EW YORK; December o.
M Jim Londos still is wrestling
4 Y champion in the East and
still quite a drawing card,
as was demonstrated at Madison
Square Garden last night. The
Greek Adonis retained his title by
defeating Ray Steele in an excep-
tionally hard-fought match, which
lasted 81 minutes 81 seconds, and
a crowd Of 1900 turned out To
watch the champion defend his
laurels.
1t was almost a perfect wrestling
nlatch' JUST ABOUT as perfect as any
maIch could be, for besides being a
hlghiy scientific exhibition it was much
Tougner tnan most championship bouts
LonooS admitted in his dressing room
between gaSpS that seldom has he been
forced to work SO hard to retain his
title, while Steele related how his neck
had all but snapped on a vicious back
drop before the finish
Took a Real Tumble,
L certainly took some tumble" said
Steele as he rested on rubbing table
and DR.. William H. Walker, brother of
his honor the mayor, added, Yes. and
l don't know any one else who would
have lived to tell the tale" DR.. Walk
er, who is the official physician of the
State Athletic Commission, accompanied
Steele to the dressing room and there
made hasty examination, for it was
feared that the Californian had sus-
tanned serious injury
1t proved to be nothing more than
severe Jolt, but 1t was the turning
point OF a furious bout which saw
Londos closer to defeat than he ever
has been before in his championship
career
Ed White, Londos' docile little man
ager, actually was talking to himself
several times in the corner as the
champion skinned the ragged edges of
a downfall Really, White had to don
the worry cap early, for Steele, forcing
the issue, tore into Londos with ell
bows and straight arms during the first
five minutes and handed out so much
punishment that it almost seemed as
If the champion would be slapped into
defeat.
At the l0-minute mark Steele Sc
cured deadlock that had the cham
plon's shoulders just off the canvas and
an armlock again put Londos down
right on the edge of fall But Londos
never was rated as a stupid performer
and he craftily worked his way around
until he was able to break the hold
and snap deadlock on Steele which
sapped plenty Of energy and so closely
approached a strangle that Referee
Ernest Roeber had to caution the
champion.
Londos Goes to Work.
There was lively exchange of head
locks, with Steele handing out plenty
OF pressure on the side of the neck,
bit of business Londos originated.
Slowly but surely Londos started to
gain the upper hand in a fancy parade
of holds. Two Furnishing spreadeagles
weakened Steele so that when he did
make drive for victory he was not
quite equal to the task.
The challenger went in for a head
lock. which was so finely applied that
it seemed that it might gain the title.
but LondoS. smart as ever. shifted
quickly, dropped Steele over his head,
and on the contact with the canvas the
Californian landed heavily on the back
of the neck.
He arose groggily. and tried to fight
the champion off with a furry of elbows
and fists. But Londos as he backed
away watched his chance and went in
with a crotch and half-Nelson and
again dumped Steele heavily to the
canvas
One more front drop and 1t was all
over. LondoS applied a toe hold and
deadlock and Steele Topped fiat upon
the Canvas.