Following on from yesterday's discussion of Harry Kendall not being an ideal opponent for the squat Wild Man of Borneo, I see from one of Ron's cuttings a very early outing for this bout.
Note this is a Dale Martin bill and the earliest sighting (for me) of The Wild Man of Borneo.
Looks like he didn't cut the mustard and Dale Martin "let him go" for eight years until he landed back in their stable. And then they soon got rid of him again.
Any thoughts?
And was Kiwi Kingston any more a Kiwi than Alan Garfield was a Sydneysider?
I do agree with you in terms of the Wild Man's standing.
I merely meant that Peter Preston was the right sized opponent for him.
Joint Promotions totally wasted the Wild Man when they brought him back in the 1960s. But I can't disagree more than Anglo's comment that matching him with Peter Preston was dead on. It was dead wrong. Morrell wanted Peter as a giant slayer. Fair enough. Straight falls win over Ezzard Hard. No problem. No harm done. Knocked out Pallo. Pallo's reputation was big enough, no harm done. nca Peruano, no long term damage as he was leaving us soon. Even allowed a win over George Kidd, though George did get revenge. But the Wild Man on tv was another matter completely. The whole point of the Wild Man was that he was an animal to be feared. Putting him down 2-0 on television to a lighter opponent was humiliation for him, never to be feared again.
From a 1969 programme!!
Kiwi Kingston.
So many unsuitable opponents for The Wild Man. Bridges and Maivia and Hunter far too big. Even Marino, really.
Dr Death probably ok. And they got it dead on with his sole tv opponent, Peter Preston. Peter was happy, too, as his reputation as a Giantslayer was cemented.
No sign of Garfield v The Wild Man.
Beware of 1970s Wild Mans as these are usually not the original but a much bigger imposter.
Many thanks foir sharing, Main Mask. Love Gunga's Palais pic, on a bad hair day.
I recall the great horror actor Sir Christopher Lee, talking about Ernie Kiwi Kingston in an interview many years ago. Good wrestler.
Gunga Singh was on DM bills from 1958 through to late 1960.
Thanks guys, I just noted Ernie's 25-year uninterrupted wrestling career and here we have to question everything we are fed. He was in the Sussex showjumping scene, I believe.
I see The Wildman on both bills with Harry Kendall again. I'm just wondering whether that's coincidence?
After he appeared in a Hammer horror film he became the Great Karloff
Ernie Kingston was a Kiwi.
"...Ernie " Kiwi " Kingston was born in Christchurch, NZ in 1914. He was 6ft 4" and weighed 19 stone. In his younger days he played rugby and took up amateur wrestling, which he represented New Zealand. In his fourth year as an amateur he dislocated his elbow. After this incident he tried boxing, but to no avail.
In 1938 he turned professional and had several bouts under the guidance of NZ Champion, George Walker. Ernie spent six years service in the army. In 1946, he came to England and has been there ever since. he also toured Germany..."
Not sure if he went back to New Zealand for his final years or not.
Never knew the connection Anglo , you can always learn something on here.
I have him again here in 1958.