Discussion of Britain's best heavyweights has long outweighed discussion of the best lightweight. Yet in the 1960s and 1970s the depth of lightweight talent was outstanding. No one ever doubts the technical brilliance of George Kidd. Even when I started watching in 1964 he was past his peak. His skill was outstanding, but needed co operation on the part of his opponent. Probably only one of us saw Johnny Stead. Johnny Saint was an outstanding successor to Kidd, with a reliance or possibly over reliance on speed and agility to entertain. Yet in terms of all round credibility I would put him ahead of Kidd. Jim Breaks had the skill and a harder edge. And Zolly had the harder edge with a bonus scowl. Mel Riss had tenacity and skill. Jon Cortez seemed to encompass everything. Then there was Miquet, Ross, Ryan, Robinson.... So who was the best? Clearly I've no idea.
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Strange no one mentions The Borg Twins Not sure what happened to them Iggy I think went back to Malta or maybe it was Tony, both high class fast & very watchable. One time I remember at Rochetser w s indvidual bouts with them & The Cortez bros John & Peter approx 1963/4
Had he had stayed in the division, then Dynamite would have to be very close to number one, of those we've been privileged to see. George was great to watch early, Jim was right up there, despite his later silly 'crybaby' gimmick, which he was able to overcome with his technical skill, skullduggery and permanent scowl. There were so many 'little' guys who gave us so much entertainment and a big thanks to all of them.
if we are talking JP then some their early lightweight champs colbeck stead probably. lighweights always was the toughest category when it comes to this kind of wrestling. lets not foreget that historically 9st championship was the most prestigious title in Manchester I am talking as early as the 1860s.
Breaks !!! For entertainment value and so skilled too
Only saw George Kidd once.....the albert hall bout with McManus. Cant rate on that. Skill.....Saint. Personality.....Breaks. Jon Cortez was always good to watch. Dont forget that George Kidd v Ken Joyce used to be a main event........
I have looked at Jim Breaks beginnings there's not a lot to find but he was trained by the brilliant Bernard Murray.
In real life: there was more edge to a Jon Cortez bout than with the others. Sure Zolly and Breaks could be dirty, it was their regular show, Zolly always only just stopping himself from bursting out laughing through his frown and scowl.
But Cortez really seemed to be very very angry. Very exciting and spontaneous. In that sense, he's my Number One.
What if it was a sport? How would they be rated then? Obviously, it is not a genuine competition but it was booked to create the perception that it was. There were winners and losers.
I would say the elites are de Relwyskow Jr., Joe Reid, Norman Morrell, George Kidd would be #1, Jim Breaks, Johnny Saint, Harold Angus.
Next tier would be Johnny Stead, Little Larry, Melwyn Riss, Steve Grey, Alan Miquet, Jon Cortez, Zoltan and Bobby Ryan
I wish I could judge them as performers but I have only seen those on YouTube so I have to go by the limited old newspaper reports and the flawed title histories.
in order breaks Zoltan saint,Kidd I only saw in fag end of career and needed obvious cooperation. Riss in his twightlight years lost only speed,mike Jordan a dream to work with ,Bobby Ryan died to everything . Jon Cortez skilled and the deal.Dempsey reckoned Riss breaks and stead the business.
Impossible to compare , but I will comment that going back to Alhambra Times and the 1930's we did have some incredibile wrestlers at Light weight.
Jack Carroll , Peter Gotz , Tom Rose all from early times and Harold Angus and Jack Alker in the 1930's. These guys would have been tasty at "shoot Wrestling" and would have had a big set of moves in their armoury.
Sorry Anglo. I have only seen these boys on youtube.
I got mixed up with Johnny Czeslaw.
In my opinion Johnny Saint has to be rated the best.
George Kidd was the best I ever saw, followed by Melvyn Riss.
From the people i've talked to, in the early 60's the lighweights were as big a reason to attend the wrestling matches as any other drawcard. "You got more action" was how it was summed up. The top names mentioned to me were George Kidd, Julien Morice, Zoltan Boscik, Jon Cortez, Jim Breaks.
Saint, Breaks, Kidd yes. But Jackie Robinson, Bobby Ryan, Dynamite Kid and Steve Grey came along to keep the lightweights an active division. How would you rate Dynamite Kid against Breaks, Saint, Kidd.
It boils down to Kidd and Saint. They managed, in the face of a TONNE of received wisdom about the biz , to make a World Lightweight title draw money for about half a century.
Jim Breaks great lightweight who also could hold his own in the welterweights too and really knew hot to work a crowd. Johnny also a great wrestler. Kidd was very skilful but preferred Breaks and Saint.
Good question.
On the basis of a tv bout I saw, Flash Jordan is certainly worthy of consideration alongside those mentioned.
I see it's Britain's rather than British so I'll throw in Julien Maurice - of the magnificent real name Maurice Julien!
My heart makes me want to mention Chris Bailey.
I never saw Zolly more than a lightweight so Bernard's comment surprises me. I enjoyed his aggressive edge and unpredictability.
But I have to hand it to Breaks for creating such a unique persona: most of the technicians rested on their technical laurels.
Taking your question a step further as we always do with the heavies: which of these would be the top shooter? I'd say Kidd wouldn't feature and Breaks again may head the list. But I have no real evidence to go on. Did these endless lightweight matches featuring these guys over 40 years ever get out of hand?
Zolly? don't remember him as a lightweight. If you want to go that bit heavier, I liked Steve Grey as well as the forementioned.
If I was the only one who saw Johnny Stead , then I was privileged. He was capable of holding Kidd and keeping up with his moves. Very entertaining.
Loved Johnny Saint and enjoyed Breaks. Never saw Riss , or don't remember seeing him. They were all highly skilled and it was a different experience to heavyweights. All a credit to the game. Saint before Kidd for me.