Also known as Ian McKenzie, Kamikaze
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This boy could move, and move fast. Maurice Hunter was a fast and skilled lightweight from Widnes who seemed equally at home as Lancashire’s Maurice Hunter and his dual personality, Scot Ian McKenzie. We are not sure where the Scot came from, maybe just an imaginative promoter, but Maurice Hunt, that was his birth name, was Lancashire bred, born in Widnes on 31st March 1940.
We first came across him as Ian McKenzie in the halls of the independent promoters, but later saw him as Maurice Hunter on both opposition and Joint Promotion bills. One ding dong battle with welterweight champion Jack Dempsey stands out in our minds. An all action yet scientific wrestler we would consider him one of wrestling’s great under-rated stars. The two of them had some epic battles in northern England in the early 1970s.
His daughter, Joanne, told us, “I remember going and watching him fight and screaming ‘dont hurt my dad’ lol…I remember old ladies loved him…oh my goodness…they really did, and he signed photos and autographs and I would be sat on his shoulders. He still has his boots, cloak and belt, he won the European something for a few years in his weight class…for a small man he hand big hands like hammers…many good memories.”
In October 1970, recognised as European lightweight champion by independent promoters, one of Maurice’s challenges for Jack Dempsey’s British welterweight title almost ended in a non-event. A posssible “turf wars” of wrestling promoters at the time resulted in posters for the match at the Queens Hall in Widnes being covered with “cancelled” stickers. Promoter Brian Dixon dashed from his Birkenhead office and covered the cancelled signs with new posters. As it turned out the fans turned out but were disappointed to see their local boy go down.
In July, 1973, now working for Joint Promotions, Maurice Hunter made his television debut, losing to Tug Wilson in Southport. More formidable opponents followed with Leon Fortuna, George Kidd, Bill Ross and Vic Faulkner amongst those in the opposite corner. In all Maurice Hunter made nine television appearances. Our last sighting was a drawn match with Jackie Robinson in May, 1986.
When not wrestling Maurice worked at the ICI Rocksavage Power Station in Runcorn.
Page added: 31/03/2024
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