Miami Wrestling Results

*On Saturday, February 15, 1930, Joe Stecher trained at the local Miami YMCA before
more than a hundred fans in preparation for his match with World Champion Gus
Sonnenberg.

*On Monday, February 17, 1930, Joe Stecher trained at the University of Miami
gymnasium with Stan Stasiak.

Miami, Florida: Tuesday, February 18, 1930
(Biscayne Fronton) … World Heavyweight Champion Richard Shikat b. Rudy Dusek (2-0)
… Jim McMillen b. Jack Washburn (15:00) … Mike Romano and George Tragos drew (30:
00) … (promoter: Lou Magnolia - initial show) … (referee: Soldier Leavitt (Man Mountain
Dean)) … (large crowd in attendance)
Note: The Dick Shikat-Rudy Dusek match was billed as being for the “Real
Championship.”

Coral Gables, Florida: Wednesday, February 19, 1930
(Coral Gables Coliseum) … World Heavyweight Champion Gus Sonnenberg b. Joe
Stecher (2/3) (Sonnenberg won the first and third falls) … George Kotsonaros and
Stanley Stasiak drew (30:00) … Ed Don George b. Jack Jansen (14:00) … (promoter:
Elwood R. Rigby) … (in attendance: Coral Gables Mayor Lee McGarr, Miami Beach
Mayor Snedigar, Miami Mayor Cliff Reeder, John Hertz, John Golden, Bucky Harris, Dan
Howley, David Saranoff, Jack Sharkey, Tommy Loughran, Johnny Risko, Johnny
Weismuller, Jimmy Foxx, A.R. Erskine and many other famous dignitaries from the
cultural and sporting worlds) … (10,000 fans in attendance)
Notes: Billed as the first World Heavyweight Title Match in Florida and although there
were two “World Title” matches in Miami at the same time, the Sonnenberg-Stecher bout
received the most attention. On February 27, a big boxing program would be held in
Miami, attracting many rich and famous people from across the world.

Coral Gables, Florida: Tuesday, March 18, 1930
(Coral Gables Coliseum) … World Heavyweight Champion Richard Shikat b. Jim McMillen
(2/3) (McMillen won in 18:31 for the first fall, Shikat won the second, Shikat won the third
when McMillen could not continue) … Hans Steinke b. Jack Washburn (21:45) … Mike
Romano b. Chief Newberry (21:14) (-Newberry was a substitute for Jim Londos, who
failed to show up) … Kola Kwariani b. Marshall Blackstock (9:05) … (promoter: Elwood
R. Rigby) … (in Attendance: Albert Lasker, Jesse Livermore, John Hertz, Harvey
Firestone, Carl G. Fisher, John Golden, H. Gillette)

Coral Gables, Florida: Wednesday, November 26, 1930
(Coral Gables Coliseum) … Dick Shikat b. Frank Bruno (2-0) (Shikat won the first fall in
23-minutes and the second in 45-seconds) (Bruno was a substitute for Milo Steinborn) …
Jim McMillen and Mike Romano drew (60:00) … Chief Newberry and Benny Ginsberg
drew (30:00) (1-1) … Sailor White b. Al Berkowitz (12:23) … (promoters: Ed Douglass,
Pa Stribling) … (referee: Young Stribling)

*On Tuesday, December 9, 1930, World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos was
honored by 50 Miami Greeks at the Seven Seas banquet room. Jim Londos gave a
speech and thanked his manager Ed White of Chicago. Among the others to speak were
White, toastmaster John Theopholis, Jack Bell, Ed Douglass, Cliff Mosier, and Nick
Mehos.

Coral Gables, Florida: Wednesday, December 10, 1930
(Miami (Coral Gables) Coliseum) … World Heavyweight Champion Jim Londos b. Kola
Kwariani (2-0) (Londos won the first fall in 52-minutes, Londos won the second in 4-
minutes) … Jim McMillen b. Frank Bruno (20:00) … Joe Varga b. Mike Romano (DQ) (31:
20) (Romano initial won the bout, but was DQ’d) … Chief Newberry and Benny Ginsberg
drew (30:00) … (promoter: Ed Douglass) … (referee: Gene Westergard) … (benefit for
the Empty Stocking Charity Fund) … (3,000 fans)

Coral Gables, Florida: Wednesday, December 17, 1930
(Coral Gables Coliseum) … Dick Shikat b. George Zaharias (1-0) (Zaharias was unable
to continue after suffering a neck injury) … Joe Varga b. Frank Bruno (42:00) … Charley
Wronek b. Benny Ginsberg (16:00) (Wronek’s pro debut) … Young Walker b. Sailor
White … (promoter: Ed Douglass) … (referee: Ernie Westergard)
Notes: The Miami Herald said that “Zaharias has had much success since coming to the
United States two years ago.” Jim McMillen was a “former teammate of Red Grange.”
Douglass was also promoting wrestling matches in Tampa. Charles Wronek was said to
be a former “amateur heavyweight champion of Pennsylvania,” and he was going to
“appear for the first time as a professional.”

Research by Tim Hornbaker
August 8, 2007

Miami Wrestling Results - 1930