Los Angeles Wrestling Results

Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, January 7, 1931
(Olympic Auditorium) … Gus Sonnenberg b. Henri DeGlane (2/3) (Sonnenberg won the
initial fall in 28:27, DeGlane won the second fall in 46:53, Sonnenberg won the final fall in
8:02 after a right handed punch to his opponent’s face) … Barney Ostapowicz b. Buck
Olsen (9:40) … Myron Cox b. Dr. P.A. Mullikan (5:55) … (promoter: Lou Daro)
Note: Barney Ostapowicz was billed as a “youthful former Michigan State College
wrestling champion.” He “won the all-Michigan Conference heavyweight title last year.”

*Although he had won the right to battle Ed Don George in a rematch in Los Angeles by
defeating DeGlane, Sonnenberg would not be able to make the date. The Los Angeles
Times reported on January 11, 1931 that Sonnenberg had announced the day prior that”
he would not be able to take the match at this time because he could not get released
from matches he had agreed to more than a week ago.” Sonnenberg was going to wrestle
in San Francisco on Tuesday, plus two matches in Oregon, then a bout with John Pesek in
Boston on January 22. Henri DeGlane would be given the bout.

*During the afternoon of Saturday, April 4, 1931, Ed “Strangler” Lewis trained at the
Olympic Auditorium before an estimated 3,000 fans, in preparation for his match with
World Heavyweight Champion Ed Don George. Lewis worked out with Bill Beth, Young
Christy, and Dr. P.A. Mullikin.

*On Monday, April 6, 1931, Ed “Strangler” Lewis trained at the Olympic Auditorium with Bill
Beth, Dr. P.A. Mullikin, and Steve Strelich. Lewis was said to be in "great shape."

*On Wednesday, April 8, 1931, World Champion Ed Don George trained at the Olympic
Auditorium before more than 5,000 fans, working out with Jack Clark and Alex Aberg.
Afterwards, he trained under University of Southern California track coach Dean
Cromwell. Ed Lewis followed George’s Olympic session and trained with Charlie Fischer
and Bill Beth.

*On April 8, 1931, Lewis attended the Sportsmen's Banquet at the Biltmore Hotel along
with Frank Wykoff, Bobby Jones, Maury McLoughlin, George Marshall, Harvey Humphrey,
O.B. Keeler, and Eric Pedley. It was $100 a plate.

*Lou Daro, promoter for the Ed Don George-Ed “Strangler” Lewis World Title Match at the
Olympic Auditorium, predicted a record draw, more than 25,000 fans and a $100,000 gate.

Los Angeles, California: Monday, April 13, 1931
(Wrigley Field) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Ed Don George to capture the World
Heavyweight Title (2-0) (Lewis won the first in 1:10:26, Lewis won the second in 7:42 with
a hammerlock) (Lewis was managed by Billy Sandow) … Joe Savoldi b. Myron Cox (9:05)
… Joe Malcewicz b. Dick Raines (25:45) (bloody match) … Bill Beth and Ad Santel drew
(30:00) … (promoter: Lou Daro) … (matchmaker: Jack E. Daro) … (referees: Col. Ted
Hopkins, Don W. McDonald) … (12,000 fans) … (gate: $27,951) (far below expectations)

*After the show, Lou Daro left Los Angeles with his wife for the east coast looking for
talent. While he was gone, Lou’s brother Jack E. Daro would be in charge of the Los
Angeles Olympic Auditorium shows.

Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, April 29, 1931
(Olympic Auditorium) … Everette Marshall b. Dr. Karl Sarpolis (2/3) (Marshall won the first
fall in 34:48, Sarpolis won the second in 9:53, Marshall won the third in 4:52) … Joe
Savoldi b. Dick Raines (2-0) (8:23, 9:47) … Abie Coleman b. Barney Ostapovich (8:33) …
(promoter: Jack E. Daro)

*On Thursday, June 4, 1931, Ed “Strangler” Lewis posted a $5,000 check with the
California State Athletic Commission “as a challenge to DeGlane and Jim Londos, the two
claimants to the [world heavyweight] crown.”

Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, October 14, 1931
(Olympic Auditorium) … Gus Sonnenberg b. Nick Lutze (2/3) (Sonnenberg won the first fall
in 33:43, Lutze won the second in 12:27, Sonnenberg won the third) … Everette Marshall
and Wladek Zbyszko drew (60:00) (Zbyszko was a substitute for Bonnie Muir) … Vic
Christy b. Don Castanos (18:47) … (promoter: Lou Daro)

Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, October 28, 1931
(Olympic Auditorium) … Nick Lutze vs. Bonnie Muir (at press time, Lutze was winning 1-0)
… Singh Daulah b. Sol Schlagel (4:26) … Nat Pendleton (local debut) b. Joe Varga (7:55)
… Vic Christy b. Carl Rhule (7:20) … (promoter: Lou Daro)

Los Angeles, California: Monday, November 9, 1931
(Olympic Auditorium) … Nick Lutze and Gus Sonnenberg drew (1-1) … Bonnie Muir b.
Harry Mamox (37:06) … Jack Clarke vs. Nat Pendleton … Vic Christy vs. Rudy Skarda …
(promoter: Lou Daro) … (referee: McDonald)
Note: According to the Los Angeles Times, Pendleton was “winner of the European pro
mat championship in 1924” and “had not been thrown in the eight years.”

Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, November 25, 1931
(Olympic Auditorium) … World Heavyweight Champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Joe Savoldi
(2/3) (Lewis won the first fall in 18:31, Savoldi won the second in 7:56, Lewis won the third
in 9:15) … Nat Pendleton b. Dick Raines (15:35) … Harry Mamos b. Ad Herman (17:04) …
Myron Cox and Rudy Skarda drew (30:00) … Steve Strelich b. Ivan Petroff (20:32) …
(promoter: Lou Daro)
Note: The Los Angeles Times reported on November 26, 1931 that “by winning the bout
Lewis retained his world’s wrestling championship.”

Research by Tim Hornbaker

Los Angeles Wrestling Results - 1931