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Talk:Georg Lurich

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Defeat of Gotch

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I'm curious where this information is coming from both on this page and on Frank Gotch's page.

A Chicago Tribune headline from Dec 28, 1913 reads "GOTCH BEATS LURICH EASILY IN ONLY BOUT DURING YEAR" http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/404287131.html?dids=404287131:404287131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+28,+1913&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=GOTCH+BEATS+LURICH+EASILY+IN+ONLY+BOUT+DURING+YEAR.&pqatl=google

Claude Johnson, sports editor for the Kansas City Star reported "George Lurich came all the way from Warsaw to get it and Frank Gotch administered the same in straight falls, 18:10 and 5:35, last night before one of the greatest crowds that ever caused Convention Hall to bulge at the doors and in the box office. There were about twelve thousand there to rock the hall, and they did a good job."

"It would be foolish to record it that Lurich ever had a real chance once the men had locked arms. His powerful neck and shoulders enabled him to break dangerous holds a dozen times. He put up a plucky and even desperate resistance. But Gotch was his master from beginning to end."

"Gotch was so dominant once he reached his peak in 1908 that he wrestled 88 times between then and his final retirement, and never lost a single fall, let alone a match."

One of the cites sources on this page even says "Often he was so skilful that even later many have accused him of having cheated. In some cases it is really likely - for example the story of Lurich's victory over the world champion in free-style wrestling, the American Frank Gotchi in the 1913 match, which actually may not have taken place at all"

Another cited source (http://www.wrestlingsbest.com/collectibles/wrestuffcards017.html) says "Frank Gotch came out of retirement on April 1, 1913 to defeat the famous Georg Lurich in what was Gotch's last bout." —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dakranii (talkcontribs) 16:44, 12 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

'tis strange, indeed. Some sources ([1], [2]) claim that Lurich won, another (somewhat unreliable) source hints that there were two matches and Lurich lost the first, but won the second - or indeed, the match may have never happened ([3]). I wonder if there is a reliable account of the event by a professional historian? --Sander Säde 17:21, 12 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]