Burns nega asociación con Stecher

A principios de 1916, Martin “Agricultores” Queimaduras, que adestrou e dirixiu a Frank Gotch para o Campionato Mundial de Peso Pesado, comezou a negar que desenvolveu o actual campión estadounidense de peso pesado Joe Stecher. A afirmación parecía estraña porque Burns levaba varios anos traballando con Stecher. Burns axudou a preparar a Stecher para a súa loita polo campionato con Charlie Cutler 1915.

En certo xeito, what Burns said was true because Stecher learned from both his brother Tony and wrestling coaches in Nebraska before meeting “Agricultores” Queimaduras. While a senior in high school and only 16 anos de idade, Stecher almost defeated professional wrestler Dr. Benjamin Rolo. Stecher received excellent training before he met “Agricultores” Queimaduras.

Porén, Burns polished Stecher, who he met after Stecher turned pro in 1912. While Burns was touring with Yussif Mahmout, who was challenging all comers in a carnival setting, Stecher answered his challenge. Mahmout had to bite Stecher to be disqualifed after being caughter in Stecher’s scissor hold.

Stecher defeated Cutler for the vacant American Heavyweight Championship, under Burn’s tutelage. So why would Burns distance himself from Stecher? It was actually quite simple. The men were preparing for a “Traballou” or prearranged exhibition with former undisputed World Champion Frank Gotch.

The wrestling public and more importantly the sporting press were skeptical of the legitimacy of wrestling bouts. Charges of “faking” outcomes dogged the sport since at least the 1870s. Gotch worked many legitimate matches in his career but also took part in “Traballou” exhibitions. Gotch was motivated to put Stecher over and pass the torch to his and Burns’ young protege because Gotch was tired of being challenged.

After his 1911 marriage to his wife Gladys, Frank Gotch wrestled fewer and fewer matches. He retired as reigning world champion after beating Georg Lurich in 1913. Porén, wrestlers such as Aleksander “Alex” Aberg continued to challenge him over the next couple of years. Gotch was like the retired gunfighter that every young gunsel wanted to make a reputation on.

If Gotch lost to Stecher, it would end all the challenges. The public already looked at Stecher as Gotch’s successor, so this victory would cement the prevailing view. Both Gotch and Burns liked Tony and Joe Stecher. They saw it as a win-win for everyone.

Porén, Gotch was injured in training during 1916 and the match never occurred. Gotch died at only 40 years of age from blood poisoning in December 1917. Despite not “defeating” Gotch, the wrestling public continued to recognize Stecher as the champion. Burns would be free to continue working with Stecher.

Stecher won the world championship several times before retiring in 1934. He later suffered some type of breakdown and spent 30 years in an assisted living facility.

Lou Thesz held Tony Stecher, who by the 1930s was a promoter, in high regard. He met Joe Stecher several times. While he was impressed by Joe’s accomplishments and was very kind when they met, Thesz also said Joe’s mental health challenges were obvious to anyone who interacted with him. He died at 80 anos de idade en 1974.

What do you think of the plan for working a match between Gotch and Stecher? Podes deixar un comentario ou facer unha pregunta sobre este ou calquera post na sección de comentarios a continuación ou no meu Facebook page ou Twitter perfil.

Source: St. Louis Star-Times, Febreiro 1, 1916 edition, p. 9 e Prostituta por Lou Thesz

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