On another thread we discussed Mike Marino defending a title after turning sixty but surely there may have been others who did likewise.Count Bartelli retired at a reported 63 years old but not sure if he still held the Commonwealth heavyweight title at this time.Can anyone confirm this? Also,Alan Colbeck could be another candidate.
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As Alan Colbeck was mentioned in the original question, I think we had pretty much established that he was born mid-1920s. I don't personally recall him wrestling beyond the mid-1970s, if that late, so I think it would be reasonable to cross him off the list of candidates.
In reality wrestlers holding titles at advanced ages and for large numbers of years did as much to undermine the credibility of Professional Wrestling as the dreaded Crabtree
I'm pretty sure Kidd didn't go on till sixty. Just when Maxine finished I don't know and he may well be a contender as he seemed to drift on forever, but whether he defended his title is another matter.
If Ron has time I'd like him to investigate Kidd's date of birth. All web references I've seen say 1925, but I think this may be on the generous side.
As far as I know, with Bartelli, it was literally his belt, he owned it, so I am sure it was with him right to the very end. I am happy to be proved wrong, of course.
Yes Mike died 6 weeks shy of 60 and was truly an Anglo Italian. His middle name was Luigi and his mother was Assienta Caira born London , but crucially his maternal grandparents were both Italian. Jauseppi Caira was an Ice Cream Vendor in Fulham at the time of Marino's birth.
I thought Mike Marino died before 60? Notwithstanding that, would Brian Maxine be a candidate? George Kidd?