Londos Wrestles Browning at MSG
On Monday, June 25, 1934, current World Champion Jim Browning defended his world title against Jim Londos. Browning dropped the title to Londos in a match to end the promotional war which led to the double-crosses of the early 1930s.
20,000 fans crowded into Madison Square Garden to see the match leading to a $40,000 gate. Jack Curley enjoyed a huge financial benefit for resolving the promotional war.
Londos posted a $50,000 guarantee to secure the world championship. If Londos went against the “wrestling trust”, Londos would surrender the guarantee to the promotional group.
Jim Londos in 1920 (Public Domain)
Despite working this match, Londos and Browning convinced the New York State Athletic Commission that they were wrestling a legitimate contest. The NYSAC billed the match as contest instead of an exhibition. The commission categorized wrestling matches as exhibitions since the 1920s.
Londos and Browning wrestled a one fall match. The men wrestled for one hour, ten minutes, and ten seconds before Londos pinned Browning to win the match. You can view a film of the last minute or so of the match on YouTube.
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Sources: Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) June 26, 1934, p. 16 and The Daily News (New York, New York) June 26, 1934, p. 46