Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, February 17, 1939
(The Mosque) … Dave Levin b. Maurice LaChappelle (25:20) … Karol Krauser b. Luigi
Bacigalupi (22:30) … Joe Bomerito b. Morris Finkel (14:10) … Michele Leone and
Dropkick Murphy drew (30:00) … Slim Zimbleman b. Fritz Ziegfried (17:50) …
(promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  Levin was reportedly suffered an attack of blood poisoning in a “hectic brawl
with George (sic) Bruns, the big German, at the Hippodrome in New York City.  A series
of 17 blood transfusions was necessary to save the Hebrew athlete’s life, as the
aftermath of the injuries sustained in that battle.  It required eight or nine transfusions
to save Bruns, according to local promoter Joe Smith.  After being released from the
hospital, Levin went to California in an effort to restore his health.  Now after several
months of training on the coast, he is back in the east in search of new mat glory,” as
stated in the Bridgeport Telegram.  This was Levin’s first match locally in “two years or
more.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, February 24, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion George Becker and Dave Levin
drew at the 11:30 curfew (59:00) … Karol Krauser b. Luigi Bacigalupi (27:50) …
Michele Leone and Maurice LaChappelle drew (30:00) … Joe Bomerito b. George
Kondylis (22:10) … Dropkick Murphy b. Slim Zimbleman (20:40) … (promoters:  Joe
Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  “Smiler” Livingston)
Notes:  Becker won the world light heavyweight title from Steve Passas.  It was
reportedly announced from the ring that “Benito Leone, who had appeared in several
matches here this season, had died during the week as the result of a broken neck
suffered in a bout at Dallas, Texas.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, March 3, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion George Becker b. Karol Krauser
(1:12:00) … Dropkick Murphy b. Joe Bomerito (15:20) … Felix Slovikowski b. Luigi
Bacigalupi (7:10) … Michele Leone b. Slim Zimbleman (21:50) … Maurice LaChappelle
and Tony Siano drew (30:00) … (promoters: Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Note:  Krauser was “unbeaten in 16 engagements at the State street arena.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, March 10, 1939
(The Mosque) … Dave Levin b. George Becker to capture the World Light Heavyweight
Title (41:30) … Joe Bomerito b. Maurice LaChappelle (21:00) … Felix Slovikowski b.
Slim Zimbleman (4:20) … Karol Krauser b. Fritz Ziegfried (22:55) … Michele Leone b.
Rudy Cavell (21:15) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Babe
Caddock) … (commissioner:  George Pistey)

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, March 17, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion Dave Levin b. George Becker
(2/3) … Karol Krauser b. Joe Dempsey (16:50) … Felix Slovikowski b. Harry Finkelstein
(6:35) … Michele Leone b. Slim Zimbleman (16:20) … Joe Bomerito and Maurice Boyer
drew (30:00) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  The newspaper indicated that Becker, although the loser, “put up one of the
greatest exhibitions of wrestling witnessed at the State street arena since the
appearance of Danno O’Mahoney some time ago.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, March 24, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion Dave Levin b. Felix Slovikowski
(25:10) … George Becker and Joe Bomerito drew … Maurice Boyer b. Juan Olaquivel
(DQ) (Olaquivel was a substitute for Maurice LaChappelle) … Karol Krauser b. Harry
Finkelstein (17:10) … Joe Dempsey b. Slim Zimbleman (17:25) … (promoters:  Joe
Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  Slovikowski weighed 310 pounds and Levin was reportedly defending his
“prized world’s title belt” against him, despite the fact that it had been called the “light
heavyweight title” in previous advertising.  Slovikowski was from Warsaw, Poland, it was
said, and he claimed to be 25 years of age.  He also claimed “quite a reputation as a
rugby, soccer and ice hockey player.  He was captain of his college wrestling team and
was an amateur for three years.  Joe Dempsey was said to be from Chicago.  In the
March 25 edition of the Bridgeport Telegram, Levin’s championship was again referred
to as being the “world’s light heavyweight championship.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, March 31, 1939
(The Mosque) … Karol Krauser b. Steve Passas (DQ) (Passas was originally booked to
wrestle champion Dave Levin, but the latter was unable to compete due to a sprained
ligament in a leg, suffered earlier in the week at the St. Nicholas Arena) (37:45) …
George Becker b. Juan Olaquivel (18:10) … Fritz Ziegfried b. Steve Mahoney (16:31)
… Maurice Boyer b. Joe Dempsey (19:40) … Joe Bomerito b. Rudy Cavell …
(promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  “Smiler” Livingston)
Notes:  Passas was called “one of the most violent grapplers in the profession.” He held
the World Light Heavyweight Title for “more than two years” before losing it to George
Becker on January 21, 1939.  Dr. Bckmiller refused to allow Levin to wrestle on this
show.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Saturday, April 8, 1939
(The Mosque) … George Becker and Steve Passas drew at the 11:30 curfew … Tony
Milano vs. Mike Rogoski … Maurice Boyer vs. Karol Krauser … Juan Olaguivel vs. Fritz
Ziegfried … Rudy Cavell vs. Joe Dempsey … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Note:  The winner of the Becker-Passas match was going to meet Dave Levin for the
title.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, April 14, 1939
(The Mosque) … George Becker b. Dave Levin to capture the World Light Heavyweight
Title (29:20) … Kimon Kudo b. Joe Dempsey (dec., 30:00) … Maurice Boyer b. Fritz
Ziegfried (16:10) … The Great Tristan b. Tony Martinelli (12:05) … Curley Donchin b.
Joe Bomerito (decision) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Charley
Winters) … (announcer:  Max Bresler)
Notes:  Kudo stood 5’5” and weighed 170 pounds.  He was “rated as an expert in the
art of Jiu-jitsu.” Dempsey challenged the winner of the main event and slapped Becker
in the face, nearly causing a riot.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, April 21, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion George Becker b. Joe Dempsey
(DQ) (21:20) (Leonard punched Dempsey as the two went at it, the latter tearing the
official’s shirt) … Kimon Kudo b. Joe Bomerito (31:15) … Karol Krauser b. The Great
Tristan (12:30) … Maurice Boyer b. Tony Martinelli (16:29) … Curley Donchin and
Charley Layden drew (30:00) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referees:  
Babe Caddock, Benny Leonard, former lightweight boxing champion)
Notes:  Leonard was making several appearances, including on WICC radio at 6:30 on
April 21, speaking with Joe Lopez, and at the Middle Street Boy’s Club.  He was being
driven into town from New York City by George Gahan of the Graham Motor Company.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, April 28, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion George Becker b. Joe Dempsey
(37:25) … Kimon Kudo b. The Great Tristan (Kudo was a substitute for Tony Siano) (14:
50) … Kimon Kudo b. Charley Layden (22:10) … Maurice Boyer b. Fritz Ziegfried (17:
40) … Curley Donchin and Tony Martinelli drew (30:00) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack
Pfefer) … (referee:  “Smiler” Livingston) … (1,000 fans)

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, May 5, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion George Becker b. Kimon Kudo
(34:50) …  Maurice Boyer b. Felix Slovikowski (DQ) … other matches … (promoters:  
Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Doc Fishman)

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, May 12, 1939
(The Mosque) … Karol Krauser b. George Becker to capture the World Light
Heavyweight Title (30:00) … Maurice Boyer and Joe Bomerito drew (30:00) … Felix
Slovikowski b. Charley Layden (15:10) … Tony Martinelli b. Rudy Cavell (15:30) … Joe
Dempsey b. The Great Tristan (15:25) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) …
(referees:  Babe Caddock, Paddy Jones) … (“one of the smallest crowds of the
season”)
Notes:  The championship belt was “strapped around the Polish youth’s waist by Deputy
Boxing Commissioner George Pistey.” Jones “refereed two of the preliminary bouts as
part of his examination for a state referee’s license.” He was from Bridgeport and did
“okay,” according to Caddock.  Layden was spelled “Lyden” in some reports.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, May 19, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion Karol Krauser and Dave Levin
drew at the 11:30 curfew (46:00) … Joe Dempsey b. Maurice Boyer … Charley Layden
and Sandor Szasz drew (30:00) … Curley Donchin b. Fritz Ziegfried (25:50) … Joe
Bomerito b. Fritz Wallick … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (small crowd)
Note:  Szasz was a “Hungarian making his debut here.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, June 9, 1939
(Newfield Park) … Joe Dempsey vs. Dave Levin … King Kong vs. Fritz Wallick … Joe
Bomerito vs. The Mighty Sandor … Charley Layden vs. The Great Tristan … Luigi
Bacigalupi vs. Fritz Ziegfried … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Paddy
Jones)
Notes:  First outdoor wrestling show of the season.  No shows were found through the
end of June 1939.



Bridgeport, Connecticut:  September 29, 1939
(The Mosque) … Maurice Boyer b. Karol Krauser to capture the World Light
Heavyweight Title … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, October 6, 1939
(The Mosque) … Michele Leone b. Joe Dempsey (countout) (Dempsey missed a flying
tackle and sailed from the ring, injuring his back) … World Light Heavyweight Champion
Maurice Boyer b. Steve Passas (31:00) … Jack Roth b. Vanka Zelesniak (DQ) (21:50)
… Lou Kesz and Karol Krauser drew (30:00) … Otto Wallick b. Juan Olaguivel (14:10)
… (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  Lou Kesz was called the “new Hungarian sensation.” Newcomer Abe Rothberg
was supposed to wrestle Fritz Ziegfried on this show, but there was no mention of it in
the paper the next day.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, October 13, 1939
(The Mosque) … Wrestling Tournament … Michele Leone and Jack Roth drew (Leone
was injured) … Juan Olaguivel b. Jackie James … Lou Kesz and Karol Krauser drew …
Vanka Zelesniak b. Hans Westergart … Joe Dempsey b. Otto Wallick … Lou Kesz b.
Jack Roth (DQ) … Karol Krauser b. Vanka Zeleszniak (9:40) … Otto Wallick b. Juan
Olaguivel (4:10) … Joe Dempsey b. Lou Kesz in the tournament final (9:50) … World
Light Heavyweight Champion Maurice Boyer b. Joe Dempsey (30:10) … (promoters:  
Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referees:  Doc Fishman, Paddy Jones)
Notes:  The newspaper stated that “eleven members of Jake Pfeffer’s big wrestling
troupe will appear in action at the Mosque tonight during a one-night elimination
tournament.” World Light Heavyweight Champion Maurice Boyer was going to wrestle
the winner.  Ten matches were going to take place, the tournament bouts lasting 15
minutes and the title bout being a finish contest.  This show drew a larger crowd than
normal.  Attendance had been down locally.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, October 20, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion Maurice Boyer b. Lou Kesz (25:
35) … Joe Dempsey b. Juan Olaguivel (15:40) (Olaguivel was a substitute for Mike
Rogoski) … Gino Martinelli b. Jack Roth (18:35) … Karol Krauser b. Jackie James (14:
40) … Michele Leone and Otto Wallick drew … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) …
(small crowd)
Note:  Martinelli was making his first appearance in Bridgeport in “two years.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, October 27, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Light Heavyweight Champion Maurice Boyer b. Michele Leone
(26:10) … Gino Martinelli b. Vanka Zeleszniak (23:50) … Joe Dempsey b. Otto Wallick
(13:24) … Curley Donchin and Karol Krauser drew (30:00) … Lou Kesz b. Fritz
Zeigfried (18:10) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (small crowd)
Note:  Donchin was a Jewish wrestler.  Leone had “won several belts in International
tournaments staged in Europe.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, November 3, 1939
(The Mosque) … Wrestling Tournament … George Becker b. Joe Dempsey (9:50) …
Jackie Hogan b. Jackie James (9:45) … Felix Slovikowski b. Cliff Knutson (11:25) …
Michele Leone b. Fritz Zeigfried (11:27) … Lou Kesz and Hans Schwarz drew (15:00) …
Bobby Bruns b. Felix Slovikowski (9:55) … George Becker b. Jackie Hogan (decision)
… Hans Schwarz b. Michele Leone (11:20) … Bobby Bruns b. George Becker in the
tournament finals (24:40) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Doc
Fishman) … (largest crowd of the season)
Notes:  Pfefer was called “New York’s famed grappling impressario.” Becker was “one of
the most popular wrestlers to ever appear in Bridgeport.” Bruns was called a 218-
pound South African and this was his local debut.  Since the regular light heavyweight
division hovered around 175-180 pounds, it was clear that this “light heavyweight” title
was not abiding by any weight limits.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, November 10, 1939
(The Mosque) … Bobby Bruns b. Maurice Boyer to capture the “World’s Light
Heavyweight Title” (26:20) … George Becker b. John Gudiski (15:45) … Lou Kesz b.
Hans Schwarz (21:55) … Jackie Hogan and Gino Martinelli drew … Michele Leone b.
Jackie James (20:40) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  In several of the local advertising, Boyer was said to be defending his “world
light heavyweight championship belt” against Bobby Bruns tonight.  Bruns reportedly
“came to Bridgeport unannounced last Friday.” The newspaper stated that “Much
fanfare marked the official recognition of the new ‘champion’ by promoters Joe Smith
and Jake Pfefer.  Bruns had his picture snapped in all sorts of poses and was
presented with the belt defended in the bout by Boyer.  The South African immediately
offered to meet any of the other claimants of the world’s heavyweight title, and shook
hands with everyone so inclined.” In subsequent reports, Bruns was called the “new
claimant of the world’s heavyweight wrestling championship.”

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, November 17, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Bruns b. George Becker (36:10)
… Joe Dempsey b. Hans Schwarz (12:40) … Lou Kesz b. Tony Papalino (20:25) …
Michele Leone b. Jackie James (19:20) … John Gudiski and Fritz Zeigfried drew (30:00)
… (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  The Bridgeport Telegram stated that “Bruns is rated the best heavyweight ever
to appear here by Jake Pfefer of New York, who handles the matchmaking for promoter
Joe Smith.  Through Pfefer, he has issued a sweeping defy to all the numerous
claimants of world’s wrestling supremacy, an honor that has been furiously disputed
since the palmy days of Wladek Zbysko (sic).” Jackie James was the “youngest member
of a well-known wrestling family.”

*Matty Herbert was the matchmaker for boxing at the Pyramid Mosque in Bridgeport.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, November 24, 1939
(The Mosque) … Steve Passas b. George Becker (56:38) … Gino Martinelli b. Brunek
Zagurski (countout) (Zagurski missed a flying tackle and was unable to continue) …
Kimon Kudo b. Fritz Zeigfried (27:30) … Maurice LaChappelle b. Tony Papalino (11:40)
… Joe Dempsey and Lou Kesz drew (30:00) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) …
(referee:  Babe Caddock)
Notes:  The newspaper indicated that “both Passas and Becker are former claimants of
the world’s heavyweight and light heavyweight titles respectively.” Passas was from
Hartford.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, December 1, 1939
(The Mosque) … Steve Passas b. Maurice LaChappelle (40:55) … Kimon Kudo b. Lou
Kesz (20:20) … Gino Martinelli b. John Gudiski (11:25) (flying tackle) … Brunek
Zagurski b. Joe Dempsey (DQ) … Michele Leone and Fritz Zeigfried drew …
(promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Babe Caddock)

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, December 8, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Bruns b. Steve Passas (33:45)
… Kimon Kudo and Brunek Zagurski drew (30:00) … Orville Brown b. Lou Kesz (16:50)
… Gino Martinelli b. Fritz Zeigfried (14:50) … Maurice LaChappelle b. Joe Dempsey (21:
10) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)
Notes:  It was said that Bruns was defending the “much passed-around and highly-
coveted world’s heavyweight championship belt.” The newspaper also stated that
“Passas will be out to regain full recognition he enjoyed some three years ago.” Orville
Brown was making his local debut.

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, December 15, 1939
(The Mosque) … Wrestling Tournament … Joe Dempsey b. Jesse Pangalos (10:40) …
Juan Olaguivel and Fritz Zeigfried drew (15:00) … Maurice LaChappelle b. Hans
Schwarz (10:35) … Primo Delmonte b. Brunek Zagurski (countout) (12:20) … Gino
Martinelli b. Lou Kesz (9:10) … Joe Dempsey b. Maurice LaChappelle … Gino Martinelli
b. Juan Olaguivel (8:10) … Primo Delmonte b. Wladyslaw Dalski (5:50) … Gino
Martinelli b. Primo Delmonte … Joe Dempsey b. Fritz Zeigfried … Gino Martinelli b. Joe
Dempsey in the tournament finals (18:50) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer)

Bridgeport, Connecticut:  Friday, December 22, 1939
(The Mosque) … World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Bruns b. Gino Martinelli (29:50)
… Karol Krauser b. Primo Delmonte (DQ) … Maurice LaChappelle b. Juan Olaguivel
(22:11) … Joe Dempsey b. Wladyslaw Dalski (16:20) … Hans Schwarz and Brunek
Zagurski drew (30:00) … (promoters:  Joe Smith, Jack Pfefer) … (referee:  Babe
Caddock)
Notes:  Bruns was said to be 26 years old and weighing 217 pounds, while Martinelli
was 27 and weighed 200.  No show next week.


Research by Tim Hornbaker
December 27, 2007
Bridgeport Wrestling Results - 1939