Also known as Monte Verde.
Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
Six feet tall and seventeen stones, reports are consistent in conveying the image that Monteverde had a rough, no-nonsense style for whom neither the rules nor the referee were a hindrance. The publicity may have proclaimed “The Italian Wonder,” “The Italian Mountain,” or “The Terror From Montmartre.” but we have found no evidence of a distinguished career for this London born heavyweight of the late 1930s.
Ron Historyo discovered that Monteverde was neither Italian, Swiss, French or Argentinian as was claimed. Surprisingly the name was authentic, well almost, Frank Monteverde was born in Lambeth on 14th July, 1911. His father had been born in Holborn whilst earlier generations were Italian.
We came across Monteverde for the first time in June, 1934 taking on Douglas Clark in Hull, a J.J. Tooth Promotion. Monteverde was said to be a powerful, strong and capable18 stone wrestler. Not powerful, strong or capable enough as it took Clark just five of the scheduled twelve rounds to win by two straight pinfalls.
During the following five years he wrestled around the country with opponents that included Carl Reginsky, The Iron Duke , Bert Assirati, Margerich Anaconda, Bert Mansfield and Bulldogn Bill Garnon. All top class opponents but with a far from distinguished win-loss record for Monteverde.
With the outbreak of war he disappeared from our rings, we last find him in action on 26th August, 1939. In the 1939 census Frank Monteverde described himself as a carpenter’s labourer, living with his wife, Ivy, in Lambeth, who he had married earlier in the year. We found a newspaper report from 1942 where he is selling fruit from a barrow, and obstructing the highway!
Frank Monteverde died in 1967.
Page added 13/02/2025
17206
Wrestling Heritage 