Defending his title in his own town, Rushden wrestler Ken Joyce retained the European welterweight championship at the Windmill Club, Rushden, on Wednesday, by beating Eddie Capelli, British champion.
With the greatest applause heard in the hall wince wrestling started there several weeks ago, the two champions were heralded by recorded fanfares. The contest was of ten five-minute rounds.
Joyce used an overthrow and shoulder press to fell the contender in the fourth round, Capelli equalised in the sixth with a folding body press. Capelli’s second fall, which decided the fight, was in the fourth round.
Mr. Herbert Devereaux, a Wimbledon promoter, stepped into the ring to present the championship cup and sash, also a bouquet which Joyce passed on to the loser.
Bob Anthony (Chelmsford) and Ken Shaw (Bermondsey) drew, with a submission to the first, and a fall to the second, in a welterweight contest. Grinning cocksure “Black Butcher” Johnson defeated South African Gerhardt De Jager with a twisted leg and arm lever submission, and an arm lever and leg lock, in a light-heavyweight bout. The loser had an arm stretch submission to his credit.
Bare-footed heavyweight, Arjit Singh (India) was felled by a leg stretch and shoulder press, but later knocked out Mike De Mitre (Greece).