Week Beginning 14th June
14 June 1911
Birth of Chick Elliott
Chick Elliott is in the A-Z
14 June 1940
Wrestlers Honour Promoter
Fortunately promoter Jack Cullen was still alive to enjoy a celebration of his contribution to professional wrestling. Seven matches took place at the Ideal Skating Rink in Chester in recognition of his contribution to professional wrestling. All wrestlers provided their services for free. George Gregory defeated Francis St Clair Gregory, winning with a submission towards the end of four ten minute rounds. The Golden Phantom was held to a draw by Bob Silcock.
14 June 1944
Birth of Vic Faulkner
Read our tribute to Vic Faulkner
14 June 1985
Jones Sees Off The Butcher
Marty Jones retained the World Mid Heavyweight Title against Butcher Bond in Bedworth.
15 June 1908 Birth of Earl McCready (Canada)
Read our tribute to Earl McCready
15 June 1930
Another Life Saved
Much has been written on Heritage recently of the double life saving acts by Chick Knight. Today is the anniversary of his heroic rescue of a young girl from the River Thames.
15 June 1934
A Disappointing End to Heavyweight Title Clash
Fans were left disappointed at the early ending of the British heavyweight championship match between champion Douglas Clark and his challenger, sixteen years his junior and three stones lighter, Jack Pye. Pye began well, aggressively taking the match to Clark in the first round and throwing him from the ring. Clark’s superiority began to show in the second round but Pye cleverly escaped from Clark and put up a good fight. The disappointing end came at the beginning of round three. Again Pye was on the offensive and leaped across the ring at Clark. The wily champion sidestepped and Pye sailed through the ropes. He fell heavily and retired from the contest. The local press reported that Pye suffered from concussion and spent the night in hospital in Bradford.
15 June 1946
Birth of Tony Kelly
Tony Kelly is in the A-Z
15 June 1948
Close Call
When Bob Archer O’Brien wrestled Jack Dale for the latter’s British middleweight title in Chelmsford the fans thought their local boy was about to cause an upset. O’Brien was in the lead right up to the last round when Dale managed to grab the equaliser and keep the championship.
15 June 1960
Dempsey In A Class of His Own
Jack Dempsey retained the British welterweight title against Jackie Pallo in Ashford.
15 June 1974
Breaks Turns The Tables
A return contest for the British and European lightweight title in Hanley. Bobby Ryan had defeated Jim Breaks in May to win the titles. Tonight it was revenge for Breaks who regained the belts.
15 June 1981
Hercules The Big Soft Bear
Read the story in this week’s newsletter
16 June 1933
Ambitious Plans for a New Stadium
Boxing promoter Jeff Dickson announce plans to build a mecca for indoor sports, including wrestling, to be called Westminster Stadium. At the Savoy Hotel Dickson said the Stadium would be built near Lambeth Bridge and designed by architect Frank Baines. In addition to the sports arena seating 17,000 spectators the Stadium would also include an ice rink, gymnasium, tennis courts and a variety of restaurants. One week later it was announced that the newly formed company had failed to raise the necessary funds for the enterprise to go ahead.
16 June 1955
Birth of Drew McDonald
Read our tribute to Drew McDonald
17 June 1967
Oh, My Lord!
The Rev Christopher Pilkington, a vicar in Bromsgrove, climbed into the ring to referee a wrestling match. Unlike that other refereeing vicar, Rev Reginald Thompson, the Rev Pilkington admitted to knowing nothing about wrestling. He had been trained specially for this match by the combatants themselves, Birmingham’s Johnny Hemms and Dave Scawthorne of Huddersfield. After awarding the first fal to Hemms in the third round the vicar voluntarily retired from the match to allow a “proper refertee” to take over. The match, which took place on the vicarage lawn, was to raise money for a new church hall. Around 1,500 spectators watched thematch which raised £700 towards the £3,000 target.
18 June
Birth of Steve Best
Steve Best is in the A-Z
18 June 1887
Birth of George Frederick William DeRelwyskow
Read our tribute to George DeRelwyskow
18 June 1924
Birth of Masambula
Read our tribute to Masambula
18 June 1938
Greek Triumph
Mike DeMitre defended the European light heavyweight title against Bengal Engblom in Newcastle, retaining the title by two falls to one.
18 June 1939
The Show Goes On
Bully Pye and brother Harry were involved in a car crash as they travelled from Doncaster to Manchester. Despite suffering from shock they continued to Manchester and wrestled.
18 June 1948
Injured Wrestler Wrestles On
Mitchell Gill escaped serious injury when a van in which he was a passenger was involved in a crash as he travelled from his home in Silsden to the Batley Ice Rink. The van, which was owned by wrestling promoter Norman Morrell, was being driven by referee Ernest Lofthouse, when it collided with a bus carrying thirty Polish workers from Bradford to Batley. The van overturned and Mitchell Gill and Ernest Lofthouse scrambled out. A second passenger, Tom Reynolds, was more seriously injured and taken to hospital. Mitchell Gill was given a lift to the venue in a passing car. He wrestled Ernest Baldwin and retired injured in the third round.
18 June 1960
Joyce Marches On
Billy Joyce defeated Sandy Orford at the New St James Hall in Newcastle to retain the British heavyweight title.
18 June 1967
Fire On The M1
A trailer carrying a boxing and wrestling ring caught fire whilst travelling along the M1 and closed two lanes of the motorway. The trailer belonged to Mickey Keilly, the travelling showman with a fairground boxing and wrestling booth.
18 June 1969
New British Champion
In Sheffield Zoltan Boscik defeated Jim Breaks to win the British lightweight title.
18 June 1979
Yorkshire Woman KO’s London County Council
Read the story in next week’s newsletter
18 June 1981
Champion of Kent Conquers The World
Read the story in this week’s newsletter
18 June 1981
Another Nail In The Coffin
Read the story in this week’s newsletter
18 June 1986
An Unsatisfactory Ending
In Buxton Danny Collins defended his British welterweight title against Mal Sanders. With the scores level at one fall each an unconvincing end for the challenger as he flung himself into the ropes, writhed over-dramatically, fell off the ring apron and was declared unfit to continue.
18 June 2015
Death of Buddy Ward
Read our tribute to Buddy Ward
19 June 1935
Birth of Tony Cassio
Read our tribute to Tony Cassio
19 June 1979
Grunt, Groan and a Glass of Red
A Wrestling Wine and Dine event at the Deacons Court in Linlithgow was declared a huge success by the Linlithgowshire Gazette, albeit with a gripe about a lack of real stars. Outrageous comments by the gentlemen and ladies in their dinner jackets and gowns, along with lots of laughs. Suggestions to make this an annual event were welcomed, but with the paper of a suggestion to replace wrestlers with boxers wouldn’t be half as much fun.
19 June 1984
Titles Galore
Triple title night at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, with all three champions keeping hold of their holours. European middleweight champion Clive Myers defeated Steve Grey by two falls to one; British heavy middleweight champion Chic Cullen defeated Birmingham’s Steve Logan by the same score and British welterweight champion Danny Collins’ defence against Eddie Riley ended in a No Contest.
19 June ?
Birth of Reg Trood
Read our tribute to Reg Trood
19 June 2009
Death of Vladimir Waldberg
Read our tribute to Vladimir Waldberg
19 June 2012
Death of Bernard Murray
Read our tribute to Bernard Murray
20 June 1889
Birth of Walter Magnee
Read our tribute to Walter Magnee
20 June 1897
Birth of Jim Hipkiss
Read our tribute to Jim Hipkiss
20 June 1903
Birth of Sam Rabin
Read our tribute to Sam Rabin
20 June 2025
Death of Mike Eagers
Read our tribute to Mike Eagers
20 June 1931
Wrestling Comes To Town
The latest craze in town, All In Wrestling from America, was brought to Burnley by T.A. Chapman. He put on a mixed wrestling and boxing show at Burnley Football Ground. Johanfesson wrestled in both matches, against Carl Romsky and Gustav Lem.
20 June 1931
Clark Beats Italian in Return Match
The return match between British champion Douglas Clark and Bert Assirati ended in a win for Clark following their drawn verdict on 11th June. The match, which attracted 3,000 spectators was reported to be filled with an abundance of thrills. Assirati succeeded in resisting Clark’s offensive moves for the first four of the scheduled six ten minute rounds. The decisive ending came in round five. Clark clamped an arm hold on Assirati, swung him vigorously and the Italian went over the top rope. Unable to return to the ring Douglas Clark was declared victor.
20 June 1940
Wrestler Awarded Damages
George Edward Jessop, otherwise known as professional wrestler Ernie Mack was awarded £175 damages at Liverpool Assizes after being knocked off his bicycle. He cited loss of earnings from wrestling, said yo be £80, and from his daytime job as an insurance agent.
20 June 1951
Champion Keeps Title
Alan Colbeck retained his British welterweight title against Johnny Stead at Lincoln.
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