RINGSPORT ISSUE 1 | April 2020

Issue 1 7 April 2020

Between Rounds With Mikolaj Salak

Poland’s Salak is a regular campaigner in British rings for the last few years with the Heavy-Middleweight now being based in Boston, Lincolnshire for much of the year and is now wrestling exclusivity for the King George VI Wrestling Club.

Salak is the son of a farmer from Warsaw, and joined a Boys Wrestling Club at 12-years old winning both regional and national wrestling tournaments.

After leaving school he worked with his father as a farmer for a brief time before joining the Air Force for five years where he further expanded his wrestling into international tournaments.

As well as a talented wrestler, he was also a skilled footballer and had attended trials as a teenager for several Clubs before deciding that wrestling was going to be his sport of choice, with the professional ranks appealing to him even as he was making a career in the Polish Airforce.

Salak entered the professional ranks in 1998 at the age of 22, but didn’t arrive in Britain until 2010 for his first tour where he dazzled the crowds at several independent shows along the East Coast, where he has now taken up residence.

As well as tours to the United States and Africa, Salak recently shined during the Golden Grappler Series, with successful singles and tag team encounters with Fuji Hirai, Leon Maddison, Samir Pande and Billy Bingham.

His reward for his good fortune in the ring is a shot at the European Heavy-Middleweight Championship and belt, currently held by Portuguese grappler Joao Silva, although he does have a series of challengers he is set to face before he arrives in Great Britain to face Salak in a bout tipped to be held in early May.

Until then Salak will continue his rigorous fitness routines as well as spend time with his twelve chickens that h looks after with his wife Betty.

Wrestling Roundabout – Update From The Orient

Fuji Hirai may have had a tough welcome to the British grapple game this past weekend, coming on the wrong side of his four bouts, but he is being hailed back in his native Japan as a future World Champion.

The 23-year old former kick boxer will briefly return to Japan where he will take part in the ‘Tiger King’ Tournament held at the famous Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The tournament features 16-wrestlers all under the age of 25.

Hirai was already scheduled for the tournament before his Japanese promoters arranged to send him to Europe on a six month excursion with King George VI Wrestling Club.

While wrestling supporters will be keen to see the young man develop at halls and venues throughout the country, they will also be pleased to know that Harry Linacre and Fred Forman the owners of King George VI Wrestling Club have sanctioned matchmaker Edwin Luntley to bring over more Japanese stars for the next ‘All Star Extravaganza’ tour.

FROM AFRICA WITH LOVE

Three African ring warriors are just weeks away from dazzling wrestling fans including potential TV bouts after signing contracts to be part of the ‘All Star Extravaganza’ tour.

Zulu duo Kumalo and Msimangu have not been seen in Britain for three years, but have enjoyed great success in France as well as the big German tournaments in Hamburg.

The final athlete set to arrive will be Heavyweight bruiser Alf ‘Sledgehammer’ Salisbury from Zimbabwe. The highly educated man from Harare attended University in South Africa and the United States were he became a decorated wrestler and rower. The ‘Sledgehammer’ nickname was coined after an opponent claimed that the lariat that he likes to use to end his matches felt like being hit by a sledgehammer. Salisbury will join an ever growing rank of international Heavyweights set to do battle in the rings later this month.

FRESNO DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Bolton’s popular ring performer Johnny Fresno has apologised to fans and television executives after he left the ring following the lose of his World Lightweight Championship and belt.

Fresno was ruled by the ringside Doctor as being unable to continue with the contest due to significant amount of bloodless in his encounter with Mexican sensation Metallica Panther III.

The two clashed heads early in the contest – but it was a head but from the Luchador that sealed Fresno’s fate when the Doctor stepped in and called a hold to the battle.

Fresno did visit the Queen Mary Hospital following the evening’s presentation but was back in the ring two days later.

“I wasn’t aware that Mr Wright wanted to interview me,” said Fresno from his semi-detached house in Bolton.

“If I am honest I was suffering from shock that the match had ended the way it did and was keen to get an understanding from the referee and the Doctor why they did not see fit that I would not be able to continue.”

The duo were seen battling it out for the Belt in the premier episode of On The Mat which is broadcast every Saturday evening with Fresno claiming he would like another shot at the title in a televised match.

“I know many of my fans have been writing and call me, asking when the rematch is, but I’ve not yet had chance to speak to the matchmakers – obviously I want a shot at Panther and this time I think I can win.”

The Lightweight division will be hotting up in the coming months with several other international talent keen to challenge for the Championship.

On the possibility of having to step down the ranks and challenge for European or British Commonwealth honours – Fresno said “At the moment I believe I should be the Worlds champion and that is my focus right now.”

TV MAIN EVENT CONFIRMED

After the debut episode of On The Mat saw the bloody Battle of Britain and Mexico next Saturday’s feature bout will be between Northern Irish brothers Jimmy and John Murphy with teammate Les Allen taking on the Americna trio of Billy Tucker, Dexter Eagles and Dusty Russel. The match was taped in Wrexham last Friday.

RINGSPORT is a bi-weekly wrestling magazine. To contribute email the editor at hrhgeorgevi@aol.com