Paavo Ketonen

Name: Paavo Ketonen
Alias: Flying Finn
Birth Name: Bengt Emil Engblom
Hometown: USA
Birthplace: Finland
Died: 1999-01-28 (Age:88)
Promoter: Record
Referee: Record

Paavo Ketonen was a Finnish-American wrestler on the West Coast of the United States from the 1930s, through the early 1950s. After his wrestling career was over, he became the wrestling promoter in Tacoma, at the Tacoma Armory. Ketonen would also promote boxing in Tacoma as well during the 1950s. Ketonen's promotional company was the Central Boxing Club, his matchmaker was Ingo Lucchesi. The most successful fighter developed by Ketonen and Lucchesi, was Tacoma Heavyweight Pat McMurtry.

In July 1956, McMurtry would defeated Ezzard Charles in front of 10,729 fans. A month later, he would lose a 10-round decision to Willie Pastrano in front of 11,095 fans. Both of these bouts were held at the Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma.

In the late 1950s, Ketonen moved to Phoenix, where he worked as both a boxing and wrestling promoter. Ketonen during this time, ran the Top Level Gym in Phoenix. In the 1960s and 1970s Ketonen trained and worked in the corner of highly regarded Phoenix-based professionals like lightweight Alton (Sonny) Colter, heavyweight contender Tony Doyle and light middleweight Edgar (Bad News) Wallace. He also worked with a large number of prominent amateur boxers, including Golden Glovers Larry Ford and Lee Croft.