Senegalese Wrestling: Reug Reug’s Stock Rising, Gris2 Humbled

Reug Reug, the latest sensation turning heads in Senegalese wrestling is climbing heights after handing Gris 2 his first defeat.

No wrestling combat is small in Senegal’s traditional sport with bouts as low as the ones staged in local areas bound to draw crowds.

Saturday evening’s thrilling second division duel featuring two undefeated wrestlers has had tongues-wagging.

Unlike the duels involving the likes of King of Arena Eumeu Sene or Balla Gaye II –the A-league stars whose fights court millions of viewers across the globe – Reuge versus Gris 2 did not rank in that contest but still forced thousands to flock to the stadium.

This was no promotion play-off fight but the stakes were high.

Gris 2, the hope of Dakar-based out Club Fass was crossing daggers with Reug Reug, a sensation who had conquered freestyle wrestling, winning several Ecowas medals in the process.

Reug’s debut outing in the arena ended with a shock win over Elton, a victory that shook the division and had many taking notice.

He has long confronted a revered Gris 2 for a fight. He was accorded that and he came out of it unblemished, thrashing Gris 2 on Saturday evening in a six-minute faceoff.

Both bragged in the lead up to the fight that was signed three months ago by seasoned promoter Luc Nicolai, who arranged the contest in commemoration of his more than two decades presence in the field of promotion in the traditional sport.

Reug Reug, commended for his quick rise to the second tier, retreated at the start from the arbiter as Gris 2 advanced at him.

Reug unleashed a teasing blow which landed on Gris’ face who seconds on let fly a right-hander as his opponent dived leading to a grapple. Reug grabbed his adversary by the waist to throw him backwards, an attempt he almost succeeded in implementing. Gris resisted, peppering Reug with body shots.

The pattern did not change until the 6^th minute when Reug somewhat slanted his body, grabbing a shocked Gris by the smalls and sending him crashing in the sands back first on the ground amid a rambunctious fanfare.