World title on the line at Bay wrestling event

TENSION has started to build up ahead of the World Wrestling Professionals tournament on Saturday, when brute brawler Tornado will put his world title on the line against Mr Wrestling at Pearson High School.

When he visited the school yesterday to inspect the facilities, Mr Wrestling declared that Tornado would not win the contest. "I want to assure my fans that I will be leaving the ring as the title holder."

World Wrestling Professionals (WWP) chief executive Mark Beale said the fight between the two would be as big as it gets and one of the best to take place in Nelson Mandela Bay.

"Port Elizabeth fans cannot afford to miss this blockbuster. It will be an all-action event and one of the biggest the city has seen. There has not been a world title event here for many years."

Beale said plans to host an international tournament at theNelson Mandela Bay Stadium later this year were at an advanced stage. He expected 25 000 people to attend that event. Tomorrow's event would feature "awesome action". "Tornado does not often put his belt on the line, so fans can expect awesome action.

"With more than 30 years' experience, Tornado is a true legend of the sport."

Beale is expecting 3000 fans to attend the tournament at Pearson High. Also on the bill are seven bouts featuring some of South Africa's top wrestlers. The event will take place on the school's main rugby field, and be held under floodlights.

"We have already sold 2000 tickets, so I appeal to fans to get their tickets early. This is also for a good cause because the profits will go to the annual Pearson prefects' fundraiser.

"WWP is a PE-based company so it is special that Tornado is putting his belt on the line here. We see lots of overseas wrestlers on our television screens, but our standard is high and can match and even better the best in the world.

"In fact, overseas people are signing up our wrestlers. We have training centres throughout South Africa to ensure standards are high. This PE bill will be taped and then seen on television in countries throughout Africa, and in India, Bangladesh, Dubai and Singapore."

Among the fighters on the PE bill are Ananzi, who is described as one of the best wrestlers in Africa, "The Schoolboy" Devin Shooter, and Blacksmith, who is described as a man "of few words and big actions".

Beale said: "Since his debut in WWP, Blacksmith has met controversy and hardship at every turn, and in the words of Rocky [Balboa, the lead character in the Rocky series of films, played by Sylvester Stallone], 'its not how hard you can hit but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward'."

"You can expect Blacksmith to take every blow, slam and kick with a smile." Making their debuts in a WWP tournament will be Mohammed Azim, a star in Muslim countries, and masked wrestler Boom Bam Mamphela, who is expected to take the world wrestling world by storm in the future.

For information on ticket sales, phone Pearson High at (041)583-2111. -