RIKIDOZAN BEATS LOU THESZ

Saturday 30 August 1958

Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore)

Los Angeles, August 29th -

Rikidozan, Japan's professional wrestling champion, won by decision yesterday over Lou Thesz, who claims the International World Heavyweight Championship, in a non title match at the Olympic Auditorium. 

It was not the main event, and was not billed as a title match, Rikidozan was not advertised as a Japanese, and instead his name was anglicized as "Ricky Dozen" in the billing. 

There is no well-established ruling body of professional wrestling in the US, and no clear-cut championships. Some states do not recognize professional wrestling as a sport, in New York it is defined by law as a theatrical exhibition rather than a sport.