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A Real Greek Globetrotter
A Greek technician who was adored by his countrymen around the world. Con Papalazarou turned professional in 1953. Wrestling historian Phil Lions reported that Papalazarou won and lost the Greek Heavyweight Title just one year later, in 1954, in Athens.
Hold and counter hold was the style of this wrestler who visited the UK during the winter of 1963-4 whilst billed as the World Junior Heavyweight Champion. By then he had the credentials to be presented as an international star as he came to Britain following visits to France, Germany, Lebanon, Australia and the United States. The Wrestler magazine assertion that he had remained undefeated for ten years seemed less than credible to us as he notched up a sequence of British defeats, not just against the usual suspects Georges Gordienko, Bill Robisnon and Josef Zaranoff but against lesser lights that included Johnny Czeslaw.
Our suspicions were confirmed by Australian historian Ed Lock: “While Con Papalazarou was a fine wrestler, his alleged ‘undefeated for ten years’ record contained losses to Angelo Savoldi, on Thursday 11 February 1960, Leo Garibaldi, on Thursday 18 August 1960, Baron Von Heczey, on Friday 12 July 1963, all in Sydney, Sheik Wadi Ayoub, on Saturday 17 August 1963 in Melbourne, and again on Monday 19 August 1963 in Adelaide. I imagine that Papalazarou also suffered a number of defeats during his North American tours.”
Graeme Cameron also filled us in with the background of this man who was resident in Britain for just five months, working almost exclusively for Dale Martin Promotions. He told us Con visited Australia three times, the first two for George Gardiner and the third for WCW. For Gardiner he was a top blue-eye and very popular with the Greek community. Every match was either a main event or main support match. He spent almost all of 1960-61 here, also appearing at Leichhardt Stadium in 1960. Yes, he lost four matches but had some very impressive victories over men such as Tosh Togo, Lucky Suminovich, Baron Von Heczy, Kangaroo Kennedy, and Americans Jack Laskin. Dr Jerry Graham and Tony Galento, the last two being disqualification wins. He captained a Greek team against an Australian team captained by Frank Hurley in the main event.
In WCW, he was used in a mid-card role but nevertheless scored notable victories over Canadians Rudy LaBelle and Emile Dupre as well as Mark Anthony, twice, and Roy Heffernan. These were balanced by losses to Pat Patterson, Art Nelson and Don Jardine. His most notable result was a tag team victory, pairing with Billy White Wolf to defeat Rudy Labelle and future world champion Dory Funk Jr. His sole main event was a 6-man tag team match, teaming with Mario Milano and Eric Froeliich to defeat Patterson, Jardin and Nelson.
Australian wrestler John Marshall recalled Con in the dressing room habitually standing in front of a mirror flexing his muscles. So habitually that referee Ron Hansen wheeled a full length mirror into the dressing room. Intended as a joke but Con Papalazarou loved it.
So, a legitimate international star who visited Britain at the end of 1963. Not quite as invincible as our promoters claimed, but a man who brought a bit of class and entertainment to our rings.
Page added 19/05/2024
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