12.02.2007, 11:22
Minneapolis Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
8 April 1933
Joe Savoldi 'Tosses' Londos, Claims Title
But Greek Asserts he was Not Thrown in One-Fall Match.
Chicago April 7-(AP)--More confusion was added in the proffesional wrestling game Friday night when Joe Savoldi, who once scored touchdowns for Norte Dame on the football field, threw Jim Londos of Greece in 20:26 with standing crotch hold in the Chicago stadium ring.
Although the match was Advertised "for the world's heavyweight wrestling championship" the Londos camp insisted it was merely an exhibition after Savoldi had pinned the Grecian Adonis to the amazement of the 8,000 customers.
"Why, this was just an exhibition" shouted Ed White, manager of Landos as the crowd howled him down. "In the first place, wrestling championships aren't permitted in Illinois and in the second place, no match is a championship unless its two falls out of three."
What's It All About?
Savoldi and his followers, however, refused to listen. Overjoyed, the big Italian youth claimed the "title" and everything with it. "I won didn't I ?" shouted Savoldi "that's enough for me."
Manager White based his claim of a non-championship match on the old ruling of the old Illinois state athletic commission headed by the stern General John V. Clinnin. Last year Chairman Clinnin ruled that until wrestling quit "clowning tactics" that no match in Illinois could be advertised as a championship affair. Last January, however Joe Triner was appointed chairman of the new commission. Clinnin and some of his commission members stepped out and no ruling was made relative in wreslting shows. Since the new commission was installed, Londos met Joe Stecher of Dodge, Neb. in a one fall match also advertised for the "world's championship" and won.
Gate of $12,000
Friday night's match, which attracted a gate of approximately $12,000, was a rough and tumble affair with a 90-minute limit until Savoldi pinned Londos. Some of the spectators couldn't believe it until the referee tapped Savoldi's back and declared him the winner.
In the three years he has been claiming the title, Londos has been thrown three times before, but each match was a 2 out of 3 fall affair, each of which Londos ultimately won. Ray Steele of Glendale, Calf., Jim McMillen of Chicago and George Zaharis of Pueblo were the throwers and losers.
No Fall Says Londos
Londos surprised newspapermen by denying he was thrown. From his dressing room he issued this statement:"It was not a fall. I had a Japanese arm scissors on Savoldi from and underneath position. I was partly on my side and on my shoulder. Savoldi's feet were tangled in the ropes. Referee Managoff (Bob Managoff, former Chicago wrestler) tapped me on the shoulder with orders to break. I understood from that we were in quit and start wrestling all over again from the standing postion because Savoldi's feet were tangled in the ropes. I let go and the next instant the referee tapped Savoldi in toked victory. I repeat, it was not a fall."
-Jim McMillen,220, Chicago, threw George Zaharis, 235, Pueblo, Co., with a crotch hold in 20:28
-Joe Stecher, 226, Dodge, Neb., threw Lou Jennings 212, Seattle, Wash. with a body scissors 12:32
-Gino Garabaldi, 215, Italy, threw Tom Marvin 202, Oklahoma, with a cross body hold in 16:40
-Abe Coleman 205, L.A. threw John Kalta 240, Toronto, with a flying tackle in 13:55
Minneapolis, Minnesota
8 April 1933
Joe Savoldi 'Tosses' Londos, Claims Title
But Greek Asserts he was Not Thrown in One-Fall Match.
Chicago April 7-(AP)--More confusion was added in the proffesional wrestling game Friday night when Joe Savoldi, who once scored touchdowns for Norte Dame on the football field, threw Jim Londos of Greece in 20:26 with standing crotch hold in the Chicago stadium ring.
Although the match was Advertised "for the world's heavyweight wrestling championship" the Londos camp insisted it was merely an exhibition after Savoldi had pinned the Grecian Adonis to the amazement of the 8,000 customers.
"Why, this was just an exhibition" shouted Ed White, manager of Landos as the crowd howled him down. "In the first place, wrestling championships aren't permitted in Illinois and in the second place, no match is a championship unless its two falls out of three."
What's It All About?
Savoldi and his followers, however, refused to listen. Overjoyed, the big Italian youth claimed the "title" and everything with it. "I won didn't I ?" shouted Savoldi "that's enough for me."
Manager White based his claim of a non-championship match on the old ruling of the old Illinois state athletic commission headed by the stern General John V. Clinnin. Last year Chairman Clinnin ruled that until wrestling quit "clowning tactics" that no match in Illinois could be advertised as a championship affair. Last January, however Joe Triner was appointed chairman of the new commission. Clinnin and some of his commission members stepped out and no ruling was made relative in wreslting shows. Since the new commission was installed, Londos met Joe Stecher of Dodge, Neb. in a one fall match also advertised for the "world's championship" and won.
Gate of $12,000
Friday night's match, which attracted a gate of approximately $12,000, was a rough and tumble affair with a 90-minute limit until Savoldi pinned Londos. Some of the spectators couldn't believe it until the referee tapped Savoldi's back and declared him the winner.
In the three years he has been claiming the title, Londos has been thrown three times before, but each match was a 2 out of 3 fall affair, each of which Londos ultimately won. Ray Steele of Glendale, Calf., Jim McMillen of Chicago and George Zaharis of Pueblo were the throwers and losers.
No Fall Says Londos
Londos surprised newspapermen by denying he was thrown. From his dressing room he issued this statement:"It was not a fall. I had a Japanese arm scissors on Savoldi from and underneath position. I was partly on my side and on my shoulder. Savoldi's feet were tangled in the ropes. Referee Managoff (Bob Managoff, former Chicago wrestler) tapped me on the shoulder with orders to break. I understood from that we were in quit and start wrestling all over again from the standing postion because Savoldi's feet were tangled in the ropes. I let go and the next instant the referee tapped Savoldi in toked victory. I repeat, it was not a fall."
-Jim McMillen,220, Chicago, threw George Zaharis, 235, Pueblo, Co., with a crotch hold in 20:28
-Joe Stecher, 226, Dodge, Neb., threw Lou Jennings 212, Seattle, Wash. with a body scissors 12:32
-Gino Garabaldi, 215, Italy, threw Tom Marvin 202, Oklahoma, with a cross body hold in 16:40
-Abe Coleman 205, L.A. threw John Kalta 240, Toronto, with a flying tackle in 13:55