We have discussed how between 1959 and 1961 it is generally accepted that MIKE MARINO
was the Official BRITISH MID-HEAVYWEIGHT Champion and Holder of the MOUNTEVANS
Belt!-Also we know that from early 1962 MARINO 'Disappeared' from our Rings altogether!
Various 'Stories' were put out as to why this happened-such as a very bad knee Injury!-I know the probable Truth in this matter but won't bewriting this here!
When MARINO finally 'Reappeared'-it was as a PAUL LINCOLN Roster Member where he stayed for a few Years before returning to JOINT PROMOTIONS!- Throughout his Tenure in
the LINCOLN Stable-he was still Promoted as the MID-HEAVYWEIGHT Champ!!
But while MARINO was away-still Claiming this Title-There was another Man being Promoted
as BRITISH MID-HEAVYWEIGHT Champion-GEOFF PORTZ!!
On SEPTEMBER 15TH 1966-We find him as Champion taking on RAY HUNTER at the
ASSEMBLY HALL WALTHAMSTOW-as the FLYER below attests!
So we had 2 MID-HEAVYWEIGHT Champs of GT. BRITAIN at once did we?-PORTZ vacated
the Title in late 1966 due to 'Injury-and from DECEMBER of the same Year MARINO pops
back up as the Title Holder!-Again it says in the 'Records' that between 1961-1965 that
NORMAN WALSH held the Title apart from 2 'blip' Losses to ARTHUR RICARDO and JOHNNY ALLAN!-All a bit Confusing really and a Product of JOINT and INDEPENDENTS
having their own Champions in this period!-A bit like Heavyweight Boxing with numerous
Title Holders!
MAIN MASK
O K Main Mask, but you look at it from a promoters point of view. I've explained why they did it. They were in it to make money, not to please you ! (or any spectator)
Sorry, I guess that you will just have to learn more about the running of the business as a lot of us on this site have had to do over the years.
Main Mask, the whole thing is a "Nonsense" as you say.
The more we learn, the less we know.
Don't drive yourself mad with it, just accept that the promoters did what they thought would put most bums on seats.
If a promoter thought that billing a wrestler as champion of something, no matter how illogical, if it looked good on the bill, then on it went.
Most punters ,without a site like this, would not know if there were 3 or 4 different champions at the same weight.
Accept it, it happened. --- Often !
Portz was a full blown heavyweight at 15 stone 10 pounds,Hunter looked heavier than that.
Hi Ost, you forgot British Commonwealth. I think that there were 5 belts at one time
Norman Walsh held 3 or 4 of them at various times.
At various points there were four different Mid-Heavyweight "championships"; World, European, British Empire and British. And you can find Marino billed as all of them at various points in his career. It was so confusing even the magazines and bill printers couldn't keep track of which belt was emblematic of which championship.
I just can't see how Portz and Hunter could could have lost enough weight to make mid-heavyweight.
Yes, it does.
Look at the heavyweight boxing scene , where at times you have 4 different world champions.
I told you not to try too hard to make sense of it Main Mask!