Paul Pons, Maker of Wrestling Stars

Paul Pons was the Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion of France in the 1890s.  He won a tournament at the Folies-Bergeres before winning a tournament in Russia in 1898.  These victories allowed him to claim the World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship.  Pons capitalized on this notoriety by opening a gym to train wrestlers and strong men.

Pons’ victory was particularly remarkable because of his age.  Paul Pons was born in 1864 making him 34 years old at the time of his victory.  While he was not ancient by grappling standards, he was getting up there.  Several of Pons’ biographers claimed Pons won other World Championships after 1898 but many of these claims are hard to prove.

Several European countries held wrestling tournaments throughout the year.  When a wrestler won one of the tournaments, he often claimed to be the World Champion.  However, the recognized World Champion from 1901 to 1908 was George Hackenschmidt.  Pons never defeated Hackenschmidt.  Pons normally finished second or third in the tournaments “Hack” entered.

Paul Pons was a giant of a man.  He stood between 6’05” to 6’06” tall and weighed 260 pounds in his prime.  Pons was most famous for proving the legitimacy of up-and-coming wrestling stars.  When George Hackenschmidt beat Paul Pons, the wrestling community knew he was a serious contendor for the World Championship.

Paul Pons made stars in the ring but he also made stars in the gym.  One of his pupils was Constant LeVaux, Constant the Butcher, who won the French wrestling championship many times.  George Hackenschmidt considered Constant a tough challenger.

In 1915, Paul Pons died at 49 years of age.  What caused his death or if it was related to World World I, I have not been able to find.  Unfortunately, Pons is not well known outside of his native France today.

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