Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
A famous visitor to British wrestling rings of the 1930s was George Boganski from Odessa. Boganski was part of the 1930s revival from the very start, even prior to the December 30th, 1930, inauguration bouts at Belle Vue, Manchester and London’s Olympia. Some six weeks earlier Boganski had arrived in Britain to take part in an exhibition of the new style of wrestling, opposing George Modrich on 13th November, 1930, at the London Sports Club. “A delightful exhibition of wrestling … I enjoyed every second of the forty minutes wrestling,” was the opinion of Daily Mirror reporter P.J.Moss.
On his arrival he was already a seasoned professional and had wrestled around the world. George left Russia, he was born in Odessa, now part of Ukraine, on 23rd April, 1899. In 1928 he arrived in Australia, travelling as a member of a group of ballet dancers. Australian newspapers reported that he had already wrestled professionally in the United States and Europe, though reports are contradictory, and we have found no evidence of earlier matches than Australia in 1928. The Transvaal National Sporting Club invited George to wrestle in South Africa, where the modern style of wrestling was already beginning to take a hold. There are unsubstantiated claims he wrestled Henry Irslinger in the first South African All-In wrestling match. In 1929 there are reports of him wrestling Benny Sherman, a friend of Irslinger and another man instrumental in bringing the new style of wrestling to Britain.
Boganski was soon headlining against the top men leading the sport forward in Britain, defeating the great Henry Irslinger, but coming off second best against Bert Assirati and Atholl Oakeley. Against Irslinger George tortured his opponent in the fifth round with a wicked toe hold. Although he escaped Irslinger was near exhaustion, the youth and fitness of the Russian having taken it’s toll. When Irslinger tried to trip George and fall backwards on him Boganski neatly twisted his body and maneuvered Irslinger beneath him to take the fall and the decision.
George Boganski worked in Britain during much of the 1930s, though intermittently due to his travels overseas, journeying between the United Kingdom and South Africa. He was said to be a skilled technical wrestler who was one of the top heavyweight contenders of the 1930s, wrestling the other international stars that included Jack Sherry and Carl Pojello. Most 1930s wrestlers were lighter than the later heavyweights, Boganski being no exception and wrestling around 14 stones. Boganski is credited with the training of Norman Ansell, known to fans as Norman the Butcher.
An unusual event occurred when he returned to South Africa in 1934. In Port Elizabeth George Boganski was due to wrestle Denmark’s Thor Jensen. George made his way to the ring and waited patiently for his opponent to follow. Very patiently. Not so patient were the fans who became very restless. The promoter grew increasingly frustrated as the search for the Danish wrestler proved unproductive. In despair the promoter announced that the Dane was injured and a substitute would appear, an announcement that angered the crowd further, many of whom rushed towards the ring in protest. The following day the mystery was solved. The Danish wrestler was not injured; he had been kidnapped at gunpoint before he could enter the ring!
In 1936 and 1937 we have found Boganski billed as British heavyweight champion, but just where such a claim came from (and where it went) we have no idea. In his story of “1930’s Belle Vue – The Golden Years” Ron Historyo acknowledges the more enduring reports of Boganski as a European champion, “Kath Look now wanted George Boganski to be champion of Europe. So it is clear that Boganski takes it and Gregory gives Garnon a chance of the British title. Gregory retains it and gets his shot at Boganski. Would have been a good contest because both men would not have been big heavyweights, their skill was on the top level. Boganski retains.“
In March 1938 George wrestled Jack Sherry in Plymouth for the World Heavyweight Championship, but did not have the power to overcome the champion. A great contributor to British wrestling it seems that George grew to love the country in which he worked and is reported to have taken British citizenship.
Our last documented match for George in Britain was at Crewe in 1940, but we have found a report for him nine years later in South Africa.
13272
Page added 15.06.2025
Wrestling Heritage 