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The Teutonic Titan
“The Teutonic Titan” Karl Von Schober arrived Britain in November 1952 and stayed around for three months. During his visit he struck up a friendship with Alan Garfield which led to the pair of them being crowned WWA tag team champions when Garfield visited the United States ten years later, The pair of them defeated Eric Rommel and Dick Garza in September, 1962.
Far from being a German assassin Von Schober was an American, born Louis Sjoberg on 17th August 1925, the son of Swedish immigrants in Minnesota. Trained by Joe Pazandak, who was also influential in the careers of George Gordienko, Verne Gagne and Dick The Bruiser, Von Schober had worked professionally for about three years when he came to Britain.
He was a villainous rule bender, accomplished at acquiring disqualification losses. Opponents in the UK included Jim Hussey, Black Butcher Johnson, Pat O’Reilly and Francis St Clair Gregory. Ten years later The Wrestler magazine realled his visit, “Karl Von Schober, who shocked most of Europe with his storm trooper tactics, is living in California with occasional jaunts to the Hawaiian Islands, where he found much fame and glory.”
Most of his success was found in North America, where he used a variety of names that included Karl Von Schoberg, Fritz Von Alberts, and Lou Sjoberg. A variety of North American tag team titles came his way with partners Fritz Von Erich, Ricky Waldo, Alan Garfield and Oyama Kato. In singles competition he held both the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title and NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight title.
Karl Von Schober died on 16th August 2003, one day short of his 88th birthday.
Page added 05/05/2024
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