These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
Inca Peruano
Peruvian Inca Peruano wrestled in Britain every year from 1956 until 1967 and surprisingly little is known about him. Opponents included all the wrestlers under 14 stones, including the top names McManus, Pallo, Colbeck, Dempsey, Thomson and Kellett. He worked mainly for Joint Promotions with the exception of a short period for Paul Lincoln and the independents in the early 1960s. Photographs suggest he is not the same wrestler as the one who worked in North America as Inca Peruano. We would welcome more information.
Johnny Peters (Thirsk)
Not to be confused with the dropkick king from Brighton this Johnny Peters was a familiar figure to wrestling fans of the North East of England in the 1970s. Johnny was from West Tanfield in North Yorkshire, Thirsk being the biggest nearest town that you’ve probably heard of. Blond haired Johnny was a popular middleweight of some skill having been trained by Norman Walsh, from whom he acquired skill but not temperament. A couple of televised bouts saw him lose to the Rev Michael Brooks and Barry Douglas. Later in his career Johnny filled out into a fully blown heavyweight. Three of his sons also went into the wrestling business.
Dave Phillips (Also known as Dave Jantzen)
Eighteen year old Dave Phillips, the Camberwell middleweight, was given his chance in the professional wrestling ring by independent promoter Paul Lincoln. That was in 1961 and Dave was soon swapping holds with other youngsters who were destined for future fame – Leon Fortuna, Zoltan Boscik, Johnny Williams and the like. After a couple of years he was signed up by Dale Martin Promotions and was soon receiving regular bookings throughout the south. Dave’s clean, fast style made him very popular, never more so than when he made his televsion debut against Jackie Pallo in September, 1964. Dave lost that one, but was more fortunate in his second television outing when he beat the hard Lancastrian Colin Joynson. Dave seemed to have a promising future but in 1967 decided to pursue a teaching career and temporarily retired from wrestling to study at a teachers’ training college. Four years later, having qualified as a teacher, Dave returned to the ring, this time using the name Dave Jantzen.
Pitman’s Hercules
A name linked to various wrestlers down the years, including ERic Smith of Dewsbury in the 1930s and Barnsley’s Dave Adams in the 1980s.
Gomez Pizarro
The Spanish middleweight made his way to Britain for the first time in January, 1960, facing the big guns of Mick McManus, Cliff Beaumont and a European middleweight championship tilt at Bolton’s Bert Royal. With impressive results against our best he was surprisingly laid down to rest by Wigan’s Jack Dempsey at the Royal Albert Hall. Made numerous returns to Britain during the 1960s, sometimes with brother Nino, forming a tag team facing the Cortez brothers, Hells Angels, McManus & Logan, but most notably the Royal brothers.
Nino Pizarro
The lighter of the two Pizarro brothers from Valencia, renowned for speed and skill. Followed his brother Gomez to our shores in 1962, going down to World champion George Kidd on television. Made a number of return visits during the 1960s, with another high profile defeat, this time against Jackie Pallo, at the Royal Albert Hall in December 1964.
Tom Plant
Tom Plant was one of Apollo William Banker’s troupe of wrestlers that toured Britain in the early 1930. Billed as British middleweight champion Catch-as-catch-can style he certainly seems to have had a number of illustrious opponents including Billy Riley, Alec Munro and Billy Wood.
The Ploughboy
The Ploughboy was a 1960s worker for the independent promoters, otherwise Trevor McDonald of Beccles in Suffolk. We can find him working only for promoter Jack Taylor.
Don Plummer
Don Plummer of Burnley was trained by Bob Bannister alongside Ian St John, Andreas Swajics and Mike Agusta at Bob’s gymnasium in Accrington. As one of the more experienced and skilful of Bob’s Army Don took on the role of one of the main trainers at the gym. He worked for northern independent promoters in the 1960s. A stocky light heavyweight Don had the skill to match fully blown heavyweights and the speed and agility to suggest a middleweight. Mike Agusta remembers Don, who he tells us will now be in his eighties, “We were even billed together at an outdoor “Miners Fete” day, great contest with both of us showing the skills that were taught! This contest (so we were told) was filmed along with the other contests. The film was to be shown at miners clubs & events all over the north of England.”
Red Pollard
Canadian Red Pollard (not to be confused with the Aylesbury wrestler Ted Pollars arrived in Britain in November 1970 and stayed for almost three months, dutifully going down to home grown talent in northern England and Scotland. The Joint Promotions flyer announcing his impending visit said the 19 year old had been wrestling professionally since 1956. Er? Well he would have been five in 1956! We know that our promoters could tell porkies, but this one takes some beating. Tom Pollard sported a ginger beard, hence the nickname and came to the UK with his friend Billy Watson Jr. We are told the two of them often wrestled each other in Ontario in the early 1970s. His tour ended suddenly at the end of January, resulting in his planned bout against Mike Marino at the Royal Albert Hall being cancelled.
Ted Pollard
Aylesbury’s Ted Pollard has devoted his life to body building (he was a Mr Universe competitor), all aspects of martial arts and the entertainment world. In 1965 he turned professional wrestler and worked the rings of Southern England for four years. He curtailed his wrestling career to perform in cabaret, on television and in the theatre performing a combination of martial arts and acrobatics.
Manuel Polman
Lean and muscular mid heavyweight Manuel Polman was a popular and frequent visitor to Britain during the 1960s, arriving on our shores no fewer than nine times. The Wrestler magazine dated his first visit in 1963, but our unofficial records suggest he worked in Britain as early as 1959. Whenever his first appearance he seemed to turn up for at least a few bouts every year during the 1960s. Skilled and classy, with a Spanish mid heavyweight championship to his name Manuel Polman had, neveretheless, a mixed bag of results. Intermingled with some impressive performances we found high profile losses against Bill Howes, Steve Logan and Mike Marino at the Royal Albert Hall, and unsuccessful attempts to take Ernie Riley’s European Light Heavyweight title and Marino’s World Mid Heavyweight crown.
Heritage member SaxonWolf discovered that Polman was Spaniard Manuel Perez Lopez.
Member djmask said: “According to John Listers excellent ITV Wrestling site the Perez Lopez Tv bout versus Jackie Pallo was in 1962. This would appear to be his only appearance as P. Lopez but he did reappear on Tv in 1963 as Perez Polman in a Tv contest versus Andy Robin. He then reappears for several televised bouts as Manuel Polman between 1969-1971.”
When not in Britain the globetrotting Spaniard worked extensively throughout Europe and South America, using the name Manuel Lopez. Polman’s wrestling career extended into the 1980s. Heritage member Gernot Freiberger took up the story and told us that Manuel Polman lived in Hanover for many years where he managed a Spanish restauraunt, “La Mancha.”
Milo Popocopolis
Professional wrestling boasted a plethora of Golden Greeks, but Milo Popocopolis was one of the hardest and best, emerging onto the British wrestling scene in the mid 1930s as a teenager making his way against older and more experienced men. Milo was born Andrea Nicola Yiannopoullos. In 1947 he defeated Bulldog Bill Garnon in the first round of the World Heavyweight Championship tournament at Harringay, before losing by the only fall required to the eventual winner Bert Assirati. He defeated Guy Lombardo at the Royal Albert Hall in April, 1953, one of the last shows promoted at the venue by Atholl Oakeley. In the twilight years of his career Milo became heavily involved in campaigning for better conditions and pay for wrestlers and was instrumental in one of the attempts to form a wrestlers union, the Professional Wrestlers Welfare Association. In the early 1960s Milo Popocopilis wrestled for Paul Lincoln Management and around that time began promoting his own shows in London and southern England. Like his brothers, Johnny and Tommy, Milo owned a restaurant in London’s Soho district, and was also the proprietor of the DeMilo Hotel in Hastings.
Stan Powton
Stan Powton was a fish monger on Chillingham Road in the Heaton area of Newcastle upon Tyne. Our earliest find of Stan is in June, 1932, defeating Mosey Lawson at North Shields in a match described as the “Light Heavyweight Championship of the North.” Stan wrestled throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, mostly in the North East in preliminary matches, often at the St James Hall.
When wrestling outside of the locality Stan assumed the identity of mystery wrestler “The Question Mark.” Whether or not his features were concealed by a mask we don’t know, but there was little attempt at mystery back home where the Newcastle Journal revealed his identity. A match between the Question Mark and Bob Gregory, in Banbury, was reported in the press to have “embodied all the fine arts and scientific experiences of the game.”
In the 1940s Stan’s wrestling appearances decreased and he could more often be seen refereeing at Newcastle’s St James Hall and the Caird Hall, Dundee.
Ken Prest
Gateshead’s Ken Prest first ventures into the professional wrestling ring was on the continent in 1965, but it was another three years before he was seen in British rings. turned professional in 1968. Prior to this the British debut twenty-three year old Prest had learned a great deal in the fairground wrestling booths of the north east. Ken appeared in various westerns filmed in Spain and also appeared in “Women In Love.” Despite being featured in a full page Wrestler article we have no first hand knowledge of Ken, but would welcome readers contributions.
Corrie Pretorius
Seventeen stones of pure muscle and standing 6 feet 3 inches tall Johannesburg’s Corrie Pretorius came to Britain in 1952 to compete in the Mr Universe contest in London. Pretorius came first in the class 1 competition, with Britain’s Arnold Dyson runner up. Following the competition he took to Britain’s wrestling rings and remained in the country until the end of the year. Despite his unquestionable physical presence Pretorius was not given an easy ride, going down to Britain’s best, including Dai Sullivan, Charlie Scott, Mike Marino, and Dave Armstrong.
Nicky Prica
A Yorkshireman of Croatian heritage, that’s Nicky Prica, son of Milan Prica, who still lives in Leeds at the time of writing (2021).
In his late teens Nicky joined his father in the wrestling rings of the North East, working for the independent promoters in public halls and clubs. On occasions he would wrestle alongside his father in The Internationals tag team. Outside of the ring Nicky’s full time job was as a Youth and Community Officer.
Frankie Price
Croydon’s Frankie Price was an element of London wrestling in the 1950s and 1960s for whom we feel guilty of not knowing more. He was the son of wrestling promoter Frankie Price.
Le Petit Prince
Diminutive French lightweight who caused a stir on his trips to the UK in the early seventies. He looked tiny and unthreatening as he climbed through the ropes. All that changed when the bell rang and he unleashed a dazzling assault on his opponent. The combined qualities of wrestling skill, acrobatics, speed and looks made him enormously poular wherever he appeared. The man from Audincourt near the Swiss border had an amateur wrestling and gymnastics background and combined the two to give acrobatic displays that left many heavier opponents bewildered. Feuded in England with Zoltan Boscik, honours ending up largely even.
In 1966 he had the honour of being the first ever opponent in a televised match of young French giant Jean Ferre. At 6’11” and still growing, youngster Ferre was double the size of Le Petit Prince.
His real name was given in Britain as Alberic D’Ericourt but Wrestling Heritage can reveal it was in fact Daniel Dubail.
Little Prince
Yorkshire’s Mohammed Alam was a man who brought a dash of colour and more than a splash of sportsmanship to the rings of the 1970s. At the time new talent was in short supply in British rings and Mohammed Alam was one of the hopes for the future. He wrestled as the Little Prince, and his good nature in the ring made him just that for the fans who watched him in the rings of northern England and Scotland. Apart from a good nature, and an ability to wrestle The Little Prince was an immensely strong wrestler of short stature with an enormous chest. Television fans enjoyed seeing him in action well over a dozen times, including a 1981 Cup Final day drawn result with Tally Ho Kaye.
Steve Prince
Soldier Boy Steve Prince squeezes into the Heritage years, joining the professional circuit in the late 1980s, and wrestling occasionally when we added him to the A-Z in 2011.
Born in Plymouth Steve appeared on television (using the name Black Prince) in March 1985, knocked out by Dave Finlay.
Steve adopted the name The Black Prince, a barefooted martial arts expert dressed in black, challenging his opponent (a la Kendo) with his sword as part of the pre bout rituals. Well known as part of the “Task Force One” tag team with Vic Powers. Now lives in Warrington, Cheshire.
David Manntell added to our vey limited knowledge:
“Soldier Boy Steve Prince was a heel noted for his infamous loaded boot (an idea nicked off The Iron Sheik in America) and for wearing camouflage trousers and throwing stroppies with the referee.
He beat Doc Dean for the British Welterweight title in 1993 and carried on defending it for some years after, although it had been inactive for a good while by the time TWA took over the title in 2000 and held a Johnny Storm/Jodie Fleisch match to fill the vacancy.
There’s a camcording of him losing a hair vs hair match to Robbie Brookside somewhere in the West Country in the early 90s and coming back later in the night to participate in a Batlle Royal. There’s another camcording I’ve seen of him losing to Johnny Saint and getting all stroppy whenever Saint does one of his counter holds.
I saw him some years later in Leamington Spa in 2005 and he was a bit of a reformed character by then, staying clean for several minutes against James Mason before doing a temporary heel turn. When Mason won, Prince made it up with him and said James had come a long way since 1993. A year or so later I saw Steve working as a referee for All Star and being unusually strict by 21st century All Star standards in enforcing the No Followdowns rule and giving the faster 10 counts at the old school speed. At both of these shows, I met him afterwards at the £5 Backstage Pass meet and greet and he was very friendly and very keen to talk about the old days.”
Nicolas Priore
Italian Nicolas Priore was a visitor to Britain during the 1960s and 1970s. A middleweight when he arrived in 1962 he filled out a decade later, but the increased poundage failed to prevent a Royal Albert Hall loss to Brian Maxine in October 1971.
Jack Proctor
Jack Proctor originated in Cornwall, wrestled in the 1950s most likely at light heavyweight, later moved to the North East where he refereed for Norman Morrell.
Bill Pye
Unrelated to the famous Pye wrestling dynasty Bad Bill Pye was a villain of the independent circuit trained by Eric Pleasance, and later Brian Trevors in the 1960s and 1970s. Although he was born in Lancashire Bill moved to Lowestoft whilst a toddler. Other sporting interests included boxing, he was a schoolboy champion, and rugby, but it was wrestling that Bill chose to pursue as a means of making his money. The Norfolk based heavyweight worked mainly in the east of England and is best remembered for his partnership with John L. Hagger in The Stompers tag team.
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