By Graeme Cameron
A British History of Australian Wrestling
By Graeme Cameron
Part 3: The Professor Returns
William Miller returned to Australia in 1880. He had learned the art of self-promotion well, proclaiming himself “The Professor” and claiming expertise in three styles of wrestling, gloved and bare-knuckle boxing and sword fighting as well as claiming records in long distance walking and dumb bell lifting.
In October Miller engaged in a number of exhibition wrestling bouts against Frenchman Monsieur Victor. In 1881 he opened his Gentlemen’s Sports Academy in Liverpool Street, Sydney where one could learn boxing, wrestling, foils, single sticks and clubs. There were further exhibitions bouts in 1882 against D.H. D’Harcourt, better known as an Australian gymnastic champion, followed by a tour of New Zealand, also exhibitions, where he boxed Norfolk’s Jem Mace and wrestled local Herbert Slade in back-to-match matches, something he did often. In 1883, he fought a 40-round draw with Australian heavyweight boxing champion Larry Foley in Melbourne (his friend and sometime business partner). His first true wrestling test was against Workington’s Cumberland-style exponent Ned Blackburn, a win and a draw in two matches billed as being for the Australian Greco-Roman title, and a win over local wrestler John Thomas
In 1884, Miller established a boxing and wrestling troupe which toured Australia. Following more exhibition matches with Foley and Victor, he lost a third match to Blackburn. His next opponent was Ayrshire’s Donald Dinnie. Miller won a “feats of strength” competition, then a wrestling match in which Miller’s leg was broken in two places was declared a draw. The leg was injured so badly, it was thought Miller may have to retire. Benefits shows were held but Miller recovered to fight more boxing exhibitions with Foley.
In 1885, Miller and Dinnie met a further nine times, three being exhibitions, with Miller winning three, Dinnie one (in the Scottish style) and two draws. Miller’s next opponent was American Clarence Whistler, an opponent of Muldoon, but perhaps best known for his two matches with Abraham Lincoln (yes, THAT Abraham Lincoln). Miller lost after suffering another injury, but the no doubt planned rematch (with Miller winning) never took place. During the post-match celebrations, Whistler did his party trick of eating a champagne glass. This time, a shard of glass perforated his stomach lining. He was found dead in the gutter of a nearby street later that same night.
Miller had one more exhibition and a final match, another draw, with Dinnie in 1886. Most of the rest of the year was spent establishing a second academy in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne and a boxing and wrestling tour of Tasmania. In December, Miller lost to Tom Cannon of Tyldsley, now part of Greater Manchester, retiring with a dislocated rib, with honours even at one fall each. He was unable to attract any more big names and spent most of 1887 in matches and exhibitions with the usual suspects (Christol, Sali and Victor) and the American Cumberland-style champion claimant, Lancashire’s Harry Dunn. Late in the year, he returned to America.
Miller began his second American stint with a six round loss to boxing legend “Gentleman” Jim Corbett and refereed another boxing match. He had two more matches with William Muldoon, (one loss, one result unknown) and three with Lancashire’s Joe Acton (two losses, one result unknown). He returned to Australia in October 1889, where he spent the year touring Australia and New Zealand with boxer Frank “Paddy ” Slavin, all exhibition matches. Back in Australia in 1890, he had four matches with former World Collar-and-Elbow and Mixed-Style champion, Duncan C. Ross, a Turkish-born Scot who had served in the British army, resulting in three wins and a draw.
He attempted to create a new wrestling style, based on the ancient Pankration, where punching was allowed in the standing position but was thwarted by the police as bare-knuckle fighting was illegal. A tournament in Melbourne, in which he was the only big name, drew 6,000 spectators when Melbourne’s entire population was 48,000. He is said to have continued wrestling until 1902, although he was unable to attract any more big-name opponents. The last recorded match for him is a win over R. Ross in 1889
In1903, Miller again sailed to America with his wife, this time for good. He served as manager at San Francisco Olympic Club before being hired by William Muldoon (now the Police Chief) to teach self-defence at the New York Police Academy. He retired to Baltimore where he died in 1939, age 85, but this Wirral-born Aussie will forever be remembered as essentially being the founding father of big-time pro wrestling in Australia.
Wrestling Opponents: Dr. Thiebaud Bauer, Donald Dinnie, Clarence Whistler, Tom Cannon, Col. James McLaughlin, William Muldoon, Joe Acton, Duncan C Ross, Ned Blackburn, Harry Dunn. Monsieur Victor, Signor Sali, Andre Christol
Boxing Opponents: “Gentleman” Jim Corbett (USA), Joe Goss (Northampton), Jem Mace (Norfolk), Paddy Ryan (Tipperary)(all in the Ring magazine Hall of Fame) Larry Foley (Australia), John. J. Dwyer (Canada), Joe Coburn (Armagh), John Clark (Galway), Frank “Paddy” Slavin (Australia)
Graeme shares his memories of Sydney 2000
Page added 25/02/2024
Wrestling Heritage 