BoxRec

Jan wrote:andre could beat eceryone in streetfight, but as a boxer he wouldent survive i think.

The young Rousimoff was (at peak) 7'0" and weighed in around 375... its strange to look at pics of him then, because he was well proportioned, had washboard abs, and apparently was an all-around athlete (Rugby was his forte). I know when he came to America at first there was much interest in him being in professional basketball and football, but this never materialised. I do think, however, he did have a try out with the Washington Redskins.

Apparently, from what I've ever read, the Redskins were having a weak season and their defensive line was in need of improvement--- and when this Frenchman, being heralded as the "8th Wonder of the World", was coming to America and take the title from Sammartino and others (wrestling was regionalised then, so various champions) was being advertised in Reader's Digest... the Redskins took an immediate interest. According to George Steele, Vince McMahon asked him (in 1976) whether it would be a good idea to lease Andre out to the NFL, and Steele (who was a collegiate football player and later coach) told McMahon that Andre's knees would be easily taken out, etc.

Also, Andre was making more money than anyone in professional football (at the time anyways) so it didnt make much sense to walk away from $200,000+ per year and risk injury in a sport he had no experience in at all. Those two factors, ultimately, was why Andre never joined the NFL.

http://www.redskinshistorian.com/conten ... d-wrestler

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 78,1929758

I do know that when the whole escepade with Wepner came about, there was much speculation as to his strength and people figured that had he went into powerlifting he would of easily been the strongest man on the planet. But I think this was more out of amazement with his size, more than actual fact of his power. I once worked for a wrestler named Jim Painter (who wrestled and managed as 'Big' Jim Lancaster) and asked him "Who was stronger? Andre The Giant or Ken Patera?", because he had wrestled both men when he was on the East Coast as a jobber. He said without any hesitation at all that Patera was stronger than Andre.

Then again, I've heard stories that if Andre liked someone, or respected them, he would put on a show--- hell even make you look good in spots, and never went full strength--- but if he didn't, you paid the price. There is pictures of him as a young man picking up cars and multiple people, etc. but at the same time I don't know how "strong" that really makes him. When I was 18 years old, I used to lift weights alot and was able to carry my friend (who weighed 300 pounds) in a fireman's carry and I could do squats with him as much as I wanted, and could also pick up a Volkswagon Beetle. And I am only 5'9".

So I guess it's all speculation as to what he really could do. I heard when he was in France, working in orchards around the village of Molien where he was born, he could do the work of three or four men. As for what he could or couldn't do as a professional boxer--- its hard to imagine. I do know that Verne Gagne, the world famous wrestler and promoter (AWA) had interest in making him a boxer, because he felt maybe Andre was simply too big for even the toughest of heavyweights. Certainly boxing would of been the ONLY sport in the world that could of commanded the sort of money he was making as a professional wrestler--- but it is obvious by the late 70's and early 80's he was nowhere near the man he was in his youth.

It must be noted, though, that originally... the winner of Ali/Inoki and Wepner/Andre was to "square off" against one another... strangely enough Andre said that Ali wouldn't be able to beat Inoki. But because of how dull the Inoki fight was, and how badly Ali got injured while doing it--- the match between him and Andre never took place. Of course, I can say with 100% certainty that that would of been a worked match.



^^^Strangely enough according to this article on the Andre/Wepner exhibition, it states that while in France, that Andre dabbled in boxing for a brief time---- which is odd, as I have never heard that in my life, and I know alot on Andre and professional wrestling in general. Then again, this is wrestling after all, and the sport has always been littered with exaggerated heights/weights and fanciful biographies--- especially in the day and age when wrestling was regionalised and there was no way to really "fact check" anything.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 47,5268619

^^^It is somewhat funny to look back on a time when people were split 50/50 as to whether professional wrestling was real or not, and that the Andre/Wepner "fight" was described as being a legitimite contest.

HomicideHenry wrote:

Jan wrote:andre could beat eceryone in streetfight, but as a boxer he wouldent survive i think.

The young Rousimoff was (at peak) 7'0" and weighed in around 375... its strange to look at pics of him then, because he was well proportioned, had washboard abs, and apparently was an all-around athlete (Rugby was his forte). I know when he came to America at first there was much interest in him being in professional basketball and football, but this never materialised. I do think, however, he did have a try out with the Washington Redskins.

Apparently, from what I've ever read, the Redskins were having a weak season and their defensive line was in need of improvement--- and when this Frenchman, being heralded as the "8th Wonder of the World", was coming to America and take the title from Sammartino and others (wrestling was regionalised then, so various champions) was being advertised in Reader's Digest... the Redskins took an immediate interest. According to George Steele, Vince McMahon asked him (in 1976) whether it would be a good idea to lease Andre out to the NFL, and Steele (who was a collegiate football player and later coach) told McMahon that Andre's knees would be easily taken out, etc.

Also, Andre was making more money than anyone in professional football (at the time anyways) so it didnt make much sense to walk away from $200,000+ per year and risk injury in a sport he had no experience in at all. Those two factors, ultimately, was why Andre never joined the NFL.

http://www.redskinshistorian.com/conten ... d-wrestler

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 78,1929758

I do know that when the whole escepade with Wepner came about, there was much speculation as to his strength and people figured that had he went into powerlifting he would of easily been the strongest man on the planet. But I think this was more out of amazement with his size, more than actual fact of his power. I once worked for a wrestler named Jim Painter (who wrestled and managed as 'Big' Jim Lancaster) and asked him "Who was stronger? Andre The Giant or Ken Patera?", because he had wrestled both men when he was on the East Coast as a jobber. He said without any hesitation at all that Patera was stronger than Andre.

Then again, I've heard stories that if Andre liked someone, or respected them, he would put on a show--- hell even make you look good in spots, and never went full strength--- but if he didn't, you paid the price. There is pictures of him as a young man picking up cars and multiple people, etc. but at the same time I don't know how "strong" that really makes him. When I was 18 years old, I used to lift weights alot and was able to carry my friend (who weighed 300 pounds) in a fireman's carry and I could do squats with him as much as I wanted, and could also pick up a Volkswagon Beetle. And I am only 5'9".

So I guess it's all speculation as to what he really could do. I heard when he was in France, working in orchards around the village of Molien where he was born, he could do the work of three or four men. As for what he could or couldn't do as a professional boxer--- its hard to imagine. I do know that Verne Gagne, the world famous wrestler and promoter (AWA) had interest in making him a boxer, because he felt maybe Andre was simply too big for even the toughest of heavyweights. Certainly boxing would of been the ONLY sport in the world that could of commanded the sort of money he was making as a professional wrestler--- but it is obvious by the late 70's and early 80's he was nowhere near the man he was in his youth.

It must be noted, though, that originally... the winner of Ali/Inoki and Wepner/Andre was to "square off" against one another... strangely enough Andre said that Ali wouldn't be able to beat Inoki. But because of how dull the Inoki fight was, and how badly Ali got injured while doing it--- the match between him and Andre never took place. Of course, I can say with 100% certainty that that would of been a worked match.



^^^Strangely enough according to this article on the Andre/Wepner exhibition, it states that while in France, that Andre dabbled in boxing for a brief time---- which is odd, as I have never heard that in my life, and I know alot on Andre and professional wrestling in general. Then again, this is wrestling after all, and the sport has always been littered with exaggerated heights/weights and fanciful biographies--- especially in the day and age when wrestling was regionalised and there was no way to really "fact check" anything.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 47,5268619

^^^It is somewhat funny to look back on a time when people were split 50/50 as to whether professional wrestling was real or not, and that the Andre/Wepner "fight" was described as being a legitimite contest.

Show me one freaking pic with Andre having washboard abs.

I guess if you believe the Wlad-Briggs video encounters are for real, then you'll probably also believe Andre against Monsoon was a legit boxing match.
It looks to me, however, as silly as ac silent Keystone Cops short. Fights between the Three Stooges appeared more realistic.
How anyone could mistake that wrestling sham with reality is a huge mystery.
A fix, a fraud, a work, and just plain phony.

As for Andre's height, an article in the L.A. Times following his death, said that "The Giant" was actually under 7 foot.
His thick bone structure, mostly caused by the hormonal disorder acromegaly, made him appear larger and taller than he actually was. His high Afro-style hair also contributed to the illusion of greater height.
They displayed a picture of Andre standing next to Wilt Chamberlain, a legitimate 7'1". Except for his high hair, Andre was noticeably shorter than the pro basketball legend.

Jan wrote:andre could beat eceryone in streetfight, but as a boxer he wouldent survive i think.

Not even if he had tried to foul his way out of a match if he felt like he was going to lose?
Man,I would not want to make someone that BIG get that angry in the least way.

tiny_acres wrote:Show me one freaking pic with Andre having washboard abs.

Watch it and weep pal.
Here is Andre the Giant back in 1966 at age 19 yrs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-bEbg0luDI

Back in the late 80's I used to have a recurring dream that I was stuck in a room with Andre and he was after me. Real as hell it was. Little did I know then that he was a gentle giant.

Caractacus wrote:

tiny_acres wrote:Show me one freaking pic with Andre having washboard abs.

Watch it and weep pal.
Here is Andre the Giant back in 1966 at age 19 yrs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-bEbg0luDI

Seems to be some debate as to whether this is really Andre or a tall relative.
I believe it was Andre. But don't forget his physique went downhill in his later years as a result of the disease that killed him.
While he did't exactly have washboard abs as a youth, he certainly wasn't the heavy, lumbering behemoth he became in later years.

That isn't Andre

evrenb wrote:That isn't Andre

It might not be but what do you base your opinion on?

Caractacus wrote:

tiny_acres wrote:Show me one freaking pic with Andre having washboard abs.

Watch it and weep pal.
Here is Andre the Giant back in 1966 at age 19 yrs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-bEbg0luDI

Just watched it twice.Though not as fat.He was far from having washboard abs.

The boxing match between Gorilla and the Giant, looked like a ticklefest.

The lack of resolve was circus like. Oh wait....a Gorilla and a Giant.... doh! .it was a circus act.

tiny_acres wrote:
Just watched it twice.Though not as fat.He was far from having washboard abs.

For a man 6'10"-7'0" and anywhere from 325-375 pounds... I think that is about as washboard as you could get.

SenorPipino wrote:

Caractacus wrote:

tiny_acres wrote:Show me one freaking pic with Andre having washboard abs.

Watch it and weep pal.
Here is Andre the Giant back in 1966 at age 19 yrs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-bEbg0luDI

Seems to be some debate as to whether this is really Andre or a tall relative.

There seems to be some debate that it is not him?
Between whom exactly?
Of course it is Andre the Giant.
If he had a darker skin tone and the lighting was better in that gym,no doubt
you would see a "Six-Pack".
Oh,and by the way,once Andre arrived in America around 1971 his appetite for food,song and beer and wine
was ENORMOUS, of legend as a matter of fact.

Andre The Giant couldn't even beat The Six Million Dollar Man!!

He would have been a giant lummox that would have been impossible to miss.

Syntax Error wrote:Andre The Giant couldn't even beat The Six Million Dollar Man!!

He would have been a giant lummox that would have been impossible to miss.

The strange thing with that logic, though, is we're approaching an era when men in our sport are averaging well over 6'5" and weighing 250+ pounds. If one looks at the overall top ten or twenty list... you see nothing but giant men. If Rousimoff was around today, and decided to become a boxer instead--- he wouldn't be that much taller than alot of them. Weight/bulk wise, yes, he would of been the biggest man in boxing ever--- but still, hope you see my point.

Syntax Error wrote:Andre The Giant couldn't even beat The Six Million Dollar Man!!

He would have been a giant lummox that would have been impossible to miss.

You must be confusing Andre the Giant with the Potowatomie Giant aka Jess Willard.
But could you imagine if it was Andre the giant in the ring with Jack Dempsey
instead of Willard that hot July 4th day back in Toledo(Ohio) back in 1919?
Even if Dempsey had hit the giant with those vicious punches that fractured his jaw
,knocked out teeth,smashed his cheekbone and broke some ribs.
Do you really think Andre the Giant would have looked at the ref like an old hound dog?
No ,IMOP he would have gotten off his knee on the canvas,got up
and then the giant would have gone "Nutzo" and then would have grabbed ahold of the "Manassa Mauler"
and the proceed to stretch Dempsey like a piece of salt water taffey.

Anyone know the details of Andre the Giant's early professional career as a wrestler
when he had moved to Paris France in 1963 at the age of 17?
In which gymnasiums there did he learn?who was it who trained him in the early days?
Did he ever get into the ring to spar against a boxer?
Did he ever recieve any Martial Arts training such as judo back then?
Or maybe Karate or perhaps being a Frenchman was he taught some Savate?


Well anyway it would appear to me from looking at this clip of him in 1967 that he had some
different training other then wrestling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwdDu4vn_iU

check out the 34 year old Andre the Giant in this 1980 clip.
(He looked really cool with a beard too).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnrLueai10k

Caractacus wrote:Anyone know the details of Andre the Giant's early professional career as a wrestler
when he had moved to Paris France in 1963 at the age of 17?
In which gymnasiums there did he learn?who was it who trained him in the early days?
Did he ever get into the ring to spar against a boxer?
Did he ever recieve any Martial Arts training such as judo back then?
Or maybe Karate or perhaps being a Frenchman was he taught some Savate?


Well anyway it would appear to me from looking at this clip of him in 1967 that he had some
different training other then wrestling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwdDu4vn_iU

That may be the reason why in the newspaper clippings I shared on this thread, it states that at one point in his life he "dabbled in boxing" for a while... its quite possible that in Paris, both boxers and wrestlers and savates trained in the same gyms, etc. and that there could of been cross-over training, and/or moments and times when Rousimoff may of trained with boxers. The fact that he followed through with professional wrestling, rather than boxing (though) is probably the best indication as to why he never went into it.

Probably the best man to answer that question would be the man who trained and "discovered" him, and that was the former acrobat-turn-wrestler Edouard Carpentier.

Caractacus wrote:Anyone know the details of Andre the Giant's early professional career as a wrestler
when he had moved to Paris France in 1963 at the age of 17?
In which gymnasiums there did he learn?who was it who trained him in the early days?
Did he ever get into the ring to spar against a boxer?
Did he ever recieve any Martial Arts training such as judo back then?
Or maybe Karate or perhaps being a Frenchman was he taught some Savate?


Well anyway it would appear to me from looking at this clip of him in 1967 that he had some
different training other then wrestling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwdDu4vn_iU

Anyone here know who were the heavyweight boxers from France back in the mid-1960's(if anyone)?
Was Georges Carpentier still training fighters then?

In an interview Andre the Giant once said that when he first started wrestling ,he use to do
roadwork and lift weights and weighed under 300 lbs,but once he got to England (around 1966-1967)he stopped all that
and started drinking beer instead.

Caractacus wrote:

Caractacus wrote:Anyone know the details of Andre the Giant's early professional career as a wrestler
when he had moved to Paris France in 1963 at the age of 17?
In which gymnasiums there did he learn?who was it who trained him in the early days?
Did he ever get into the ring to spar against a boxer?
Did he ever recieve any Martial Arts training such as judo back then?
Or maybe Karate or perhaps being a Frenchman was he taught some Savate?


Well anyway it would appear to me from looking at this clip of him in 1967 that he had some
different training other then wrestling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwdDu4vn_iU

Anyone here know who were the heavyweight boxers from France back in the mid-1960's(if anyone)?
Was Georges Carpentier still training fighters then?

Looks like the French national heavyweight champs in the 60's were Robert Duquesne and Jean-Paul Schiller. A couple other French heavies during that time: Francis Magnetto, Max Brianto.
I just looked it up :) I'm definitely not an expert on French heavyweights in the 1960's.

BTW HH,
Did you happen to see those two photographs from the Dailey Mirror that I linked up to
of a 23 year old Andre the Giant over at the forum
of the Tallestman.com?
See how still slender he still was then?
Thats must have been before he started drinking copius amounts of beer.

Caractacus wrote:BTW HH,
Did you happen to see those two photographs from the Dailey Mirror that I linked up to
of a 23 year old Andre the Giant over at the forum
of the Tallestman.com?
See how still slender he still was then?
Thats must have been before he started drinking copius amounts of beer.

I seen video of Rousimoff when he was 17 years of age, when he was known as Jean Pierre in wrestling circles. I would say he looked 6'10" and 260-280 pounds give or take. So yes, at that time for a few years after that, when he was still paying his 'dues' in the business he was rather fit. Wasn't until his introduction in Japan and Canada did he become more famous, and of course his wallet grew bigger (as did his waist line).

According to some in the business (how much truth there is in it I am not sure) near the end of his career his weight went anywhere from 580-700 pounds. I can believe him being close to 600 at one point, because his mobility was so limited in the mid-late 80's that it's obvious he wasn't able to lose weight. I've seen pictures of him near the end, and he appeared to be nearly a hundred pounds heavier than he was when he wrestled Hogan at the Pontiac Silver Dome in 1987.

Quite a sad end, to a man who at one time was rather limber and quick on his feet. I've seen old, old videos of him when wrestling was still in the three-round format with him coming off the top rope. I'd say at his peak, his size was more in line with The Undertaker and Kane (along with all around athleticism). In the end years, he just stood there like the Rock of Gibraltar and people would try to lift him or clothesline him off his feet--- and he would hit them once or twice and bear hug them and head butt them. But that was the extent of his ability at that stage.

I wonder how much they had to pay Andre the Giant to have been body slammed and lose his final wrasslin match
to that overly tanned dufus.