“Mkulima” Burns Preps kwa Lewis

In 1894, Martin “Mkulima” Burns was preparing to wrestle Evan “Strangler” Lewis for the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. Huku Burns akiingia kwenye ubora wake, Lewis alikuwa juu ya mieleka ya kitaalam ya Amerika 5 miaka.

Lewis pia alishindana na mtindo wa mnato na msisitizo wa kushikilia kuwasilisha. Burns ingekuwa tayari kwa shindano kali, which could leave him injured. To prepare for his championship, Burns, the current Iowa Champion, wrestled D.A. McMillan, the California Champion, in Sioux City, Iowa.

McMillan wrestled professionally, of and on, between 1883 na 1904, but he doesn’t appear to be a regular touring wrestler. Before 1920, it wasn’t unusual for professional wrestlers to have a job in their home city, where they would also wrestle part-time. If they developed a good reputation, they may be recruited by a promoter in another area for an occasional match outside their hometown.

The wrestling card was scheduled for Sioux City’s Peavey Grand Opera House on Thursday, Juni 28, 1894. The match was 3-out-of-5-fall, a common match format in the late 19th Century. Burns was the favorite.

McMillan had one distinct advantage over Burns. Standing 6’02” and weighing nearly 200 paundi, he towered over the 5’10”, 165-pound Burns. Burns was the superior wrestler in every other category.

The men shook hands at 9:25 p.m. to start the match. They immediately tied up in a collar and elbow grip at the start of the first fall. They spent several minutes trying to catch a hold out of the clinch.

McMillan used his strength to force the action and secured a full Nelson. Burns slipped out of the first one but the second full Nelson allowed McMillan to turn Burns onto his back for the first fall at 22 dakika. Burns and the crowd looked surprised that McMillan was able to secure the first fall.

After a 12 and half minute rest, the second fall began. Again, both men entered a collar and elbow tie-up to start the second fall. McMillan tried to secure the stranglehold twice but Burns escaped easily both times. Avoiding strangleholds would be critical in a successful title challenge of Evan Lewis.

McMillan again secured a couple full Nelsons but both men were sweating profusely by now. Burns slipped out easily twice. Burns tried to secure a few arm bars but McMillan was able to slide out of them.

Hatimaye, Burns secured a half-Nelson and turned McMillan to the mat. McMillan slipped out of the hold to the applause of some spectators. Hata hivyo, Burns secured a second half-Nelson, while the applause was still occurring, and turned McMillan to the mat for the second fall at 30 dakika, 30 seconds.

After a 10 minute rest, the third fall began as all the previous falls. The men tied up and again made efforts to grab a succession of holds. They failed in this regard for the most part due to heavy sweating by both men. Baada ya kuhusu 20 dakika za mieleka ngumu, McMillan seemed to be tiring. Burns used an arm bar to turn McMillan onto his back for the third fall.

After another 10 mapumziko ya dakika, both wrestlers were refreshed to start the fourth fall. McMillan knew he need to reverse the momentum, so he desperately tried to catch a full Nelson. Hata hivyo, a half-Nelson was as close as he got.

Burns evaded most of McMillan’s attempts but had his own difficulty securing a half-Nelson. McMillan had no answer for this hold, so his new strategy was to keep Burns from securing it.

Burns finally tired of McMillan’s upper body guarding and secured a double leg takedown on McMillan. The fans cheered what they thought was the deciding fall but the referee didn’t award the fall.

If Burns felt it was a fall, he never let on. He secured a second leg takedown on McMillan, which the referee started to award a fall but stopped short again. Ignoring the two falls, which may have been missed, Burns stayed attached to McMillan and secured a half-Nelson. McMillan strained mightily but after two minutes, Burns turned him for the fourth fall and match. Burns won the match in three straight falls after losing the first.

McMillan conceded he had been beaten fairly. Burns won the $500 side bet and at least a $100 from the gate receipts. Muhimu zaidi, he dispatched a tough opponent in preparation for his showdown with Lewis. Time would tell if he was ready to dethrone the long-time champion.

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Sources: Sioux City Journal, Juni 29, 1894 edition, p. 3 and wrestlingdata.com database.

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