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. Гэтыя перамогі дазволілі яму прэтэндаваць на чэмпіянат свету па грэка-рымскай барацьбе. Pons capitalized on this notoriety by opening a gym to train wrestlers and strong men.
Pons’ victory was particularly remarkable because of his age. Пол Понс нарадзіўся ў 1864 што робіць яго 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’ біёграфы сцвярджалі, што Понс выйграў іншыя чэмпіянаты свету пасля 1898 but many of these claims are hard to prove.
Paul Pons With His World Championship Belt from the Public Domain
Некалькі еўрапейскіх краін праводзілі турніры па барацьбе на працягу ўсяго года. When a wrestler won one of the tournaments, he often claimed to be the World Champion. Аднак, the recognized World Champion from 1901 для 1908 was George Hackenschmidt. Pons never defeated Hackenschmidt. Понс звычайна фінішаваў другім ці трэцім на турнірах “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. Понс быў найбольш вядомы тым, што даказаў законнасць будучых зорак барацьбы. When George Hackenschmidt beat Paul Pons, супольнасць барацьбы ведала, што ён сур'ёзны прэтэндэнт на чэмпіянат свету.
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, які шмат разоў выйграваў чэмпіянат Францыі па барацьбе. George Hackenschmidt considered Constant a tough challenger.
Paul Pons Plaque in France
У 1915, Paul Pons died at 49 гадоў. What caused his death or if it was related to World World I, I have not been able to find. На жаль, Pons is not well known outside of his native France today.
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