One Wrestler I always found 'Curious'!-He was VERY Strong!-In fact COUNT BARTELLI-
No ' Weakling' himself!- once said after Wrestling this Man that because of his Strength-
He didn't particularly 'want' to Wrestle him again!!
This Man latterly became known as HONEY BOY ZIMBA although this wasn't his First
Ring Name!!-ZIMBA Started out in the World of Wrestling Billed as NIGEL THE WARRIOR!
Not too Original though so he was 'Redubbed' as the much more Exotic 'HONEY BOY'!!
ZIMBA could Wrestle but I Personally don't recall him Winning Bouts that often!
O.K.!-His 'Style' was built around Strength and Power Moves and he was well Equipped
with the 'Lethal' Head Butt which All his Opponents were anxious to 'avoid'!!-He also on
Occasion Shared Top Billing-BUT he never seemed to WIN!!-I saw him Dominate in some
Contests-His Foe clearly struggling against his Power-no really!-then it would end as a Draw
as those were the 'Orders'-ZIMBA often 'giving away' a really 'soft' Fall!
He was Popular though and in my View could have been 'Pushed' more!
Why wasn't he?-Who saw him Win against Top Opposition?-Did he ever Fight for a Title?
I thought he was Better than a Perennial 'Jobber'!!
He DID get around the Country-So he got plenty of Work!!
Below Main Eventing with the Great COUNT BARTELLI!!...
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Just like to correct something I deduced on this thread. Zimba was Earnal Stevens1936-1995 and died in Manchester and not Bradford.
I've just contributed to a tag team thread and that made me pause and think of the various tag partners I saw with Zimba. By far the most common was Johnny Kwango and i remember them together at The King's Hall, Belle Vue, taking on The Dangermen (Steve Haggetty and Colin Joynson) and The Dennisons (Alan Dennison and Ted Heath) for Morrell and Beresford. Morrell and Beresford also promoted them together against The Rockets (Mark Rocco and "Tug" Wilson) at The De Montfort Hall, Leicester.
Zimba also faced The Dennisons at Belle Vue partnered by Masambula and they
joined forces for Martin Conroy at Bolton's Wryton Stadium against The Barons (Ian Gilmour and Jeff Kaye). Conroy also ,paired him with Bobo Matu against The Saints (Roy and Tony St.Clair) at The Gaiety Theatre, Rhyl.
I recall Crabtree pairing him with Gil Singh at The King's Hall, Belle Vue, against Shirley Crabtree and Giant Haystacks and Conroy pairing him with "Jumping" Jim Moser at the Gaiety Theatre, Rhyl, against The Judokas (Pete Roberts and Al Marquette).
In fact, it was Moser who passed Zimba's number on to me when Jim was doing some shows for me. He thought I might book them in some tags together and also told me that the two of them fought each other occasionally and had a tidy little bout worked out. However, when I 'phoned him he was very curt. He said, "I work for Joint Promotions," and put the 'phone down so that was that.
Ray had this one, I wonder if MM has this in his Sutton collection: February 17, 1962: SUTTON IN ASHFIELD;Lees v Black Mask;Maynard v J.Hart;Moser v Morriss;Zimba v Art Martinelli
Wow Anglo that's some title claim and I can think of several leading contenders.Ron as usual on the case and always thorough.Yes he was Ernal and he did pass on 1999,however he spelt surname with a v, well he did when he showed me an official document.last I heard of him he was living on Northumberland Rd Old Trafford,he ran a couple of pubs in Moss Side.Bradford dunno but he had family in Hull.
WrestlingData have him as Ernal Stephens
As he died in 1999 I think he might be Ottilie Herta E Stephens born 13th May1928
Looks like he died in Bradford although i thought he had a pub in Manchester.
But Bradford fits in with his mate Masambula.
I am not inferring that he was born in England, that was just his year of birth
Early promo photo:
The biggest drinker in wrestling, I believe. Sorry can’t contribute now as I am travelling.
But I love the tag match: Logan v Stewart - without partners, hahaha.
I have him Nigel the Warrior at the start of 1963 but Honey Boy by the summer.
Wonder what his real name was.
Here's ZIMBA at SOUTHEND for DALE MARTIN Wrestling WAYNE BRIDGES!
Another 'Head Butt Specialist' on this Bill aiming to give MCMANUS a Torrid Time!!.....
Note ZIMBA's Different 'Type-Face'!!
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