Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
One of the oldest adages in combat sports is “a good big man always beats a good little man”. It is the reason that we have weight divisions in boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts. On Tuesday, November 2, 1881, 160-pound Edwin Bibby proved there are exceptions to this rule. While small, Edwin Bibby was particularly strong for his size.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ysgcxd/Episode_1488754.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I begin the episode by discussing the need to alternate between co-hosted and solo episodes for the foreseeable future. Main Content I discuss the early career of the first recognized Women’s World Wrestling Champion, Cora Livingston. In 1908, Livingston claimed the American Women’s Wrestling Champion after Livingston defeated Hazel Parker. Cora Livingston gained
(This excerpt is from my newest book on the history of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.) Jenkins proved himself the top contender as soon as McLeod won the title. On Wednesday, November 17, 1897, Tom Jenkins wrestled former title holder Martin “Farmer” Burns in Indianapolis, Indiana. The men wrestled a best two-out-of-three-falls match according to catch-as-catch-can wrestling rules. Jenkins stood
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/agrffg/Episode_139hxwd.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss a dangerous decision Tom Jenkins made on Christmas Night 1902. Update I added a discussion about a MMA video containing pro wrestling history. Martin asked me a question about the video that I was supposed to discuss but missed in our intro for this episode. The regular episode played
My great grandfather Parker L. Zimmerman married three times. After a couple of months marriage to Victoria Harris during 1897 in Franklin County, Missouri, Parker moved to Bollinger County, Missouri to be closer to his family. His parents, Samuel and Sarah Zimmerman, lived in Dongola, Bollinger, Missouri. On March 31, 1902, 27-year-old Parker married his second wife, 22-year-old Mellie Bollinger.
On Monday, December 6, 1932, 41-year-old Ed “Strangler” Lewis wrestled one of his last legitimate contests to settle a promotional dispute in New York. After initially being allies in promotion, Jim Londos broke away from Jack Curley’s group in New York. To restore peace, the parties decided on a legitimate contest or “shoot” to settle the dispute. Joseph “Toots” Mondt
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/j6x3j4/Episode_127k6rj.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I finished Shooting or Working? The History of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship earlier than expected. It is available on Amazon during this soft launch period. Main Content “Little Demon” Joe Acton arrived in the United States in 1882 to challenge Edwin Bibby for the catch-as-catch-can wrestling championship, which developed into the American
On Tuesday, March 28, 1899, current American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Dan S. McLeod wrestled Charles Wittmer in a two-out-of-three-falls mixed styles match. Since the champion only defended the title in catch-as-catch-can matches, McLeod wrestled Wittmer in a non-title match. Wittmer, a Greco-Roman wrestling specialist, demanded he and McLeod wrestle at least one fall under Greco-Roman rules. The St. Paul Athletic
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/wk6gsp/Episode_117iqi8.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss when an author has a duty to correct a book the author published earlier. Update I have completed the manuscript for the history of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. I will release the book in mid-November 2022. Main Content While researching the history of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship,
If wrestling fans know of Anton “Tony” Stecher, it is as the long-time promoter of professional wrestling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stecher started promoting professional wrestling in the Twin Cities during 1933. Stecher built the Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club into a powerful local wrestling promotion. Stecher was also one of the early members of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Stecher