Russian Lion Defeats Terrible Turk
On Saturday, January 30, 1904, George Hackenschmidt defended his Greco-Roman World Wrestling Championship against Ahmed Medrali. “The Russian Lion” would have to defeat “The Terrible Turk” to retain his championship. Promoters selected the giant Medrali, who was 6’02” and 224 pounds, to defeat the seemingly invincible Hackenschmidt.
George Hackenschmidt stood only 5’09” tall and weighed 209 pounds. Despite his smaller stature, Hackenschmidt was considered one of the strongest men and possibly the strongest man in the world at the time. He would need that strength to deal with the size disadvantage posed by Medrali.
George Hackenschmidt from the Public Domain
The men met at the Olympia Stadium in London. The Sunday, January 31, 1905 edition of the Wichita Daily Eagle carried an account of the bout.
After the introductions, Hackenschmidt and Medrali tied up in the center of the ring. Medrali put his hand in Hackenschmidt’s face as a way of breaking his grip. Hackenschmidt grabbed Medrali’s wrist and moved behind him for a hammerlock. During the move into the hammerlock, Medrali’s arm was broken below the elbow. Hackenschmidt quickly slammed Medrali for the first and only pin at 41 seconds. Medrali forfeited the match.
George Hackenschmidt When He Was World Wrestling Champion from the Public Domain
This bout culminated a very successful run of tournament competition for George Hackenschmidt. Hack won most of the international tournaments between 1900 and 1905. He was never defeated and only lost tournaments that he had to retire from with injury. He would not taste defeat in the ring until 1908 when he lost his title to the great Frank Gotch.
Hackenschmidt toured the United States and Australia after winning this tournament. He defeated many local wrestlers very few of whom could actually give him a match. Many fans still came out just to see Hackenschmidt. Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying if he could be someone else, he would be George Hackenschmidt. “The Russian Lion” would leave a legacy in both wrestling and physical culture.
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Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt is available at Amazon in paperback and on e-book.
