St John v Svajick Matches

Zando Zabo was famously known as the Elephant Boy, Tony Olivas.

Always Josef Zarbo and never Sandor Rozsa

Who the hell is this. It can only happen in Wrestling. Mind you this guy looks a heavyweight.

So that's one theory out of the window.

Well, cats and pigeons. Just when you thought it might be safe to return to the Andreas/Sandor mystery.

Ron came up with another cunning plan.

That Josef Szabo might be Sandor Rosza, with Andreas picking up the name when Josef moved away.

Eddie Rose knew Josef well, so we thought it a good idea to ask him.

It was. This was his reply, "Joe lived in Manchester and promoted quite a few shows. He was Hungarian and I do not remember him using any other name, Rosza as far as I remember was an alternative name for Andy Swarjics (?) of Accrington."

Well, Phil will be happy as we all return to square one.

Great stuff Phil and thanks.

As a genealogist I should be able to find Andreas's death but I have tried every variation of his name and non seem to be the exact spelling. Pretty much the same with most Hungarians.

Sandor Rosza is another great mystery.

Just realised that my last post (written in the comment part) is now visible on the forum site, therefore Ron I'll give you the answers again, but using the "comment" box instead of the "reply" box.

Dead or alive: Earlier this year I made a search in the "Accrington Website". I wanted to get in touch with Andreas and meet up with him at the reunion in Blackpool. I got an answer from someone saying that Andreas passed away some time ago, but to my question later on where and when, I haven't had an answer up until now.

Real name:we always knew him as Andreas Swaijick, which to my knowledge is the real name.

Olympic gold:Andreas was a very good amature wrestler in his native Hungary, but never reached the heights of olympic gold. You are correct when you say "fancuful promotors".

Another thing on Ian St John. Was an Accrington man through and through, not a scotish wrestler, in fact he lived just further up the road than myself. His real name as can be seen in the A-Z section was Harry Walsh.

Hope this reply works this time!

Hi Hack,

I made 2 replies to Ron yesterday and also this same question, which is, is there a problem with the website? Please note that nothing which I wrote and published is showing up on the forum!

Thanks in advanced for any help.

A new name to throw into the pot. Just popped up once, 1961 in Darwen, Lancashire, so same neck of the woods Andreas Veitcheck.

I don't know the actual correct spelling of the name, Phil might. When I discussed with Phil a couple of years back neither of us could find if he was still alive.

Persisting a bit on Svajick I have a few more questions.

Not mentioned in A-Z write up as alive or dead !!!!!

Do we know the real spelling / Real Name

Any truth of being an Olympic Gold medalist.

Or is it fanciful billing by North West promotions

Sorry to go a bit sideways,but does anyone know who "the Harlem Hellcats" were?

I think it's quite possible that Phil is right about Andreas working as Sandor Rosza and there being another Sandor too. Stranger things have happened in wrestling. Much stranger.

Maybe Eddie Rose? Graham Brook, was also under the same impression. What I can say is, that he wasn't from the Bob Bannister gym in Accrington.

Cheers

Going off-line now as my wine is getting too warm☺️

Just a bit odd that you don't know about this Phil as it was your time.

Don't suppose you know anyone we could ask.

It's such a long time ago. After finding this guy a couple of times in 1965 in tag with Svajic there is then a gap of five years before he pops up again , maybe because Svajic is taking his name.

Could the original have had only a brief career , but someone thought it was a great name.

Cheers Phil

Hi Ron,

No explanation,I'm stumped.Always under the impresion that Sandor Rozza was Andreas! So now we need to know who was Sandor Rozza?

Cheers from Tyrol, where I'm on holiday, hence the late response

.

But now I must point out to Hack , Phil Kenyon and others that yet again I have found a Sandor Rosza tagging with Swajsic

Can anyone explain

Still searching and gallery up to 41 now and finally I find Joint Promotions putting this match on.

Thanks Ron for the enlightenment. Just noticed though that this "John Allan" was spelt with an "a" and the other was John(y) Allen, spelt with an "e". As usual in those days the promotors played tricks in any way or form that they chose!

As Ian has now passed away, I can tell you another little anecdote: Ian always wanted a cauliflower ear, so he asked me on a regular basis if I would forearm smash him on the ear! This just didn't work as his ears were in stature, very thin, but he took the smashes which were force-wise to the best of my ability without really flinching, which goes to show that even outside of the ring he was a tough wrestler.

Also Phil Kenyon asked about Accrington's Johnny Allen . There is a suggestion he was Bolton.

Now I have added in the Sandor Rosza bouts my gallery has grown to 34.

The report above begs the question , Was there really an original Sandor Rosza.

How else can we explain it.

Also , at the start of the thread I stated I never saw their bout , well I have just found a couple of Swinton shows and time really does play tricks as I only have a faint recollection of a decent bout as people have said , Played out at speed.

The Time Detective strikes again. An interesting find Ron.

This was probably an "in joke" about which I have no knowledge but I did once referee a Swajcsic/St.John bout for Bobby Barron at Diamond Lil's Showbar in Morecambe. The M.C. was Dave Brown who I believe had seen better days working as a light comedian on summer shows but was now fighting the temptation of drink alongside working for Bob. He liked to inject a little of his own personality into these shows. As scripted, a fall had occurred in the third with the equaliser in the fifth with the final round being an all-out affair culminating in a draw.

Not only did Brown announce the equalising fall but he then said, "Ladies and gentlemen, hasn't this been a wonderfully sporting contest? This is what wrestling should be all about (applause and noises of approval). With just one round to go, wouldn't it be wonderful if this were to finish in a draw?"

Swajcsic and St. John watched this performance in horror before making sure, a few moments into round six, that one of them (I forget which one) got the winning pin. Along with Rose/Wilson, Goodman/Pedro and no doubt countless others, a bout worth its weight in gold offering class and professionalism at the very highest level.