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Jeff Dickson was one of quite a few boxing promoters turned to professional wrestling, allured by the growth of the sport and the abiity to pay wrestlers much less whilst employing them far more frequently. Jefferson Davis Dickson Jr., was born in in Natchez, Missouri, USA, gaining fame outside France as a boxing promoter primarily in France from 1924 onwards, where he owned the Palais des Sports de Grenelle. Elsewhere around Europe he promoted boxing in Britain, Belgium, Germany and Spain.
Jeff Dickson showed an interest in professional wrestling from the outset in 1930. He planned to put on Britain’s first All-In wrestling show at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 31st October, 1930. Amongst those trained and ready to go were Garnon, Oakeley, a Doncaster miner by the name of Jack Pye, amateur champion Billy Riley, Anglo Italian Bert Assirati, and Londoner Norman Ansell. The show failed to materialise due to negative publicity and the failure to acquire the necessary work permits for the overseas wrestlers. From then on Dickson had a luke warm relationship with wrestling in Britain, but had more success promoting in Paris. In 1943 Jeff Dickson was lost in action whilst serving in the U.S. Air Force.
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