Assirati, The Ultimate Wrestler
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Whenever two, three or more wrestling fans or professional wrestling gather together and the question arises of who was the greatest British heavyweight wrestler of all time one name will invariably come forth. It is more than sixty years since the Islington Hercules, Bert Assirati, retired from the ring but his name will always be put forward as the best ever with the title “Legend” quickly following on.
“Legend” is not only over-used but almost always contentious as it is near impossible to agree an appropriate definition let alone identify those to whom the term should apply. We can unhesitatingly say, however, that whatever the definition of “Legend” one man would certainly be included. That man is Bartolomeo Assirati, known around the wrestling world as Bert Assirati, The Islington Hercules.
There is a long-held and oft repeated myth that that the family name was Essirati. Untrue, and quickly debunked by historian Ron Historyo who confirmed that Bartolomeo Assirati was born on 9th July 1908 in Holborn, London.
Bartolomeo was named after his grandfather, Bartholomew Assirati. Bartholomew, a musician, and his wife, Albina, arrived in Britain from Italy in the 1870s. Bartholomew and Albina settled initially in Liverpool, and later moved to Clerkenwell, London, setting up in business as a quail and provisions merchant.
Albina gave birth to Bert’s mother Adelina Busandri (born Lina Busandri) in Holborn in 1887. Adelina married Francesco Zaninette or Zaninetti in Holborn in 1903.
Francesco and seventeen year old Adelina became parents in 1904, with the birth of Giovanna A A Zaninetti, and again in 1906 with Louisa Estha A Zaninetti. By 1911 Mrs Zaninette had declared herself a widow on the census and named Louisa Zaninennti as her five year old daughter and Bert Assirati as her two year old son on that census, father was Daniel Assirati. The address was 67 Winchester Street, Clerkenwell and Adelina was making a living as a charwoman. Bert was later to be joined by two more Assirati’s, Roma and Anita. The family were living at 102, Richmond Road, Islington.
Seven year old Bert joined Islington’s Holy Trinity gymnasium to study gymnastics, where cousin Joe was already a member. Shortly afterwards Bert contracted diptheria, which affected his eyesight. He returned to the gym as soon as he recovered. What he learned at the gym would serve him well when he left school at the age of fourteen.
This was when he began treading the boards of the music halls of Britain and Europe as one half of the acrobatic partnership of Nello and Mello. As you ask, Bert was Nello. Mello was Ernesto Cervi an Italian from Acton Hill London. Bert played the part of Nello for seven years. Bert’s acrobatic training led to surprising agility and speed which was to prove useful for a wrestler of his stature, in his youth and prime at least. It wasn’t unknown for Bert to back somersault around the ring in celebration of another inevitable victory. Usually while his luckless opponent lay lifeless on the mat.
There’s little doubt that in the ring his powerful girth, enormous strength and apparent fondness for inflicting pain was complemented by the speed and agility developed from those days as a competition gymnast and and music hall performer. Bert gave up the variety performances when he was twenty-one.
The years have passed and few of our readers had the opportunity to watch Bert in action as he retired in 1960, our last verified match being against Johnny Morgan in December of that year. One of the fortunate ones was Heritage member Sowden, the father of British Wrestlers Reunion organiser Ken Sowden. He told us: “I remember him wrestling Chick Knight. Bert put the Boston crab on him, and it was thought he had broken Chick’s back; he did spend some time in hospital. Alan Garfield towered above Bert, but it did not stop Bert from lifting him up over his head and dropping him with all of his weight on Garfield’s head, Afterwards Mr Garfield left with his head on one side twice the size of the other side, and with a big bandage around him.”
Bert Assirati was a man who put genuine fear into his opponents. “When it came to shooter moves, arm locks and stuff, he was the best,” according to Ray Hulm.
The very appearance of the man, weighing around nineteen stones and standing only five foot six inches high was enough to evoke fear. It wasn’t just his appearance. Bert had a reputation for inflicting unnecessary pain on his opponents, a reputation testified by fellow wrestlers. One of them was Beeston heavyweight George Longdon, who volunteered to wrestle Bert when the planned opponent sat quivering in the dressing room and refused to go on. George was shown no favours for saving the show. Wrestler Al Tarzo was a witness, “After the fight the dressing room door opened and George walked in. His nose was flat on his face which was covered in blood. His first words were ‘I conthider that an honour to have fought Bert Atherati.’ He really meant it but his injuries meant he was unable to say it.”
The story was verified by George’s son who told us, “I came downstairs the morning after the fight and there were three bloodied towels in the sink, I later spoke to my dad and he said got an extra five pounds for taking that beating,”
Bert developed his weight lifting, wrestling and acrobatics at the Clarence Physical Culture Club in Islington, influenced by his father and cousin Joe Assirati. Seeing more potential as a wrestler he went on to learn the technical aspects of wrestling at the Ashdown Wrestling Club, under the guidance of Guido Ronga, George McKenzie and Peter Gotz. With an eye on catch as catch can style and the possibility of turning professional Bert followed the guidance of William Bankier, the music hall strongman, wrestler and wrestling promoter. At Bankier’s gym in Soho Bert met George Hackenschmidt. It is said that Hackenschmidt tried, fortunately without success, to persuade Bert to give up wrestling and concentrate on weightlifting. To complete the package the Wigan wrestling schools taught him submission style wrestling.
We have an unverified report that Bert’s first professional style contest was in October 1928, when he defeated one of his Ashdown Club contemporaries, Robert Cook. At a time when Bert was both wrestling and performing as an acrobat he would have been paid as an acrobat to preserve his amateur wrestling status.
On the night of the new All-In styles first showcase event Bert Assirati was there. On 15th December, 1930, at Belle Vue, Manchester Bert lost to Atholl Oakeley in a contest advertised as a British heavyweight championship eliminator. So he was in at the beginning and back at Belle Vue two weeks later to defeat Henri Irslinger. Henri Irslinger! The man who had been a wrestling star for thirty years and introduced the new style tp South Africa and Australia.
Bert was to establish himself as one of the major forces in the rapidly growing sport, defeating top contenders of the time: Atholl Oakeley, George Boganski, Bill Garnon, Karl Reginsky and the rest..
He made his mark in that first year. On 11th June, 1931, just six months after turning professional he wrestled Douglas Clark . It was reported that the Huddersfield Rugby League player and now British Heavyweight Champion Wrestler, was held to a draw by a young Italian named Bert Assirati in a match held under Catch as Catch Can rules. Assirati had been wrestling at the Opera House all week as part of an international troupe. Clark went on the offensive in the first of the ten minute rounds with Assirati’s only defence being a scissors hold on Clark.
Despite Clark’s aggression the contest ended in a draw, considered a good result for Assirati at that time. Clark immediately issued a challenge for a return contest under “All In” rules. Agreement was reached that the return match should be held at the Belle Vue Grounds, Wakefield, on the afternoon of Saturday 20th June.
The match, which attracted 3,000 spectators was reported to be filled with an abundance of thrills. Assirati succeeded in resisting Clark’s offensive moves for the first four of the scheduled six ten minute rounds. The decisive ending came in round five. Clark clamped an arm hold on Assirati, swung him vigorously and the Bert went over the top rope. Unable to return to the ring Douglas Clark was declared victor. By the end of 1931 Bert had established himself as one of Britain’s top wrestlers, alongside Britain’s Oakeley and Clarke, and overseas visitors Irslinger, Karl Reginsky and Ben Sherman.
Douglas Clark and Atholl Oakeley were the most widely recognised claimants of the British heavyweight championship. Yet on 11th January, 1932 we find our earliest reference to Bert advertised as British heavyweight champion when he defeated Karl Reginsky at Rochester Casino. Clarke and Oakeley would no doubt have plenty to say about that.
During one week in 1932 whilst working for wrestling promoter William Bankier (Apollo) he wrestled in the Edinburgh Carnival under the name of John Swan. Wrestling took place each day of the tournament throughout the week with John Swan remaining undefeated. Historian Mike Hallinan, the greatest authority on Assirati, has assured us this was the only time Bert assumed the name John Swan.
Page added: 25/10/2026
