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7th August, 1965
Return Contest for the European Heavyweight Championship
Billy Robinson (Holder)
v
Billy Joyce (Challenger)
Just two months earlier the pupil had beaten the teacher. Billy Robinson had overcome the old maestro, Billy Joyce at Belle Vue in Manchester to win the European heavyweight title. Legend has it that Joyce had refused to drop his belt to his protege until he was convinced that Robinson could beat him in a genuine contest. Those thoughts were beginning to emerge, but in June Joyce had only been willing to drop his European title, keeping a grasp on the more prestigious Lord Mountevans British title. Maybe the idea was to see how Robinson handled the responsibility of being a champion.
Tonight, again at the Kings Hall, Belle Vue in Manchester, it was the chance for Joyce, who still holding on to his British championship, to regain the title.
Once more Eddie Rose was at ringside. He has told us the hall was again packed to capacity, all vociferously willing Robinson on to repeat his earlier success.
Master of Ceremonies Mark Green introduced the wrestlers, referee Douglas Relwyskow brought the wrestlers together, formalities over, the bell rang and round one opened with an aggressive Joyce slamming into Robinson. Much of the first two rounds were spent brawling near or on the ropes, resulting in a second round public warning for Joyce. The fans approved of that. Seconds later it was Robinson that received a public warning for stamping on Joyce’s head, which was not received with the same approval.
Referee Douglas DeRelwyskow established control and in the four rounds that followed both men displayed the best of Wigan-style submission wrestling. Robinson showed signs of dominating the match until Joyce seized the initiative and took the lead in round five with a savagely applied single leg Boston.
Round six started with Robinson still on the mat, staggering to his feet as the referee counted. An aggressive Joyce piled the pressure on Robinson whose favoured defence was to repeatedly scramble towards the ropes. An increasingly frustrated and angry Joyce finally made a fatal error, succumbing to Robinson’s favourite move,the suplex. Joyce was thrust over Robinson’s head, crashed to the mat with the champion falling on him to equalise the match.
Both men were battle weary at the start of the seventh, not half way through the schrduled rounds, Robinson suffering with his leg and Joyce with the head he had banged in the suplex. Challenger Joyce again went on the attack, only to be caught by Robinson who took him in a crutch hold, positioned him for a body slam and then smashed him head down with a piledriver. Frenzy amongst the screaming fans as they sensed the end was in sight. Joyce staggered to his feet, was seized in a head chancery by Robinson and submitted immediately.
Billy Robinson had again established his supremacy over the old maestro. Now for the British title.
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