“Farmer” Burns Holds Off Charles Green

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In a recent post, I wrote about Charles Green’s unsuccessful attempt to defeat Evan “Strangler” Lewis in 1889.  A year later, Green had greater success with another American wrestling legend, Martin “Farmer” Burns. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Burns was an excellent wrestler but wasn’t yet on the level of Evan Lewis.  However, he would have to be in the top 10

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Lewis and Stecher Shoot One Last Time

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The Gold Dust Trio’s dominance of professional wrestling in the early to mid-1920s bred lots of resentment with other wrestlers and promoters.  This professional jealousy led to a famous double-cross in 1925.  From this time on, the world title was disputed as Joe Stecher held one version, while Ed “Strangler” Lewis held the other version. Due to the real resentment

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Charles Green Preps for Evan Lewis

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Charles Green, a skilled English catch-as-catch-can wrestler, traveled to the United States in the late 1880s to wrestle the best American wrestlers.  Green got his opportunity on July 21, 1889, when he wrestled American Heavyweight Catch-as-Catch-Can Champion Evan Lewis.  To prepare for this match, Green took a handicap bout with journeyman wrestler Bert Scheller in late June. Scheller was born

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Ketchel Starches Sullivan

stanley-ketchel-1910

Mike “Twin” Sullivan claimed the Welterweight World Boxing Championship, when he decisioned Honey Mellody in April 1907.  Possessing both heavy hands and better than normal boxing skills, Sullivan claimed victories over the great Joe Gans and future Welterweight World Boxing Champion Harry Lewis during his career.  Lewis won the welterweight title, when Sullivan could no longer make the 147 pound

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Jenkins’ and Beell’s Closed Door Match

tom-jenkins

Tom Jenkins had the distinction of being the only wrestler to defeat Frank Gotch multiple times.  Jenkins and Gotch traded the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship between 1902 and 1906. At the time of this match, Jenkins was the champion again. Fred Beell had been campaigning for a match with Jenkins for the past several months.  Beell finally convinced Jenkins to

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Ketchel Fights Light Heavy Champ

stanley-ketchel-1910

1909 saw Stanley Ketchel continue his torrid pace through all the top fighters around the middleweight limit.  In March 1909, Ketchel faced a rare challenge, when he fought reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion Philadelphia Jack O’Brien. O’Brien was a slick boxer, who used his speed and elusiveness to pummel Ketchel in the early rounds.  Despite O’Brien’s size advantage, Ketchel was

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“Toots” Mondt’s Injured in 1922

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Joseph “Toots” Mondt wrestled professionally from the early 1910s through the 1930s but he made his real mark as a booker, booking agent and promoter.  While Ed “Strangler” Lewis considered Mondt his equal in a legitimate wrestling match, Mondt has a genius for creating angles and finishes in worked wrestling exhibitions. Mondt would join Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow

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