Mike O’Sullivan. (not in A-Z).

Like all Heritage members, I’m thoroughly enjoying Ron’s Belle Vue series. I particularly like looking at the bills/posters and especially if I see a name I don’t recognise, or recognise but never have had a good ‘look’ at the guy. One such name that appeared on several of Ron’s posters along with one of Main Mask’s posters was Mike O’Sullivan. I delved and dived in and wrote a long piece, then thought better of it, so here’s a truncated version, of someone who I believe, well and truly earns a spot in the Heritage A-Z.

I first see Mike O’Sullivan in 1934, but judging by the quality of his opposition, he must have started before then. His matches, dotted around from London to Hull and Bradford, see Mike (along the way he’ll be Mick, Micky and Michael) do battle against the likes of St. Claire Gregory, Douglas Clark, Black Eagle and Iron Duke.

In ‘35 he’s a regular at the Llanes clubs, Kilburn and Blackfriars and other London venues, also meeting Van Dutz at Bell Vue, Ray St. Bernard in Ealing, Butcher Johnson in Plymouth and Anaconda in St. Leonards at Sea.

1936, Mike is back on the London scene v St Claire Gregory, Tony Baer, Jim Burnett, Steve Casey and Tiger De Lisle.

I found little in 1937, but he did meet the likes of Siki, De Mitre, Pencheff and Tommy Nilan.

1938 and Mike is once more all over the London scene, sharing the ring with the likes of Karl Reginsky, Harry Brooks, Nowina, Brendel and Whipper Billy Watson, who like Mike’s former opponent Steve Casey, will end up spending time as a World Champion.

1939 / 1940 I found a few matches, but later found a reference accorded to him as ‘Bombadier Army’ so I’m assuming Mike is in the services and almost probably based in Newcastle as…

…He becomes a semi regular in Newcastle, from 41 to 43, with the odd foray into Blackburn, meeting Dave Armstrong, Farmers Boy and Bert Mansfield among others. It seems he’s based in Newcastle and wrestling when he’s on leave from the Army.

44, 45, 46, I’ve drawn a blank, almost as there’s a match listed against Cliff Parker in Hanley in 1947.

1948 / 49 and Mike makes appearances in Hanley, Willenhall and Bury and a few others, no straying too far from his 41-43 years. Man Mountain Benny, Harry Pye, Mighty Inch, Don Mendoza and Con Blassis were some of his dance partners.

Okay, so it’s here I threw in the towel, Dai Sullivan is getting around, confusing the promoters and the printers alike as well as various Sullivans named Dan, Spike and Battling and I’ve done all I can with the newspapers, without taking out a subscription and generally life is too short and I wanted to get on with other subjects and interests!

However I also wanted to give Mike his dues. Said to be between 15 to 16 stone, he was a genuine heavyweight, who met the quick, the skilled and the strong, more often than not, in the main event. I’m hoping that other Heritage members who know better than I where to ‘look’ will take up the cudgels, fill in all my blanks and post us a picture of the man himself, Mike O’Sullivan!

p.s. and add him to the A-Z.😍