Paul Pons, Maker ng Wrestling Bituin

Paul Pons ay ang Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion ng Pransya sa 1890s. Nanalo siya ng isang paligsahan sa Folies-Bergeres bago nanalong isang paligsahan sa Russia sa 1898. Ang mga tagumpay na ito ay nagpahintulot sa kanya na angkinin ang World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship. Pons sa malaking titik sa pagiging sikat na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas ng gym sa tren wrestlers at malakas na lalaki.

Pons’ victory was particularly remarkable because of his age. Paul Pons ay ipinanganak sa 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. Gayunman, the recognized World Champion from 1901 upang 1908 was George Hackenschmidt. Pons never defeated Hackenschmidt. Pons normally finished second or third in the tournaments “Pataga” 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.

Sa 1915, Paul Pons died at 49 taong gulang. What caused his death or if it was related to World World I, I have not been able to find. Sa kasamaang-palad, Pons is not well known outside of his native France today.

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