B: Boss - Brazil
Wrestling Heritage A-Z
Pierre Boss
This
French heavyweight travelled extensively throughout Europe. He visited
Britain in 1952, travelling throughout the country and meeting wrestlers
such as Vic Hessle and Eddie Flash Barker.
Boston Blackie
A
name that surfaced at least twice in the post war years. There was a
Boston Blackie on the independent circuit in the 1960s. Another Boston
Blackie resurfaced in the 1980s, and Pantaleon Manlapig tells us Boston
Blackie wrestled in Germany during 1991-2 in Hamburg for Sven Hansen
and Rene Lassartesse.
Juan Botano
The
rugged Spanish based South American heavyweight first visited Britain
in 1957, falling to Judo Al Hayes at the Royal Albert Hall. He was back
in Britain ten years later, once again appearing at the Royal Albert
Hall, and this time going down to Judo Al's tag partner Rebel Ray
Hunter. The wild Peruvian came to national prominence in televised
contests against three of the most popular wrestlers in Britain, Judo Al
Hayes, Mike Marino and Les Kellett. Around the halls Botano faced top
class opposition Steve Veidor, Joe Cornelius and Tibor Szakacs. In tag
contests Juan partnered fellow Peruvian Gomez Maximilliano.
Dan Boukard
The
rugged Frenchman came over to work in the UK for the latter half of
1965. Despite coming with the usual first class credentials of having
won international tournaments and met international acclaim the reality
was quite different. A KO loss to Jackie Pallo at the Royal Albert Hall
is fair enough, but add to that losses to Spencer Churchill, Ivan
Penzecoff, Leon Arras, Colin Joynson and other mid carders and you will
appreciate that the Frenchman did not quite meet his initial promise.
George Bouranis
One
half of the colourful Greek tag pairing of the Helenes who visited
Britain for ten weeks in the 1967. Wearing Greek national costume they
added colour and skill to the British scene during their visit. Tagged
with fellow Greek Souris Tsickrikas for some thrilling matches with the
Royals and The Saints as well as against villains like the Black
Diamonds and Dennisons. A knock out win over Terry Jowett in his sole
television appearance and lost to Johnny Czeslaw at the Royal Albert
Hall.
Gerard Bouvet
One
time amateur Greco Roman champion and French middleweight from Avignon
made a three day visit to the United Kingdom in the spring of 1971. He
held the heavier Johnny Czeslaw to a draw, was knocked out by Jackie
Pallo and lost by a single fall to Clayton Thomson at the Royal Albert
Hall.
Chris Bowles
The 1980s welterweight from Tunbridge Wells came from a judo background, joining the Tonbridge Club when he was five years old. In 1978, and again in 1980, he was British Open Champion, a European silver medallist and British member of the judo team in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
Following the Olympics he turned professional wrestler, but remains most famed for his judoka achievements. He was appointed head coach for the British judo team in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Billy Boyle
Rule bending Scot from Coatbridge turned professional in 1968 having trained at Peter Keenan's Glasgow gymnasium. Wrestled through the 1970s, mainly for Morrell/Beresford and Relwyskow and Green Promotions, almost exclusively in Scottish venues.
Jim Boyle
We turn to our knowledgeable readers for information about Jim Boyle. We do know he was sufficiently active between 1950 and 1954 to justify inclusion in this website. Opponents included top class opposition Bernard Murray, Frank O'Donnell, Jack Dempsey, Alan Colbeck and Fred Woolley. Was taken on by Joint Promotions post 1952 and seems to have disappeared around 1954.
Steve Braddock
Welterweight campaigner 1963-4 for the independent promoters throughout much of the country. Opponents included Jim Lewis, Tommy Bailey and Roy Royal.
Roy Bradley
Roy Bradley was the name Leicestershire's Roy Malins chose as his ring name back in the late 1940s and 1950s when he started wrestling against the likes of Val Cerino, Norman Thomas and Larry Laycock. In later years during the 1960s and 1970s he worked for independent promoters under a mask as Doctor Death. Like many other professional wrestlers Roy had to share his love of wrestling with that of earning an honest crust at a machine tool manufacturers, Jones and Shipman, in Leicester. Roy retired in 1972. Five years later he was presented with a Silver Jubilee Medal by the Queen for his services to industry. Between wrestling and the day job Roy somehow found time to work for the charity Campaign to Protect Rural England and as a volunteer social worker caring for the elderly
Roy died suddenly on September 5th 2007 aged 86 years.
Don Branch
Don Branch is remembered by British wrestling fans for a number of illustrious, and not so illustrious, of reasons. Most will remember him as a television referee with hair that defied nature and Edwardian sized sideburns working for Norman Morrell and Ted Beresford; the referee who had the dubious distinction of officiating the infamous televised Mick McManus tussle with Peter Preston. Older readers will remember him as a fine wrestler, a star of the fifties and early sixties, though his career was dogged by a succession of knee injuries that kept him out of the ring for extended periods.For others there will be another dominant memory of Don Branch, namely the source of one of the many News of the World exposes of British wrestling. Following a distinguished amateur career Don was persuaded to turn professional in 1952 by Bradford promoter Norman Morrell. His technical ability made him one of the top welter and middleweight contenders until injury forced him to retire in 1965. As soon as he retired he was taken on as a referee by Norman Morrell, which makes it altogether sadder and mysterious that Morrell was the man he was to betray a decade and a half later.
Crusher Brannigan
Rough, tough American heavyweight and supporting bill wrestler for the WWWF in the 1970s. and worked in Britain in 1982 and 1983. Known in the USA and Japan as Joe Nova, and in Australia as Joe Brannigan. Unsuccessful challenger of Wayne Bridges for his World Heavyweight Championship. Partnered Banger Walsh in a Cup Final special against the team of Big Daddy and Kwik Kick Lee. Crusher Brannigan died in 2009.
Dino Bravo
Dino Bravo was an Italian born naturalised Canadian who tangled with Britain's finest during his tour of 1961 and 1962. He was a big lad to say the least, but in the best of ways, claiming to be 6'9" tall and very muscular. The finest we could offer him included just about all the top British heavyweights, with wins over many but going down to Mike Marino at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alec Bray
Wigan's Alec Bray was a regular worker throughout the north and midlands during the 1950s. Wrestled top names such as Billy Joyce and Ernie Riley, and was one of the earliest opponents of Billy Robinson in 1958.
Eric Brazil
Antwerp's Eric Brazil is the son of Belgian wrestler Sus Labrosse. The young Brazilian was reputed to have gone two years without being pinned. He turned professional in 1967 and made two fleeting visits to Britain where fans liked his fast, clean and technical style of wrestling. In October 1972 he lost to Jackie Pallo at the Royal Albert Hall, but doing better on his return to the venue when he returned in November, 1974 to defeat Mel Stuart. Much of his career was spent wrestling in South America.
Page reviewed 3/3/19