Boston, Massachusetts: Friday, January 4, 1929 (“New” Boston Garden) … Gus Sonnenberg b. Ed “Strangler” Lewis to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2-0) (Sonnenberg won the first fall in 29:46 and then took the second in 8:20) (Lewis was accompanied by manager Billy Sandow, Jerry Sullivan and Tom Draak) (Sonnenberg was managed by James Brown, Jack Albright and Dan Koloff) (Joe Malcewicz was introduced as the winner’s first challenger before the match) … Dan Koloff b. George Walker (26:20) … Howard Cantonwine and Freddie Meyers drew (30:00) … Stanley Stasiak b. Tommy Draak (21:03) … Bibber McCoy b. Sam Skorsky (8:20) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referees: Leon Burbank, Charlie Donnell) … (in attendance: Numerous members of the sporting and civilians communities attended the match including Massachusetts Governor Frank Allen) … (20,000+ fans in attendance) (thousands turned away) … (gate: $72-78,000) ($73,000) Note: Ed Lewis received $50,000 for the match, and Sonnenberg received $8,000. Sonnenberg was suspended by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission on May 15, 1929, indefinitely for wrestling unworthy opponents and not accepting serious challenges. The New York State Commission followed suit, not recognizing him as the World Champion. A match was held in Philadelphia between Richard Shikat and Jim Londos in mid-1929 to determine a new champion. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Friday, August 23, 1929 (Municipal Stadium) … Richard “Dick” Shikat b. Jim Londos to capture the vacant World Heavyweight Title (1:15:12) (Shikat was accompanied by his manager Joe “Toots” Mondt) (After the match, Shikat was presented with a $5,000 championship belt, which was 18-karat gold with 19-diamonds) (Londos was found to have suffered rib injuries, and possibly broken bones) (Shikat was cheered and Londos was boo’ ed) … Kola Kwariani b. Mike Romano (30:00) … Joe Komar b. Jack Washburn (14:43) … Hans Steinke b. Joe Rogaski (7:32) … (promoter: Aurelio Fabiani) … (referees: William J. Hermann (main event), Herman Wolf) … (announcer: Charley Walsh) … (physician: Dr. Baron) … (judges: Stanley Baumgartner, Thomas Kohlas) … (in attendance: Tom Packs, Mayor of St. Louis Victor Miller, forty newspapermen from around the country, Pennsylvania State Athletic Commisison Chairman Frank Wiener, PA State Athletic Commission Secretary, Bob Young) … (30,000 fans) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Friday, June 6, 1930 (Phillies’ Ball Park) … Jim Londos b. Richard Shikat to capture the World Heavyweight Title (1:23:44) (Londos was accompanied by Ed White) (Shikat was accompanied by Joe “Toots” Mondt) (Shikat had a plaster over the left side of his chest, protecting a wound suffered during training) (after the match, Londos was joined in the ring by his manager and National Boxing Association Chairman Col. Harry J. Landry and NBA President Stanley Isaacs) (Londos would later be given a golden championship belt by the National Boxing Association) … Ray Steele b. Pat O’Shocker (18-minutes) … Tiny Roebuck b. Jack Washburn (5:44) … Rudy Dusek b. Jim McMillen (dec., 30:00) … (promoter: Ray Fabiani) … (referees: Ben Paul, Herman Wolff) … (judges: Stan Baumgartner, Thomas Kohler) … (announcer: Charley Welsh) … (timekeeper: Joe Cervino) … (20,000 fans) … (gate: $75,000) … (in attendance: Stanley Isaacs, Harry J. Landry, Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission Chairman Frank Wiener, Bobby Gunnis, Rudy Fried, Jim Dougherty) Boston, Massachusetts: Thursday, June 27, 1935 (Fenway Park) … Danno O’Mahoney b. Jim Londos to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Title (1:16: 50) (one-fall match after the sixty-minute limit had been reached) … Karl Pojello b. Red Ryan (8:30) … John Malmberg and Henry Piers drew (10:00) … Danny Winters b. John Spellman (7:46) … Len Macaluso and Farmer George McLeod drew (10:00) … Chief Little Moose and Leo Numa drew (10:00) … Joe Savoldi b. Charley Strack (DQ) … Gino Garibaldi and Scotty MacDougal drew (10:00) (after the main event) … Billy Bartush and Dick Daviscourt drew (10:00) (after the main event) … (promoters: Paul Bowser, American Legion matchmaker Alex MacLean) … (referees: Ted Tonneman – main event, Sam Smith, Charles Donnell, Al Morelli) … (announcer: Whitey Kavnfer) … (head ticket dispenser: Tommy Parlo) … (sponsored by: American Legion, Crosscup-Pishon Post, headed by Vice Commander Thomas A. Fallon and Adjutant William J. Langworthy, chairman of the ticket committee Tom Fallon) … (in attendance: Ed Don Geoge, Jack Curley, Ray Fabiani, Tom Packs, members of the Braves baseball team) … (25-30,000 fans) Manhattan, New York: March 2, 1936 (Madison Square Garden) … Dick Shikat b. Danno O’Mahoney to capture the World Heavyweight Title (18: 57) (Shikat threatened to break O’Mahoney’s arm in a hammerlock) (O’Mahoney gave up) … Dean Detton b. Rusty Westcoatt (14:07) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Charlie Strack (7:04) … Ernie Dusek b. Ed Meske (18:23) … Abe Coleman and Gus Sonnenberg drew (30:00) … Sergei Kalmikoff b. Tex Morgan (10:38) … Sandor Vary b. Scotty McDougal (15:09) … (promoter: Jack Curley) … (referee: George Bothner) … (7,000 fans) *When Dick Shikat double-crossed Danno O'Mahoney, the "Trust" lost control of the legitimate championship lineage, which had been worth tens of thousands of dollars. Shikat, however, was now being booked by a rival wrestling organization known as the "Little Trust," and run by Al Haft of Columbus. Detroit, Michigan: Friday, April 24, 1936 (Olympia Sports Arena) … Ali Baba b. Dick Shikat to capture the World Heavyweight Title (46:40) … John Swenski b. Alex Kasaboski … Jim Heffner and Bill Kief drew … Frank Sexton b. Pat McCleary … Frank Malcewicz and Ernie Petersen drew … (promoter: Adam Weissmuller) … (referee: Verne Clark) … (physician: Dr. C.L. Tonsu) … (8,235 fans) … (gate: $7,405.90) Newark, New Jersey: Friday, June 12, 1936 (Meadowbrook Field) … Dave Levin b. Ali Baba to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2-0) (21:00) (Levin was knocked to the mat by a dropkick, said to be in his mid-section, and was called a foul by the referee, giving Levin the first fall) (the referee allowed Levin 10 minutes to recover, to continue the bout) (Levin was unable to continue and given the match) (Levin was a substitute for Hans Schnabel) … Maurice LaChappelle b. George Becker (32:00) … Tony Siano b. Ivan Dimitroff (12:45) … Fred Bruno and Eddie Malone drew … Pat McClary b. Andy Chikos (14:00) … Salvatore Balbo b. Bobby Roberts (18:30) … (referee: Frank Sinborn) … (physician: Dr. Wolf Emmer of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission) … (sponsored by: Dreamland Sporting Club) (initial show) *Baba was double-crossed by Jack Pfefer and "Trust" member "Toots" Mondt, giving what many believed to be the rightful championship lineage to Dave Levin. On June 17, 1936, Levin signed a contract with Mondt. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Monday, September 28, 1936 (The Arena) … Dean Detton b. Dave Levin to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2:05:52) (Levin lost eight pounds during the match) (Levin suffered rope burns behind his knee during the bout) (Detton was managed by Jack Washburn) … Jim McMillen and George Zaharias drew (45:00) … Bobby Bruns and Chief Little Wolf drew (15:00) … Abie Goldberg b. Paddy Mack (8:28) … Harry Fields and Mayes McLain drew … Hardy Kruskamp b. Roy Stewart (5:15) … Teddy Keys b. Jimmy Spencer (5:17) … Al Bisignano b. Jack Washburn (7:21) … (promoter: Ray Fabiani) … (referees: Dave Benner, Billy Clark) … (judges: Stan Baumgartner, Thomas Howes) … (9,000 fans) Notes: Season Opener (Fabiani’s 13th indoor season). Detton was favored to win the heavyweight championship. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Tuesday, June 29, 1937 (Minneapolis Auditorium) … Bronko Nagurski b. Dean Detton to capture the World Heavyweight Title (46: 37) (Nagurski weighed 232, Detton weighed 208) … (promoter: Tony Stecher) … (referee: Billy B. Hoke) … (8,000-9,000 fans) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Friday, November 18, 1938 (Convention Hall) … Jim Londos b. Bronko Nagurski to capture the World Heavyweight Title (47:11) … Chief Little Wolf and Joe Savoldi drew (30:00) … Chief Chewacki b. Tom Mahoney (12:16) … Hans Kampfer b. Jules Strongbow (dec., 20:00) … The Golden Terror b. Frank Brown (19:21) … Pete Peterson b. The Cardiff Giant (12:57) … (promoter: Ray Fabiani) … (referee: Willie Clark) … (10,000 fans) *The Philadelphia Inquirer (2/21/41) stated that “Szabo became recognized as the heavyweight champion on the Pacific Coast several weeks ago when Jim Londos forfeited his title.” Szabo was recognized in three states as titleholder: California, Oregon and Washington. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Friday, February 21, 1941 (The Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion (claimant) Sandor Szabo b. Ted Cox (24:07) … Joe Millich b. “Tiger” Joe Marsh (dec., 30:00) … Nanjo Singh vs. Sammy Stein … Juan Humberto vs. Max Krauser … Billy “Whipper” Watson vs. Cy Williams … (referee: Willie Clark) … (4,000 fans) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Friday, March 7, 1941 (The Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos b. Sandor Szabo (55:44) … Don Evans b. Joe Millich (14:21) … Cy Williams b. Elmer Slagle when the latter was unable to continue (14:12) … Sammy Stein b. Bill Longson (countout) … (large crowd in attendance despite snowstorm) … (benefit for the Greek War Relief) *Promoter Ray Fabiani went to Los Angeles to promote in 1941. |
World Heavyweight Title Recognized in Pennsylvania by Ray Fabiani |