Beell Wins Title

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Fred Beell was a strong, talented professional wrestler at the turn of the 20th Century.  Beell gave all the best wrestlers of the day tough contests but his lack of size often hampered his ability with world class wrestlers. Although powerfully built, Beell was generously listed at 5’06”.  At his heaviest, Beell never exceeded 170 pounds.  While possessing a bodybuilder’s

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Lewis and Roeber Unify Title

ed-strangler-lewis-prime

When William Muldoon retired from professional wrestling in 1889, he intended for his protege, Ernst Roeber, to become the new World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.  Since Muldoon always defended his championship in the Greco-Roman wrestling style, his choice made sense.  Roeber was arguably the best Greco-Roman wrestler in America at the time. However, the wrestling fans and journalist, covering the sport,

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Wild Bill Longson Regains Title

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Willard “Wild Bill” Longson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 8, 1906 but spent most of his adult life in St. Louis, Missouri.  After beginning his career as a professional wrestler in 1931, Longson found himself working for Tom Packs in St. Louis.  He never really left as it would be his home base for the remainder

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“Farmer” Burns Holds Off Charles Green

martin-farmer-burns

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

ed-strangler-lewis-prime

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

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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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