Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
Our interest in Zalzedo was aroused by his son, Keith, who knew little about his father’s wrestling exploits. Keith referred to his father as the Great Salzedo (the spelling of the family name) though all wrestling references we have found use the initial letter of Z.
Raphael Lopez Salzedo, known as Ralph, was born in Prestwich, Manchester, on 2nd December, 1916, one of nine children born to Abraham and Rachel Lopez Salzedo. On 23rd February, 1923, the family left their home in Manchester and emigrated to Canada, sailing on the Canadian Pacific liner Montcalm from Liverpool to New Brunswick.
Seventeen year old Ralph, by then a Canadian citizen, returned to Britain on 25th July, 1934. He claimed to have wrestled in Canada but this has not been confirmed. Shortly afterwards we have found the name Zalzedo on wrestling posters. In one match against The College Boy Zalzedo is said to be a middleweight who lost to a “smarter” opponent. Other opponents included Cliff Warner, Carl Schultz, and George DeRelwyskow, all supporting contests. The number of appearances we have found are surprisingly few, ending in January, 1936, leading us to wonder if he was known by other names also.
On 11th December, 1937 Ralph Salzedo married Jessie Worster, and the address shown on his marriage certificate was 97 Coronation Avenue, Stoke Newington, The 1939 Register listed the couple living at 28, Chester Road, Tottenham, with the occupation of Furniture Dispatch Clerk.
Ralph Salzedo served in the army during the Second World War until invalided out. We were unable to find any wrestling activity following the War. At that time Ralph moved to Nottingham and set up in business with his father, Abraham, and later his brother Benjamin Lopez Salzedo. After the war their name was changed by deed poll and the family was known as Sells.
The business, which sold an underbody sealing compound for motor cars was successful and sold by Ralph in1964.
Ralph Sells (formerly Salzedo) died in Nottingham on the 21st December 1988 of ischaemic heart disease, and was cremated at The Wilford Cemetrey, Nottingham.
Page added 25/11/2023
8572
Wrestling Heritage 