BWAssn Hwt Title - Judo Al Hayes

The Wrestling Title Histories book has a listing for a British Wrestling Association Heavyweight title under Athol Oakeley as promoter. It's sketchy on detail as it has Frank Manto as champion, Hayes beating him for it in 1957 in London, and then either Manto or Jock Ward taking it from Hayes. That's the entire listing. It's the only title they have for the Oakeley British Wrestling Association after the start of the Joint Promotions/Mountevans/TV era and certainly doesn't seem to fit the timeline for Oakeley. Hayes reportedly had some form of training from Oakeley, so it's possible there was some confusion at the time which wound up in the title histories book and in turn the Times obituary.

thanks dear friends...so the summary would be - encyclopedia doesn't have it quite right?

Up until at least 1953 Al Hayes was a welter weight.

I think Judo Al was champion specifically IN 1950. "Youngest ever champion" etc.

As for holding the southern area title "several times" between 1967 and 1970, I rather thought he won his title at the Royal Albert Hall and held it without interupption until Bruno beat him in, I believe, 1971.

By 1955 Hayes is working for Dale Martin

Yes I'd go with early 1950s as well. I don't think Oakeley was promoting by the late 1950s.

I thought he held that title (Oakley's) in the early 50's, not late 50's, but he definitely held it for a while.