Eugene Stezycki was born in Bydgoszcz, Poland in October 1924 and during the second world war he was put into a German forced labor camp while serving as a young recruit in the Polish army.
After the war, he left war torn Eastern Europe to settle in Bristol, England in the early 1950’s where he was an all-round athlete participating in boxing, weightlifting and amateur wrestling. He represented the Bristol Amateur Wrestling Club on many occasions, winning for them many cups and medals. After a number of years as an amateur he turned to the paid ranks and slowly starting working his way up the bills.
However his big chance came in 1956 when female promoter Jessie Rogers (Wife of Dick Rogers, ex-heavyweight wrestler) of Bell Vue, Manchester were looking for a late replacement for an Assirati opponent for their next bill at the Sports Stadium, Brighton for Sunday 22nd of July. Having seen Stezycki in action, and liking what they had seen they offered him the opportunity and a big pay packet.
And
so it was that Stezycki stepped into the ring for the first time to face the
reigning British, Empire and European heavyweight champion. Stezycki took the
fight to Assirati from the bell, and pushed him all the way. The packed house of
3,000 fans were never disappointed with the all-action wrestling, and were left
thrilled at the end of six hard fought rounds. Assirati was so impressed with
his young opponent that he took the mike and declared to the audience, “You`ve
got a good un here.” With Assirati`s seal of approval, Stezycki was able to go
from a good working heavyweight, to a top of the bill attraction, earning twice
his usual pay. In the ensuing years that followed Stezycki was to face Assirati over 45 times in the space of three years, a truly remarkable feat when you think that former Olympic champions and world champions were only willing to share the ring with Assirati just the once. He will always be remembered as the toughest, and bravest wrestler ever to work in this country.
Who
can forget their epic battle at the Seymour Hall, London in December 1958 when
Assirati`s European title was up for grabs, with a side wager of £500 when the
average weekly wage was only £10 per week. Tickets for the match were being sold
for twice, and three times their value outside the hall; such was the clamour of
the fans to see the match. At the end of the struggle, Assirati was bloodied but
declared the winner, Stezycki, also bloodied, received the acclaim of the packed
crowd, his hand held raised by referee Harry Geoghan who was also covered in
blood, just like the two front rows of spectators around the ringside. Eugene Stezycki’s name will never be forgotten by the legions of true wrestling fans that saw him in action, and wrestling historians will always include his name when remembering their top ten wrestlers. These wrestlers made wrestling simply by wrestling. (Anyone wishing to see photographs of Assirati and Stezycki before their epic December 1958 battle can log onto to bertassirati.com).
Rest in peace you`ve earned your rest great Warrior.
Mike Hallinan.
