Gotch Bests Bulgarian

On April 14, 1909, World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch met Yussif Mahmout, a skilled Bulgarian wrestler, in Chicago, Illinois for his title. Fans considered Mahmout a tough challenger primarily because they had not seen him wrestle.

Emil Klank, Gotch’s manager, convinced foreign wrestlers with good reputations like Mahmout and Stanislaus Zbyszko to travel to America to challenge Gotch. Fans proved willing to pay to see their dominant champion defend his title against overseas challengers.

While Dan Gable fans may take an exception to Gotch’s standing as the greatest American wrestler, little doubt exists about Gotch’s bonafides as a legitimate American pro wrestler. Strong with good size, Gotch developed into a powerful technician under the tutelage of his trainer, Martin “Farmer” Burns.

Unlike his foe George Hackenschmidt, who relied on his great strength, Gotch used submission holds (hooks in catch wrestling) like his deadly toehold to win match after match. Less well-known is Gotch’s use of a half-nelson and crotch hold combination to pin numerous opponents.

According to wrestlingdata.com, Yussif Mahmout was born Ibrahim Hergelecki in Bulgaria during 1862.  The 47-year-old Mahmout stood 6’01” and weighed 220 pounds. Yussif Mahmout wrestled at least sixty-one professional wrestling matches. Mahmout won forty of those matches with only sixteen losses. The other five bouts ended as draws or no contests.

Even in middle age, Mahmout maintained an impressive muscular physique. However, his muscles did not help him in a match with Frank Gotch in his prime.

When the men squared off in Chicago, Ed Wallace Smith, the sporting editor of the Chicago American, again officiated the bout. After his performance in the first Gotch-Hackenschmidt bout and later reading his book on Frank Gotch, I would never allow Smith to officiate a match involving Gotch.  In this match, it wouldn’t matter who officiated.

The men met in the center of the ring. Mahmout immediately tried to bowl Gotch over with his strength. Gotch, who weighed about fifteen pounds less than Mahmout successfully resisted this tactic.

After three minutes, Gotch secured Mahmout’s leg and took him to the ground. Once the bout reached the floor, Mahmout displayed little technical ability.

Gotch normally secured a toehold but for some reason, he decided to go to one of his other favorite techniques, the half-nelson and crotch hold because of a provision Gotch agreed to before the bout. Mahmout insisted on wrestling in bare feet, which violated the rules of catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Gotch initially would not yield to the Bulgarian’s preference. After Mahmout agreed to forfeit $500 of his purse to Gotch, Gotch agreed to Mahmout wrestling barefoot.

Sweaty legs proved harder to leg lock, so Gotch flipped Mahmout to his back with his other pet hold. The powerful Bulgarian bridged for several minutes. Gotch finally overcame this resistance and pressed his shoulders to the mat for the first fall at exactly the 8-minute mark.

Gotch knew he could defeat Mahmout easily, so he never attempted the toehold, which he famously used to tear the ankle ligaments of Leo Pardello. He decided to end the match with the half-Nelson and crotch hold in both falls..

To start the second fall, Gotch took Mahmout to the ground. Mahmout turtled up but Gotch secured the half-Nelson and crotch hold. Gotch turned Mahmout to his back. Mahmout used every ounce of strength he had left in bridging, but Frank Gotch persisted in pressing him to the mat. Gotch pinned Mahmout for the second and final fall at 9 minutes, 10 seconds.

In one of the odd coincidences of history, Mahmout passed away during the same year as Frank Gotch. The 55-year-old Bulgarian wrestler died in 1917 from unknown causes.

Frank Gotch continued his successful reign as world champion. It was becoming harder to find a credible challenge for the champ though.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Sources: “Frank Gotch Is Still Champion” The Evening Statesman (Walla Walla, Washington). April 15, 1909 edition, p. 2 and wrestlingdata.com, Ibrahim Hegelecki record (Yussiff Mahmout will also bring up record.)

Pin It