We All know of the Great ATHOLL OAKELEY'S Contribution to British Professional
Wrestling from 1930 onwards!-As a HIGH CALIBRE Wrestler first and foremost!
But 20 years later as a PROMOTER-His Influence in the Sport was equally enormous!
He Staged Fantastic Wrestling EVENTS-NOT JUST Shows at LONDON'S HARRINGAY
ARENA! Complimented by Sizeable and Very Detailed Programmes-packed with Info
right down to stating each Wrestler's Weight in Poundage-these Extravaganzas were on
a Scale way ahead of the Times!!
Also including Tournaments such as Open Challenges even specifying that Entrants
must be 'Under 50'!!-with substantial Prize Money on Offer!! Featuring 6+ 'Fights' and
Billing some of the Top Mat Men of the late '40's-early '50's!!
These EVENTS were the Forerunners and Prototypes for Geniuses like PAUL LINCOLN
to Template!-A great Original Programme from DECEMBER 1950 to follow-
'God Save The King'!
MAIN MASK
Here's what I think...Fazal wasn't Oakley's British Champion in 1937. No way for that. It was later, way later when Oakley called him "1937 champion"...again its pro russlin, not an Olympic Games record.
April 16th, 1937. Official Heavyweight Elimination for British Heavyweight Championship. Holder: Bonnie Alan Muir.
1937. Fazal Mohomet (The Flower), who weighs 21 stone and is 6ft. 4in. in height, was disqualified in the fourth round against Karl Pojello, heavyweight champion of Europe.
According to Wikipedia, George Gregory was the British Wrestling Association champion.
1937. FAZAL THE FLOWER 21 stones. 6ft. 4ins., the New Indian Sensation.
Evidently George Gregory won the title in 1938, by default when Douglas Clark failed to turn up for the match.
No further details given.
Many of the wrestlers at Belle Vue were Northern boys. Too soon for Morrell., I think.
Ruslan , on the net there is a programme showing 27/1/45 where Bert Assirati beat George Gregory to take the title.
The promoters were called Rogers.
what was the purpose of having those open weight (above 11st6lb) KO Tourneys? Is that how the championship was decided? Also the rules NO SUBMISSIONS, I wonder why Oakley cancelled submissions in the 1930s he was OK with them.
Note Reference to next Event- 20th FEBRUARY 1951!
'Meetings' every 2 Months then?
MAIN MASK
Now, here's a question to everyone - whose (I mean promoter) champion was George Gregory of Bolton and which style of pro wrestling it was? When/where George won or was awarded his title (British Hwt Championship) ?
Here's the programme from Main Mask.
Note reference to Modern International catch as Catch can rules that we discussed recently.
And here's Jack Doyle as forecast by Bernard
I think Douglas Clark might have had something to say about this British champion list.
1950 was just about the time that Oakeley tried to push the Irishman, Jack Doyle.
He was on at Harringay with the old american boxer Two Ton Tony Galento.
The problem for Oakeley was that Doyle did not like getting hurt and would not fight.
I think that he only had 2 or 3 matches and then the idea got dropped.
Ooh, looking forward to this!