The Flying Greek

The popular Greek lightweight champion made his first visit to Britain in 1960 for the independent promoters. In those days that brought him into oppositions against well known names who were working for the independents at that time who included George Kidd, Eddie Capelli and Eric Sands, and developing stars Zoltan Boscik, Jon Cortez, Linde Caulder and Peter Rann. All were opponents of the young Greek who visited our shores, with some spectacular matches against Kidd and Joyce around the south of England.

In December 1961 Vassilios began working for Dale Martin Promotions. This was around the time that the majority of the British Wrestling Federation promoters merged with Joint Promotions, bringing Kidd, Capelli, D’Orazio and others back into the Joint Promotion fold. Whether Vassilios’ transition was part of this arrangement we don’t know, or it might just have been. that Dale Martin Promotions realised they were missing out on someone rather good.

Some wrestlers had difficulty transferring from the independent promoters to Joint Promotions, but this was not the case with Vassilios. Within days he was matched with Mick McManus, Vic Faulkner and George Kidd, and in the first week of January was given television exposure in a match with Jim Breaks, which ended in a draw. Breaks was the same opponent later in the month when he made his debut at the Royal Albert Hall, and won by two falls to one. A 1963 outing against Mick McManus at the prestigious Kensington venue was less rewarding for the Greek.

Although usually in a supporting bill contest (heavyweights ruled the roost in those days) most of Vassilios’ opponents were the most well known and successful of wrestlers; you can add to those named above the likes of Alan Colbeck, Jack Dempsey, Mel Riss and Bob Archer O’Brien.

He worked more or less continuously in Britain until January 1965, and then we find a break until the start of a three month visit in September, 1965. Vassilios was then lost to British fans until he returned in April 1969.

During the 1969 visit he achieved what must surely have been the highlight of his British visits, a Main Event billing against Jackie Pallo at the Royal Albert Hall. Another highlight, at the end of April when Vassilios and Armando Zarpanalian wrestled Mick Mcmanus and Steve Logan in the 1969 FA Cup Final TV Spectacular. McManus and Logan won that one, of course, and Manchester City beat Leicester 1-0.

In May, 1971 Vassilios returned for what appears to have been an isolated booking, at the Royal Albert Hall, where he partnered Monsieur Montreal to draw with the Hells Angels.

Vassilios Mantopoulos died on 5th July 2021.

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