Bob Kirkwood v Johnny Czeslaw
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The opportunity to delve into the World of Sport archives has given fans the opportunity to re-assess their long held, and usually deep-rooted opinions and prejudices. Turning to the World of Sport listings in the TV Times this was one of those matches that typified the unadventurous world of Dale Martin Promotions.
Johnny Czeslaw versus Bob Kirkwood. Not a bout to stir any excitement in those distant days. Forty years does make a difference. The prejudice began to evaporate mid way through the first round. Not before Kent had treated us to his obsession with trunks. With the wrestlers in bright blue and red Kent advised us that the two of them “Look very similar in those trunks.” Never mind the wrestling. Half a minute later he commented “It’s not easy to go by those trunks.” Kent was always very mindful for those of us with the black and white televisions, and then he suggested we look out for the white socks.
The wrestling continued, largely ignored by Kent, who having become bored by the trunks chose to comment on the good humour of both men. Or, more accurately, the very good humour of Czeslaw, which Kirkwood was able to appreciate because he too was good humoured.
Oh yes, Czeslaw might be from the other side of the iron curtain but these two shared humour that crossed frontiers. Mid way through the opening round it happened. Not exactly a Damascus Road experience, but a pretty significant one nevertheless. Czeslaw rolled out of an arm hold, turned and grinned. A grin of the finest quality “That’s the sort of antics Kirkwood has to put up with,” said Kent. Then Czeslaw did that silly backward walking movement quickly around half of the ring. Kent assured us that Kirkwood was good humoured enough to accept all of these antics, and Czeslaw immediately kicked Kirkwood in the back just to test the hypothesis.
From that moment on the conversion was complete. Czeslaw was good humoured, he was also a good wrestler. Not the best, but certainly enjoyable to watch if this was a typical showing. There was hold and counter hold, a finely balanced pairing as Kent warned us the bell was about to ring, which it did, on cue.
The following two rounds continued in much the same balanced way. Balanced, that is in all aspects, except one. The ever vigilant Kent, still ignoring most of the wrestling, became increasingly obsessed with Czeslaw’s sweating, and when he began to describe how that sweat was transferring itself onto Kirkwood’s body the details of his observations suddenly felt a little too much.
It was good wrestling, though. Czeslaw twice catching his foot on the lower rope to outfox Kirkwood’s attempt at a throw gave both men the opportunity to show the good humour was still there.
The end came, suddenly, and disappointingly. Czeslaw’s Oscar endeavour, disguised as a mistimed dropkick, gave Kirkwood the opportunity to move in for the kill and take the only submission needed. Not to worry. Johnny had done a good job and won new admirers, even if it was thirty years after the event.
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