These are our shorter biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
Hermann Iffland
It was reported that the German heavyweight champion from Bochum whose first claim to fame in the UK was the unfortunate fifties hospitalization of Gwyn Davies. Whether or not that was reality or wrestling hype we don’t know, but we do know Hermann Iffland was a class act who made his way over to the UK in January 1955, where we first find him wrestling Shirley Crabtree. Charlie Green, Mike Marino, The Ghoul and Pat Curry at the Royal Albert Hall were amongst those opponents during that first tour. A three month visit established Hermann as one of Europe’s top heavyweights.
He was back to Britain in 1958 with wins over a novice Bill Robinson, the experienced Alan Garfield and Mike Marino and Royal Albert Hall victories over Dai Sullivan and Norman Walsh.
In achieved the accolade of numbering amongst the lucky 14 wrestlers to appear on the first Royal Show in front of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1963. His opponent was Dazzler Joe Cornelius, arguably the most popular of all Albert Hall heavies. That Hermann went down by the odd fall in three is no reflection of his ability. It could have been no other way on a Royal occasion. A respected wrestler throughout Europe Hermann Iffland was a regular winner of West German tournaments on his home territory.
He last appeared in Britain in 1963. Hermann Iffland died on 6th July, 2004.
Fazal Ilahi
Born in Pakistan in 1932 Fazal Ilahi was in his mid twenties when he came to Britain in the 1950s and settled in Bradford. He took up work as a spinner and weaver at British Belting and Asbestos in Cleckheaton.
One of his interests was wrestling and by 1959 was wrestling professionally part time. Contact with the Crabtree family brought him his early matches for independent promoters Max Crabtree, Norman Berry and Jack Taylor. Our last sighting of Fazal Ilahi was at the end of 1962. A father of seven children Fazal also enjoyed walking and was very active in his local community and known for his charity work, mostly through connections with his local mosques.
Fazal Ilahi died in November, 2019. The cause of death was mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Buddy Iles
A lightweight billed from Levenshulme we discovered Buddy Iles in February, 1948, wrestling Jim Mellor in Hanley. We find no further references until 1952 with contests against Chris Londos, Young Atlas, and three more against Mellor. Then he disappeared again. Please get in touch if you can help.
Mitsu Inoue
Bouts involving this 1971 Japanese visitor, Sueo Inoeu, began in such good humour. Twenty two years old when he came to Britain the Japanese heavyweight would offer a half smile before bowing deeply to the audience, his opponent, and seemingly anything that moved. The first round or two were usually fought within the rules, with the obligatory pauses for the occasional bow. The initial signs of irritation, when things were not going the Japanese wrestler’s way, would be the unleashing of a flurry of chops. Their force stopped his opponent in his stride, temporarily at least, but when they weren’t enough Mitsu Inoue would discard the rules and use any tactic to win. In his 1971 Royal Albert Hall bout against Steve Veidor he dragged the Cheshire heavyweight from the ring o start a rare ringside brawl amongst the fans.
Dave Ireland
Seven years of wrestling activity deserves more than this. We have records of Dave Ireland working for independent promoters between 1958 and 1965. We would welcome further information.
Isha Ismail
Our references are all for Isha Ismael working for Jack Taylor’s International Promotions in the early 1960s. Most likely capitalising on the more famous Judah Ischa Israel (see below)..
Juda Ischa Israel
Clever and stylish the Jewish welterweight Juda Ischa Israel was introduced to British audiences in January, 1955. Starting out facing the tough nut of Scotland Chic Purvey we were impressed by the relentless quality of his opposition.
There were no easy rides for this clever wrestler moving on from George Kidd to Cliff Beaumont, Jack Dempsey, Ken Joyce, Alan Colbeck, Eddie Capelli, Jim Lewis, Mick McManus, Jack Cunningham, Eric Sands, Cyril Knowles, Pat Kloke; opposition could come no harder than this. His style was most suitable for opposition to scientific wrestlers, and George Kidd was a frequent opponent.
He left British rings after four months but was welcomed back in January 1956 for another short visit. Further visits were made in 1958 and 1959. Between 1960 and 1964 he was back in Britain, this time wrestling for the independent promoters, and returning to Joint promotion rings in October, 1964. Last seen in Salisbury in October, 1965.
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Wrestling Heritage 