Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Muhammad Ali is 68 on Sunday. Here he is dismantling Jean-Pierre Coopman of Belgium in five rounds in February 1976 - just four months after the third Frazier killer. Is it really any surprise that Ali lost his health?

F##k he looks terrible

[scartissue]

[/quote]Thanks Frank I saw it on utube already but a fight loses something when you know the result already,would have liked to have seen the fight
when it happened btw Frank was just reading page 25 got to see Jimmy Montoya with kid meza as you and I had talked about Jimmy a couple of weeks ago I loved Jimmy in the corner man was he emotional he could really light a fire under a fighter when he wasnt being busy enough .[/quote]

Did I hear recently that Jimmy Montoya was taking over as trainer for Mikkel Kessler?

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Thanks Frank I saw it on utube already but a fight loses something when you know the result already,would have liked to have seen the fight
when it happened btw Frank was just reading page 25 got to see Jimmy Montoya with kid meza as you and I had talked about Jimmy a couple of weeks ago I loved Jimmy in the corner man was he emotional he could really light a fire under a fighter when he wasnt being busy enough .

Did I hear recently that Jimmy Montoya was taking over as trainer for Mikkel Kessler?

Scartissue

Yeah, Dan, he is the new trainer, don't think it is gonig to make a difference in Kessler..

[THEHAMMER321]

I read somewhere on here that Jaime Garza posted on here before anyone know where i can find his posts

[kikibalt]

I read somewhere on here that Jaime Garza posted on here before anyone know where i can find his posts

Not on this thread he hasn't...

[scartissue]

Thanks Frank I saw it on utube already but a fight loses something when you know the result already,would have liked to have seen the fight
when it happened btw Frank was just reading page 25 got to see Jimmy Montoya with kid meza as you and I had talked about Jimmy a couple of weeks ago I loved Jimmy in the corner man was he emotional he could really light a fire under a fighter when he wasnt being busy enough .

Did I hear recently that Jimmy Montoya was taking over as trainer for Mikkel Kessler?

Scartissue

Yeah, Dan, he is the new trainer, don't think it is gonig to make a difference in Kessler..

Not unless he can get him to follow a plan "B". Man, talk about a poor corner or a one-dimensioanl fighter. Getting beat and sending him out for the next round with the same battle plan.

Scartissue

[THEHAMMER321]

I read somewhere on here that Jaime Garza posted on here before anyone know where i can find his posts

Not on this thread he hasn't...[/quote Frank on page 25 where you posted kid meza and jimmy montoya poster expug replied that Garza
posted on here I guess he meant he posted on boxrec forum and not classic american west coast boxing thread srry about that

[Rick Farris]

Muhammad Ali is 68 on Sunday. Here he is dismantling Jean-Pierre Coopman of Belgium in five rounds in February 1976 - just four months after the third Frazier killer. Is it really any surprise that Ali lost his health?

No surprise, Bennie. But Coopman had little to offer beyond a workout and a paycheck.
It comes down to wants, needs and choice. Ali needed something, he made a choice.

[kikibalt]

Wilbert Harrison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcY0qtJ1iY
"Kansas City"

[Randyman]

Wilbert Harrison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcY0qtJ1iY
"Kansas City"

Frank, I can't hear this song without thinking about my father. My father used to love to sing this song, even after he lost his singing voice. He didn't care he just loved singing it. He would give us that look as if he was really suave and debonair, while he was singing. I haven't heard it in a while. Thanks for posting it. You and Rog are always right on target with your songs.

Randy

[Randyman]

Britain’s David Haye makes the first defence of his WBA heavyweight title against mandatory challenger John Ruiz of Puerto Rico in Manchester on April 3.
Haye was tied to meeting Ruiz even before he wrested the title from Russian mammoth Nikolai Valuev on a close but deserved decision in Germany in November; the winner of Haye-Valuev had to face Ruiz, which, frankly, was and is a crime. Ruiz goes by the nickname of “The Quiet Man” and truer words were never shushed - the man is instantly forgettable, the last type of opponent the talented, swashbuckling Haye needs right now, on the cusp of one or two heavyweight superfights. Even the Klitsckho brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, arguably the busiest and best heavyweights in the world today know that Ruiz prospers by making others look bad, a real spoiler. They have never fought him; they have yet to fight Haye, although they will, the braver of the two first.
For now, the Londoner lowers himself against a man beaten twice by Valuev in sleep-inducing 12-rounders. This was before Haye proved that Valuev cannot even pillow-fight when he played with the giant for 12 rounds, despite conceding 11 inches in height (Haye is 6ft 3ins) and seven stone. He also damaged his right hand in the early rounds but used his jab to pick up the points and went for it in the last, the fight already won, and staggered Valuev with a left hook.
It was only Haye’s third fight at heavyweight and the former undisputed cruiserweight champion will surely improve, improve, improve. At 29 he has youth, fluidity, speed, power and good size and weight (215 pounds) - he looks like a heavyweight. More than all that, he’s refreshingly charismatic, refreshingly candid. He recently admitted that many boxing fans will always regard him as ‘chinny’ and lacking in stamina, after a few early career wobbles and one famous blow-up, but bears no ill-feeling to the fans or to the labels. This is the beaming David Haye for you, a man who knows when to switch off the trash-talk.
Ruiz lives without a smile on his face and secured his ‘iffy’ mandatory status because he moaned long and hard after his (second) close fight with Valuev in August 2008 in Berlin, where he dropped a split decision. It was one of those “Who cares?” fights, one of those “Who cares?” decisions, but Ruiz never let up until the No. 1 ranking was his. He recently inked a promotional deal with the powerful Oscar De La Hoya, which proves one thing and one thing only: Oscar has his eyes firmly on the self-promoted Haye. Our David is the heavyweight future, not the 38-year-old Ruiz.
Ideally, Haye would have made more of a statement against the plodding, robotic Valuev but there is plenty of time for that against the plodding, robotic Klitschkos, if not the awkward Ruiz. David says he wants to clean up the heavyweight division and needs to brush Ruiz aside as efficiently as he possibly can, trying to look good in the process and trying not to raise any doubts about his stamina. Only David Tua has ever spectacularly despatched Ruiz, back in 1996, but it remains Ruiz’s only ever stoppage defeat and he has learned how to survive, to hold, to frustrate, to infuriate. He counters well but only as part of his spoiler package. If he counters well, he clutches better.
Ultimately, Ruiz is another Joe “King” Roman, the overrated Puerto Rican who secured a shot at George Foreman for the world heavyweight title in Tokyo in 1972 and was smashed in two minutes flat. In a perfect world, hard-hitting Haye can do another Foreman.

Bennie, I give Ruiz, the proverbial "Snowball's chance in Hell" and that's being generous.

Randy

[kikibalt]

Wilbert Harrison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcY0qtJ1iY
"Kansas City"

Frank, I can't hear this song without thinking about my father. My father used to love to sing this song, even after he lost his singing voice. He didn't care he just loved singing it. He would give us that look as if he was really suave and debonair, while he was singing. I haven't heard it in a while. Thanks for posting it. You and Rog are always right on target with your songs.

Randy

My pleasure Randy...

[Rick Farris]

He needs a few "edges" . . .

I'm waiting for David Haye to execute one of the K brothers.
I don't think much of the Klits, but I also don't think much of Haye.
I don't expect greatness today, but if Haye can rid the division of the K brothers, he'll have attained a "level of greatness" in my book.

Either Lurch brother will do. I just wish I believed that David Haye had the heart, mind and ability of Sir Henry Cooper.
If Cooper's left hook could upend a fit, young Cassius Clay, imagine what he could do in Haye's body with today's competition?
These guys pull away from hooks, like Ali did. Ali got floored with hooks, and hit with many that did great damage.
Maybe Haye can create a flashback for Vitali, involving Chris Byrd. His shoulder will be aching before the ref's instructions.
The Eastern Block robos are high maintainence, very touchy machinery. They look great physically, but they break easy.

The K Boy's will both dive out of tough fight when then going gets "too rough". It's their option, they're doctors, after all.
A man with the education to earn a docturate certainly is smart enoug to realize that boxing hurts and destroys people.
When you are rich, educated, have life by the balls, do you really need to take an ass-whipping by some hungry young dude?

It's all out there for David Haye, but the Eastern Euro boys aren't easy to get to.

They have a buffer protecting them.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5jGHZzpQ9k

For Your Love

Ed Townsend

[Rick Farris]

Caption by Hap Navarro

This shot is at the Moose Gym, top of Angel's Flight (after the Main St, Gym burned down) and it shows me, Luis Magana, and Enrique Bolanos, Enrique was passing by when he saw the photographer setting up to shoot Luis and me, so he smile and said "Me too" and squatted down to be in the picture. The picture we are looking at on the table is Abel Fernandez.

Abel Fernandez revisited . . .

This is true Classic American West Coast Boxing. The photo appeared once before, early in this thread nearly two years ago.

It merits re-posting, as the caption validates that Mr. Navarro, Magana and Bolanos were looking at a photo of boxer Abel Fernandez.
Recently, Frank Baltazar informed me that the CBHOF was going to induct him this year.
He also pointed out the the former heavyweight was a well known actor.


-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

Every time I saw Archie Moore in Southeast San Diego it seemed like it was in the summer time. Whether in the day or the night time, it warm outside. I don't recall it being cold. He liked wearing a shirt that draped outside his big frame. A little open at the collar. Then the pants with the pleats. Leather shoes. A nice watch. Basic. Nothing flashy. He'd step into Huffman's Bar B Q like that. Watch the kids at Ocean View Park at the rec center playing basketball. When he was in the gym it would be a sweat shirt and he'd be down to business.

The smart guys in town gravitated to him. He had an honesty about him and would gladly engage in conversation. Everything he said had a moral innuendo. A philosophical edge to it. He'd been around. All those fights in all those arenas in all those countries. I never heard anyone speak badly about him. Ali promoted himself by putting his opponents down. Archie Moore was included in Ali's hype. Moore couldn't understand that. I mean Archie Moore was my father's age. Those guys didn't talk like that about anybody.

Now Ali is in the championship rounds of his life. There are a lot of younger people who have maybe heard of his name,but that's all. As I move along in the teaching profession,less and less kids know who Ali is,or who Archie Moore was. They are both old names. The Cassius Clay who insulted Archie Moore is now an unknown to a younger generation. Show them the film of the young Cassius on his toes dancing and talking, standing with his arms up in the air over a fallen opponent. Show them the film of the Mongoose getting off the floor to knockout Yvon Durelle. Archie Moore is gone. Ali is here and he is very sick. He has a grace,but young people want to see strength. Physical strength. But today's heros will all wind up the same. The last rounds,the championship rounds, will eventually come to an end. It will also come to end for their fans,but they will never remembered as those kind of rounds.But there is no shame in their fight. There can be only so many champions.

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDJe0O26B4Q

The Clock

Johnny Ace

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSe9jdnqvi8

Anymore

Johnny Ace

[Rick Farris]

Al Stankie

Al Stankie . . .

I didn't know the guy. I do remember him coming up thru the Olympic's thursday night amateur bouts, and pro prelims in the 60's.
There were a group of middleweights that came out of L.A. prelims and ended up main eventers.
There was Henry Walker, Lonnie Harris, Rodrick Reed, and more. Al Stankie was one of them, and he fought competitivly.

Stankie was LAPD, known as the "Fighting Cop", but he's best known as the amateur coach and pro manager of Olympian, Paul Gonzalez.
In the beginning, the "Cop & The Kid" was kind of a feel-good story. In time, things didn't feel so good.
Stankie was a lost ball in high grass when it came to moving a contender. He also had some personal issues.
In the end, Paul Gonzalez probably reached his limit during his career, but Stanky didn't help.


-Rick Farris

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al Stankie


middleweight
Ventura, California, United States
won 10 (KO 4) + lost 9 (KO 3) + drawn 4 = 23
rounds boxed 177 KO% 17.39


1974-05-16 162 Manuel Fierro 162 17-6-1
Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States L PTS 10 10
1974-04-17 Bobby Hoye 7-1-1
Detroit, Michigan, United States L PTS 10 10
1974-03-04 163 Rudy Robles 161 21-0-0
Coliseum, Oakland, California, United States L TKO 7 10
1973-11-09 Hildo Silva 22-5-4
San Diego, California, United States L PTS 10 10
1973-02-07 Hildo Silva 20-2-2
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States D PTS 10 10
1972-12-06 165 Hildo Silva 166 19-2-1
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States D PTS 10 10
1971-10-09 162 Leroy Ledoux 161 6-2-0
Devonshire Downs, Northridge, California, United States L KO 8 10
~ time: 1:53 ~

1971-09-22 Ron Wilson 50-12-5
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States L PTS 10 10
1971-06-03 161 Jesse Reid 163 5-0-1
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States D TD 3 10
~ referee: Eddie Fierro ~
Reid suffered a cut left eye from an accidental headbutt.

1971-03-11 159½ Rudy Robles 160 9-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
1971-01-14 159 Victor Manuel Basilio 160 3-1-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W UD 10 10
~ referee: Dick Young 9-1 | judge: Rudy Jordan 6-3 | judge: Larry Rozadilla 9-0 ~

1970-07-29 Polo Corona 8-37-3
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W PTS 10 10
1970-05-01 Charley Austin 35-32-6
San Diego, California, United States D PTS 10 10
1970-03-12 Carlos Alberto Salinas 24-14-9
Sacramento, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1970-01-30 Ron Wilson 30-8-3
San Diego, California, United States L KO 5
1969-09-16 163 Ron Wilson 166 27-5-3
San Diego, California, United States L PTS 10 10
1969-07-01 161 Rudy Escobedo 154 3-11-0
Sacramento, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1969-06-25 Bill Burns 0-3-0
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W KO 5
1969-06-11 Luis Santamaria 0-5-1
Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos, California, United States W KO 2
1968-07-31 159 Willie Fields 161
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 3
1968-07-20 160 Roderick Reed 161 2-1-0
County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States W PTS 6 6
1968-07-17 157 Larry Kepler 158 6-2-0
Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W TKO 3
1968-07-06 Joe Adams
County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States W PTS 5 5

[Rick Farris]

Caption by Hap Navarro

This shot is at the Moose Gym, top of Angel's Flight (after the Main St, Gym burned down) and it shows me, Luis Magana, and Enrique Bolanos, Enrique was passing by when he saw the photographer setting up to shoot Luis and me, so he smile and said "Me too" and squatted down to be in the picture. The picture we are looking at on the table is Abel Fernandez.

Abel Fernandez revisited . . .

This is true Classic American West Coast Boxing. The photo appeared once before, early in this thread nearly two years ago.

It merits re-posting, as the caption validates that Mr. Navarro, Magana and Bolanos were looking at a photo of boxer Abel Fernandez.
Recently, Frank Baltazar informed me that the CBHOF was going to induct him this year.
He also pointed out the the former heavyweight was a well known actor.


-Rick Farris

From our friend, Hap Navarro . . .


Thank you, Rick. That photo is one of my favorites because of the memories it evokes. For the record. young Armando Fontes managed both Abel and another classy kid Oscar Reyes, from their amateur days and into the pros.

My eyes are a little crappy, Rick, so I don't post much lately.
Think of you and the guys, quite a lot.

(Please add a note to the Magana, Bolanos, Navarro photo.....Enrique was an admired friend of both Luis and myself, and had been chatting with us just before we asked him to join us in the shot. That's when he said "Me too? He always photographed well and is the best looking guy in the shot.
Thanks beforehand, Rick.)


hap navarro

[Expug]

Hammer, I remember Jaime Garza very briefly posting in the Boxers of the past forum but it was a few years ago.
He hasnt been on this thread though.

[Rick Farris]

ExPug wrote:

I heard that every time Moto wrestled Lou Thesz, he was sore for weeks.
Thesz would really stretch Moto as supposedly he didnt like him too much.
Many people dont realize how tough Thesz really was .
He was a very dangerous guy in real life .
A legitimate hooker.
=======================================================

Brian . . . While reviewing pages from the past, I came upon your post regarding Lou Thesz.
From the time I was a kid, I remember the name Lou Thesz regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers ever.
I recently heard a sad report involving the former wrestling champ who sufferes from dementia.
Thesz was hospitalized in a sanitarium and got in a fight with another patient. The other old guy was killed.
I was curious what Thesz' fate will be? I know he'll never be left alone, or unrestrained again in his life.


-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Vicente Saldivar vs Raul Rojas

Speaking of "Flat Top" Champs, we can't forget the young Vicente Saldivar (he was 22 in this pic.).
On this night, he KO'ed Raul Rojas in the 15th round. 19-year-old Jerry Quarry opened the show in his pro debut.
1965 - L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

[kikibalt]

Lou Thesz
4-24-16---4-24-2002

Wrestling career

Born in Banat, Michigan, Thesz moved to St. Louis when he was a young boy. His working-class immigrant parents hailed from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Beginning in Thesz's early youth, his father personally gave him a tough and thorough education in Greco-Roman wrestling, which provided the fundamentals for his later success. While in high school he was a successful freestyle wrestling competitor on his school team; as he recalled many years later, he and a friend once "worked" a dramatic match against each other at a tournament, and were amused when nobody could see how much they were faking. As a teenager, he also trained in amateur wrestling with legendary hooker Ad Santel. Thesz made his professional wrestling debut in 1932, at the age of 16. He soon met Ed "Strangler" Lewis, the biggest wrestling star of the 1920s, who taught a young Lou the art of "hooking" (the ability to stretch your opponent with painful holds). The two formed a lasting friendship. By 1937, Thesz had become one of the biggest stars in the St. Louis territory, and on December 29 he defeated Everett Marshall for the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, the first of many World Heavyweight Championships. Thesz became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history, at the age of 21, a record which stands to this day. Thesz dropped the title to Steve "Crusher" Casey in Boston six weeks later. He won the title again in 1939, once again defeating Marshall, and again in 1948, defeating Bill Longson.

In 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was formed, the purpose being to create one World Champion for all the various wrestling territories throughout North America. Orville Brown, the reigning Midwest World Heavyweight Title holder, was named the first champion. Thesz, at the time, was head of a promotional combine that included fellow wrestling champions Longson, Bobby Managoff, Canadian promoter Frank Tunney and Eddie Quinn, who promoted in the St. Louis territory where NWA promoter Sam Muchnick was running opposition. Quinn and Muchnick ended their promotional war, and Thesz' promotion was absorbed into the NWA. Part of the deal was a title unification match between Brown and Thesz, who held the National Wrestling Association's World Title. Unfortunately, just weeks before the scheduled bout, Brown was involved in an automobile accident that ended his career. He was forced to vacate the championship and the NWA awarded the title to the #1 contender, Thesz. Thesz was chosen for his skill as a "hooker" to prevent double crosses by would-be shooters who would deviate from the planned finish for personal glory.Another "hooker" that was named by Thesz was Jerry Stephens, (also known as "Nazi," or "El Grande Pistolero" (Spanish for "the great gunman").

Between 1949 and 1956, Thesz set out to unify all the existing World Titles into the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In 1952 he defeated Baron Michele Leone in Los Angeles for the California World Heavyweight title and became the first undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion since the days of Frank Gotch and Georg Hackenschmidt. Thesz finally dropped the Title to Whipper Billy Watson in 1956, and took several months off to recuperate from an ankle injury. He regained the title from Watson seven months later.

1957 was an important year for Thesz; on June 14, the first taint to Thesz' claim of undisputed Champion occurred in a match with gymnast-turned-wrestling star, Edouard Carpentier. The match was tied at two falls apiece when Thesz claimed a back injury and forfeit the last fall. Carpentier was declared the winner, but the NWA chose not to recognize the title change, deciding a championship could not change hands due to injury. Despite the NWA's decision, there were some promotions who continued to recognize Carpentier's claim to the World Heavyweight title. That same year, Thesz became the first wrestler to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Japan, wrestling Rikidōzan in a series of 60 minute draws. Their bouts popularized pro wrestling in Japan, gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. Realizing he could make more money in the land of the rising sun, Thesz petitioned to the NWA promoters to regularly defend the belt in Japan. His request was turned down, and Thesz asked to drop the title to his own hand picked champion, Dick Hutton, rather than Thesz's real-life rival and the more popular choice, Buddy Rogers. Thesz would embark on a tour of Europe and Japan, billing himself as the NWA International Champion; this title is still recognized as a part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship.

In 1963, Thesz came out of semi-retirement to win his sixth World Heavyweight Championship from Buddy Rogers, at the age of 46. Legend has it that Rogers was having second thoughts about dropping the title, and Thesz responded by saying, "we could do this the easy way or the hard way" . He would hold the title until 1966 when, at the age of 49, he was dethroned by Gene Kiniski.

Thesz wrestled on a part-time basis over the next 13 years, winning his last major Title in 1978, in Mexico, becoming the inaugural Universal Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Champion at the age of 62, before dropping the championship to El Canek a year later. Thesz officially retired in 1979, after a match with Luke Graham. He remained retired for the most part, before wrestling his last match on December 26, 1990 in Hamamatsu, Japan at the age of 74, against his protegé, Masahiro Chono.

[Rick Farris]

Lou Thesz
4-24-16---4-24-2002

Wrestling career

Born in Banat, Michigan, Thesz moved to St. Louis when he was a young boy. His working-class immigrant parents hailed from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Beginning in Thesz's early youth, his father personally gave him a tough and thorough education in Greco-Roman wrestling, which provided the fundamentals for his later success. While in high school he was a successful freestyle wrestling competitor on his school team; as he recalled many years later, he and a friend once "worked" a dramatic match against each other at a tournament, and were amused when nobody could see how much they were faking. As a teenager, he also trained in amateur wrestling with legendary hooker Ad Santel. Thesz made his professional wrestling debut in 1932, at the age of 16. He soon met Ed "Strangler" Lewis, the biggest wrestling star of the 1920s, who taught a young Lou the art of "hooking" (the ability to stretch your opponent with painful holds). The two formed a lasting friendship. By 1937, Thesz had become one of the biggest stars in the St. Louis territory, and on December 29 he defeated Everett Marshall for the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, the first of many World Heavyweight Championships. Thesz became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history, at the age of 21, a record which stands to this day. Thesz dropped the title to Steve "Crusher" Casey in Boston six weeks later. He won the title again in 1939, once again defeating Marshall, and again in 1948, defeating Bill Longson.

In 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was formed, the purpose being to create one World Champion for all the various wrestling territories throughout North America. Orville Brown, the reigning Midwest World Heavyweight Title holder, was named the first champion. Thesz, at the time, was head of a promotional combine that included fellow wrestling champions Longson, Bobby Managoff, Canadian promoter Frank Tunney and Eddie Quinn, who promoted in the St. Louis territory where NWA promoter Sam Muchnick was running opposition. Quinn and Muchnick ended their promotional war, and Thesz' promotion was absorbed into the NWA. Part of the deal was a title unification match between Brown and Thesz, who held the National Wrestling Association's World Title. Unfortunately, just weeks before the scheduled bout, Brown was involved in an automobile accident that ended his career. He was forced to vacate the championship and the NWA awarded the title to the #1 contender, Thesz. Thesz was chosen for his skill as a "hooker" to prevent double crosses by would-be shooters who would deviate from the planned finish for personal glory.Another "hooker" that was named by Thesz was Jerry Stephens, (also known as "Nazi," or "El Grande Pistolero" (Spanish for "the great gunman").

Between 1949 and 1956, Thesz set out to unify all the existing World Titles into the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In 1952 he defeated Baron Michele Leone in Los Angeles for the California World Heavyweight title and became the first undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion since the days of Frank Gotch and Georg Hackenschmidt. Thesz finally dropped the Title to Whipper Billy Watson in 1956, and took several months off to recuperate from an ankle injury. He regained the title from Watson seven months later.

1957 was an important year for Thesz; on June 14, the first taint to Thesz' claim of undisputed Champion occurred in a match with gymnast-turned-wrestling star, Edouard Carpentier. The match was tied at two falls apiece when Thesz claimed a back injury and forfeit the last fall. Carpentier was declared the winner, but the NWA chose not to recognize the title change, deciding a championship could not change hands due to injury. Despite the NWA's decision, there were some promotions who continued to recognize Carpentier's claim to the World Heavyweight title. That same year, Thesz became the first wrestler to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Japan, wrestling Rikidōzan in a series of 60 minute draws. Their bouts popularized pro wrestling in Japan, gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. Realizing he could make more money in the land of the rising sun, Thesz petitioned to the NWA promoters to regularly defend the belt in Japan. His request was turned down, and Thesz asked to drop the title to his own hand picked champion, Dick Hutton, rather than Thesz's real-life rival and the more popular choice, Buddy Rogers. Thesz would embark on a tour of Europe and Japan, billing himself as the NWA International Champion; this title is still recognized as a part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship.

In 1963, Thesz came out of semi-retirement to win his sixth World Heavyweight Championship from Buddy Rogers, at the age of 46. Legend has it that Rogers was having second thoughts about dropping the title, and Thesz responded by saying, "we could do this the easy way or the hard way" . He would hold the title until 1966 when, at the age of 49, he was dethroned by Gene Kiniski.

Thesz wrestled on a part-time basis over the next 13 years, winning his last major Title in 1978, in Mexico, becoming the inaugural Universal Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Champion at the age of 62, before dropping the championship to El Canek a year later. Thesz officially retired in 1979, after a match with Luke Graham. He remained retired for the most part, before wrestling his last match on December 26, 1990 in Hamamatsu, Japan at the age of 74, against his protegé, Masahiro Chono.

Thanks, Frank. I must have something wrong regarding the Lou Thesz story. Unless it happened prior to his death?