These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
Chic Booth
Another flag bearer of the white rose county. Doncaster’s Chic Booth had a background as a weightlifter and acrobat before turning to professional wrestling. He even toured the country’s variety halls in the 1930s with his hand balancing act. Labelled “The Doncaster Strongman” he is reported to have made his professional debut in 1941 (the earliest we find is 1945) and for the following twelve years was a regular fixture on the wrestling bills of the north and midlands. In 1953 fans were saddened by his retirement, though relieved to see him appearing on a part time basis a couple of years later until the end of the decade. Following his return to the ring Chic also began officiating as the referee at Doncaster Corn Exchange. He trained at his own gym, in Balby, where his proteges included Rex Harrison, Mick McMichael and Albert Wall.
Benito Boratti
Benito Boratti, Luigi Boratti, Jean Boratti, Bert Boratti … change the names as often as you like but the mystery remains. An alleged Italian with a description that matched that of Bert Assirati, but when it came to actually wrestling the similarities quickly evaporated. Benito Boratti was definitely not Bert Assirati.
It was claimed he trained in Wigan at Charnock’s gym, and appearances suggest he may well have been based in Lancashire. He appeared in November, 1936, where we found him wrestling Ike Beech at Runcorn. He returned to Runcorn to defeat Stan Hurst, none of which is exactly world class stuff. His fortunes were, to put it kindly, mixed.
In January, 1938, he lost to two and a half stones lighter Madrali (who had already wrestled once that night). A month later he was knocked out by little known Will Rogers but a few weeks later fought Jack Sherry with the world title at stake (4th April, 1938 in Southampton). Having made little impact he disappeared at the end of 1939, though we were surprised to find a few appearances in May, 1947.
Stanislaus Borienko
Stanislaus Borienko was billed as a Russian heavyweight and champion of Ukraine who wrestled in Britain from January 1947 to April 1948.
Pierre Boss
This French heavyweight travelled extensively throughout Europe. He visited Britain in 1952, travelling throughout the country and meeting wrestlers such as Vic Hessle and Eddie Flash Barker.
Boston Blackie
A name that surfaced at least twice in the post war years. There was a Boston Blackie on the independent circuit in the 1960s. Another Boston Blackie resurfaced in the 1980s, and Pantaleon Manlapig tells us Boston Blackie wrestled in Germany during 1991-2 in Hamburg for Sven Hansen and Rene Lassartesse.
Juan Botano
The rugged Spanish based South American heavyweight first visited Britain in 1957, falling to Judo Al Hayes at the Royal Albert Hall. He was back in Britain ten years later, once again appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, and this time going down to Judo Al’s tag partner Rebel Ray Hunter. The wild Peruvian came to national prominence in televised contests against three of the most popular wrestlers in Britain, Judo Al Hayes, Mike Marino and Les Kellett. Around the halls Botano faced top class opposition Steve Veidor, Joe Cornelius and Tibor Szakacs. In tag contests Juan partnered fellow Peruvian Gomez Maximilliano.
Dan Boukard
The rugged Frenchman came over to work in the UK for the latter half of 1965. Despite coming with the usual first class credentials of having won international tournaments and met international acclaim the reality was quite different. A KO loss to Jackie Pallo at the Royal Albert Hall is fair enough, but add to that losses to Spencer Churchill, Ivan Penzecoff, Leon Arras, Colin Joynson and other mid carders and you will appreciate that the Frenchman did not quite meet his initial promise.
George Bouranis
One half of the colourful Greek tag pairing of the Helenes who visited Britain for ten weeks in the 1967. Wearing Greek national costume they added colour and skill to the British scene during their visit. Tagged with fellow Greek Souris Tsickrikas for some thrilling matches with the Royals and The Saints as well as against villains like the Black Diamonds and Dennisons. A knock out win over Terry Jowett in his sole television appearance and lost to Johnny Czeslaw at the Royal Albert Hall.
Gerard Bouvet
One time amateur Greco Roman champion and French middleweight from Avignon made a three day visit to the United Kingdom in the spring of 1971. He held the heavier Johnny Czeslaw to a draw, was knocked out by Jackie Pallo and lost by a single fall to Clayton Thomson at the Royal Albert Hall.
Chris Bowles
The 1980s welterweight from Tunbridge Wells came from a judo background, joining the Tonbridge Club when he was five years old. In 1978, and again in 1980, he was British Open Champion, a European silver medallist and British member of the judo team in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
Following the Olympics he turned professional wrestler, but remained most famed for his judoka achievements. He was appointed head coach for the British judo team in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Billy Boyle
Rule bending Scot from Coatbridge turned professional in 1968 having trained at Peter Keenan’s Glasgow gymnasium. Wrestled through the 1970s, mainly for Morrell/Beresford and Relwyskow and Green Promotions, almost exclusively in Scottish venues.
Jim Boyle
We turn to our knowledgeable readers for information about Jim Boyle. We do know he was sufficiently active between 1950 and 1954 to justify inclusion in this website. Opponents included top class opposition Bernard Murray, Frank O’Donnell, Jack Dempsey, Alan Colbeck and Fred Woolley. Was taken on by Joint Promotions post 1952 and seems to have disappeared around 1954.
Steve Braddock
Welterweight campaigner 1963-4 for the independent promoters throughout much of the country. Opponents included Jim Lewis, Tommy Bailey and Roy Royal.
Jeff Bradley (Also known as Tiny Tim Taylor)
Jeff Bradley was the wrestling name of a tough miner from the Ayrshire village of Mossblown. He had been born Sam Taylor, and was known to one and all as Wee Sammy Taylor. Initially he wrestled as Tiny Tim Taylor. Sammy had a long career as wrestler and referee, tragically cut short by a stroke. He went on to train young wrestlers at the Mossblown gym, amongst them his sons Sam, Steven and Cameron, and daugher Michelle.
Crusher Brannigan
Rough, tough American heavyweight and supporting bill wrestler for the WWWF in the 1970s. and worked in Britain in 1982 and 1983. Known in the USA and Japan as Joe Nova, and in Australia as Joe Brannigan. Unsuccessful challenger of Wayne Bridges for his World Heavyweight Championship. Partnered Banger Walsh in a Cup Final special against the team of Big Daddy and Kwik Kick Lee. Crusher Brannigan died in 2009.
Dino Bravo
Dino Bravo was an Italian born naturalised Canadian who tangled with Britain’s finest during his tour of 1961 and 1962. He was a big lad to say the least, but in the best of ways, claiming to be 6’9″ tall and very muscular. The finest we could offer him included just about all the top British heavyweights, with wins over many but going down to Mike Marino at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alec Bray
Wigan’s Alec Bray was a regular worker throughout the north and midlands during the 1950s. He wrestled top names such as Billy Joyce and Ernie Riley, and was one of the earliest opponents of Billy Robinson in 1958. Our earliest documented match is in June 1953, with a last sighting in July, 1960. A good man if he could hold his own in such illustrious company. Born as Norman Birchall on 20th September, 1926, he died at far too early an age, just 54, on 11th November, 1980.
Eric Brazil
Antwerp’s Eric Brazil is the son of Belgian wrestler Sus Labrosse. The young Brazilian was reputed to have gone two years without being pinned. He turned professional in 1967 and made two fleeting visits to Britain where fans liked his fast, clean and technical style of wrestling. In October 1972 he lost to Jackie Pallo at the Royal Albert Hall, but doing better on his return to the venue when he returned in November, 1974 to defeat Mel Stuart. Much of his career was spent wrestling in South America.
Page reviewed 04/01/2023
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