Brown vs Thesz
On 1949-11-25, Orville Brown, the first world heavyweight champion recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance, was scheduled to face the National Wrestling Association world champion Lou Thesz in a title unification match. However, Brown was involved in automobile accident on 11-01 and suffered the career-ending injury.
At the annual convention that was held in St. Louis, MO, between 11-25 and 11-27, Thesz was recognized as the world heavyweight champion by both the National Wrestling Alliance and the National Wrestling Association.
Articles from Sports Pointers, the official program of Mississippi Valley Sports Club
(Provided by J Michael Kenyon)
WILL THESZ WRESTLE BROWN? (1949-10-15)
The Missouri Athletic Commission, through its chairman, Col. Charles P. Orchard, has made a great step towards solving the heavyweight championship debate in wrestling. It has ordered Lou Thesz and Orville Brown to meet within 60 to 90 days in order to at least decide who is the heavyweight mat king in the state of Missouri. Furthermore, neither man may appear in a St. Louis ring and claim any titles until after they have met on the mat. Will this sensational event be closed? That is a problem yet to be solved.
Thesz is the heavyweight champion in the eyes of the National Wrestling Association. He claims the crown by lineal descent and says that he rightfully is the champion. Brown is recognized as title holder by the National Wrestling Alliance. This organization is comprised of a group of promoters. Sports Pointers believes that Brown does not have a rightful claim and that he has everything to gain and really nothing to lose in a battle with Thesz.
However, there must be a showdown and for that reason this publication favors a match between these two to clarify an issue which has resulted in the formation of the rival camps. Fans feel that Thesz is the better man but there are a few who cling to the beliedf that Brown is the superior wrestler.
Will Thesz meet Brown? Here is what the man whom we believe is the real champ, Lou Thesz, has to say:
“I am willing to meet Orville Brown anywhere in the country, preferably in St. Louis. It is true that Brown posted $10,000 last season for a match with me and that I did not come up with the money. But I was acting on the advice of my counsel who told me that it would be illegal for me to post the money as Brown was insisting on a side wager.
“But before I sign for this match I want to find out a few things. In the first place, who will promote my match? My father, Martin Thesz, became head of the Mississippi Valley Sports Club over a year ago when he bought out the interest of Tom Packs. Will he be the promoter? Will another promoter promote this match or will it be a joint promotion?
“What will be my end of the purse? While wrestling champions defend their titles far more often than boxing champions there is still a matter of percentage to consider. I feel that insasmuch as I am a St. Louisan, have a greater following and that I am the real champion, I am the real champion and I should get a larger purse than Brown, who has only appeared here several times in the last five or six years.
“Who will be the referee? I am asking for no favors and giving none. If a neutral man is selected by the Commission, one of the highest integrity and honesty, I’ll wrestle Brown. But I don’t want the third man to be a personal friend of my rival although, mind you, I am not shooting at anyone’s character. I am merely asking for 50-50 conditions before the bell.
“Yes, I’ll wrestle Orville Brown . . . if all conditions above are settled.”
INJURY TO ORVILLE WILL POSTPONE IT (1949-11-09)
Fate has again possibly stepped in and halted a match between Lou Thesz and Orville Brown to really settle the heavyweight wrestling championship. Injuries suffered by Brown in an automobile accident on the morning of November 1 have again postponed the “match of the decade” and we wonder if these two brilliant young athletes will ever face each other inside of a ring.
Last spring a Brown-Thesz battle was in the making and only several technicalities prevented the bout from being signed as a co-promotion between Martin Thesz and Sam Muchnick.
Chairman Charles P. Orchard of the Missouri Athletic Commission had called a meeting for Nov. 2 of the promoters, the combatants and members of the press and radio. The men were to sign their contracts, were to post appearance bonds, and were to agree to train in St. Louis from 10 days to two weeks prior to a match at the Arena on Friday, Nov. 25.
When the “flash” of Brown’s accident, while driving between Des Moines and Kansas City, came over the wires, the commissioner immediately called off the confab.
At this writing, the extent of Brown’s injuries is not fully known. Press dispatches say that he suffered a possible skull fradcture, two deep head ladcerations, a bad cut on the right arm and glass cuts in thke right eye. He lapsed into unconsciousness at the Bethany Hospital, Bethany, Mo., when brought there.
ED. NOTE by JMK: Brown, although he attempted a comeback, never again was a ring headliner. He turned to full-time promotion upon his recovery, having been a silent partner in Sam Muchnick’s rival St. Louis office. Brown, too, never again met Thesz in a ring. Up to that point, according to the WAWLI archives, the two contemporaries only met a total of six times in the years 1937 through 1942, when they were being booked out of the same offices. Interestingly, the scoreboard shows one win for Thesz (May 30, 1941, at St. Joseph, Mo.) and one win for Brown (via DQ at Kansas City, May 9, 1941). Four other bouts were declared draw decisions (Feb. 25, Mar. 2 and Dec. 21, 1937 in Evansville and June 18, 1942 in Kansas City).
GREATEST PROMOTERS’ MEETING (1949-11-09)
The greatest conference of promoters in wrestling history is scheduled to be held in St. Louis on Nov. 26 and 27. It will be somewhat similar to the one held in Chicago on Oct. 30 and 31, 1948, when numerous matters were discussed, including the effect of television on wrestling gates.
The promoters were going to take in the Brown-Thesz match on Nov. 25, then begin the conference. At this writing it appears that the match is off indefinitely due to Brown’s auto accident but the meeting will still be held.
Col. H.J. Landy, president of the National Wrestling Association, and P.L. (Pinkie) George, president of the National Wrestling Alliance, will be here.
Others who have already made plans to attend are: Al Haft, Columbus; Sam Avey, Tulsa; Eddie Quinn, Montreal; Frank Tunney, Toronto; Ed Don George, Buffalo; Paul Bowser, Boston; George Simpson, Kansas City; Harry Light, Detroit; Johnny Doyle, Los Angeles; Fred Kohler, Chicago; Max Clayton, Omaha; Tony Stecher, Minneapolis; Morris Sigel, Houston; Al Karasick, Honolulu; Jerry Meeker, Great Falls; Karl Sarpolis and Ed McLemore, Dallas; Joe Malcewicz, San Francisco; Hugh Nichols, Hollywood; Bill Atkinson, Wichita; Leon Balkin, Evansville; Ted Thye, Portland; Ross Leader, Cincinnati; Jack Ganson, Cleveland; Paul Jones, Atlanta; Les Wolfe, Memphis; Joe (Toots) Mondt, New York; Gust Karras, St. Joseph.
There will be many others who have as yet not made their reservations.
THESZ, McGUIRK DECLARED CHAMPIONS (1949-12-10)
Lou Thesz, St. Louis, and Leroy McGuirk, Tulsa, were declared heavyweight and junior heavyweight champions, respectively, by the National Wrestling Alliance at its conference in St. Louis on Nov. 26 and 27. Heretofore both men were considered the “champs” by the National Wrestling Association.
While the Alliance did not previously recognize a junior heavyweight champ, Orville Brown had been its heavyweight king. However, because of injuries suffered by Brown in an automobile accident on Nov. 1 which have shelved him, Thesz has the nod of the NWA until such time as Brown is ready for competition. Then they both must meet to settle the issue in the ring.
Many other issues, including television, were discussed at the confab. All officers were re-elected for another term. They are P.L. (Pinkie) George, Des Moines, president; Al Haft, Columbus, vice-president, and Sam Muchnick, St. Louis, secretary-treasurer.