26-714: [REDACTED] This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "World Light Heavyweight Championship" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( November 2015 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this message ) World Light Heavyweight Championship Statistics Final champion(s) Martin "Farmer" Burns Most reigns Clarence Eklund The World Light Heavyweight Championship
52-402: A 21-year-old Iowan named Frank Gotch , but he recognized his raw talent and recruited him as his prized student. Burns would then mold Gotch into perhaps the greatest wrestling champion of all time, as he defeated George Hackenschmidt in 1908 to claim the undisputed World Heavyweight Title. In addition, Farmer Burns also served as a teacher to a myriad of grapplers who would transform the sport in
78-578: A child; and at age 8, he tossed an older rival to claim a fifteen cent prize. His father died when he was 11, leaving him to support his mother, brother, and five sisters. To earn money, Burns worked at a nearby farm for $ 12 per month; and while he received little schooling, it was this physical labor that enabled Burns to develop his tremendous physical strength. He also spent time working in grading camps, where he competed in regular competitions against rugged strongmen. However, while these men focused on brute strength, Burns spent much time meticulously perfecting
104-412: A professional grappler when he battled David Grafft to a 2-hour and 19 minute draw. He then honed his skills against the top pro wrestlers of the day, losing decisions to Henry Clayton and Tom Connors in 1886 and 1887 respectively. The defeat to Clayton particularly irked Burns, as he was unable to offset the feared stranglehold that subsequently earned Clayton the moniker Evan “Strangler” Lewis (long before
130-458: Is a combination of warm-ups and stretches , using only one's own body for resistance. The second phase uses a pair of dumbbells for resistance, otherwise resembling aerobics in appearance. The third phase of exercises are partner exercises, again only relying on the two persons' bodies for resistance. Martin Burns's career success is often accredited in part to this intense workout routine. Burns
156-584: Is said to have lost only seven. After the end of his active wrestling career he started a successful wrestling school in Omaha and later coached Cedar Rapids ' Washington high school to the first Iowa high school state wrestling tournament title. He died in Council Bluffs in 1937. In 2001 Martin "Farmer" Burns was inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame . He
182-638: The American Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship with the Catch-As-Catch-Can Championship. This set up yet another rematch between Farmer Burns and Strangler Lewis; and on April 20, 1895, Burns pinned Lewis to capture the title. Burns would go on to reign as wrestling's American Champion for two years until he was finally beaten by Dan McLeod and Tom Jenkins in 1897. Burns competed in many mixed style wrestling challenge matches, including Cornish wrestling during
208-462: The 1890s and 1900s. He beat famous Cornish wrestlers such as Rowett, twice in 1899 and M J Dwyer in 1905, 1907 and 1908. Nevertheless, Farmer Burns's greatest contribution to wrestling's evolution may be as a trainer. He opened a gymnasium in Rock Island, Illinois , in 1893, and helped to establish schools that enlightened young grapplers to the world of catch wrestling. In 1899, Burns defeated
234-776: The International Wrestling Institute and Museum also based in Newton. On March 31, 2017, Burns was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a part of the Legacy wing. Burns had two sons, Raymond and Charlie, who became musicians in Chicago, and a daughter, Celia Burns Beem. He suffered the loss of his wife Amelia in 1930, which led to the deterioration of his own condition. At this point he went to live with his daughter who died in 1951. Burns died on January 8, 1937, in Council Bluffs, Iowa at
260-523: The age of 75, and was buried at the St. James Cemetery in Toronto, Iowa. The "Farmer" Burns workout is a custom workout routine developed by Martin Burns for himself and his students. It is based only on resistance provided by one's own body, a pair of dumbbell weights, and supplemental aerobic exercise, such as running. The workout consists of three phases of exercises organized into sets and repetitions. The first phase
286-466: The challenge and showed up at the Olympic Theater dressed in his regular farmer's overalls. Consequently, the event's announcer introduced Martin to the crowd as “Farmer” Burns; and the “Farmer” promptly made a monkey out of Carleek, throwing him across the stage before being declared the winner after fifteen minutes. The next challenge was Burns's much-awaited rematch against Evan “Strangler” Lewis, who
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#1732859386404312-419: The early 1900s, including future World Champion Earl Caddock , future Middleweight World Champion and Champion Wrestler of the A.E.F. Ralph Parcaut , as well as creative pioneer Joseph “Toots” Mondt. Other big names he personally trained included Rudy Dusek , Joe Malcewicz , Emil Klank , Jess Westergaard , Fred Beell and Jack Sherry . It is said he trained more than 1,600 wrestlers in all. Burns
338-500: The early 1900s. Moreover, it is said that Ed “Strangler” Lewis, the great wrestling champion of the 1920s and 30s (and the eventual teacher of Lou Thesz) got his start in wrestling by following Burns's training methods. Consequently, it is because of Burns's many efforts that his native state of Iowa has subsequently become the nation's amateur wrestling capital, with the University of Iowa consistently serving as an NCAA powerhouse, and with
364-409: The greatest wrestlers of the day, while also beating all comers at carnivals. Though he weighed just 165 pounds, he regularly defeated men who outweighed him by as much as 50-100 pounds. At the time, professional catch-as-catch-can (freestyle) wrestling often used no time limit, and a match was usually decided when a wrestler “threw” his opponent to the ground. However, Burns became known as the master of
390-513: The more famous Ed “Strangler” Lewis was ever born). Consequently, Burns launched into a rigorous program of neck development; and soon built an immense 20” neck that possessed such strength that he could be dropped six feet on a hangman's noose to no effect (a stunt that Burns would often perform at carnivals and fairs). While on a trip to Chicago in the spring of 1889, Burns saw a sign offering $ 25 to anyone who could last fifteen minutes against top grapplers Jack Carleek and Evan Lewis. Burns accepted
416-461: The pinfall, as he perfected the art of trapping his opponents’ shoulders to the mat while contriving such dangerous maneuvers as the full and half-nelson, hammerlock, double-wrist lock, chicken wing, and a variety of submission toe holds. Farmer Burns soon encountered the renowned Sorakichi Matsuda , who is regarded as Japan's first-ever pro wrestler, and who had been a top challenger to World Wrestling Champions William Muldoon and Ernest Roeber during
442-471: The previous decade. The two faced off in Troy, NY on May 13, 1891, and Burns scored his biggest win yet when he pinned Matsuda in just four minutes. As a result, Farmer Burns soon became known as the world's premier all-around grappler; and between 1890 and 1893, he never lost a single fall. Then, on March 2, 1893, Evan Lewis was recognized as wrestling's American Heavyweight Champion when he beat Ernest Roeber to unify
468-456: The strategies and techniques of catch wrestling, which is a grappling style where various holds and tactics are used with the intent to either submit or pin both opponent's shoulders to the ground at once. Therefore, the combination of Burns's superior conditioning, intellect, and advanced skill made him a nearly unbeatable wrestling opponent. By 1880, Martin Burns had developed a formidable reputation; and at 19, he wrestled his first match against
494-694: Was a multiple time winner of the World Light Heavyweight Championship . He was also the World Light Heavyweight Championship (Australian version) by defeating Clarence Eklund. He also won the Pacific Coast Middleweight Championship in 1920 and the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship in 1922. He defeated Billy Meeske in 1924. Thye wrestled under Stadiums Limited for a period of time. Pacific Northwest Wrestling started in
520-723: Was also inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2002. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted Martin Burns in 2003 and Burns was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2017. In 2024 he was inducted into the Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. Martin Burns was born on February 15, 1861, in a log cabin on a farm in Cedar County, Iowa. Growing up amidst the Civil War, Burns
546-684: Was an American catch wrestler , wrestling coach, and teacher. Born in Cedar County, Iowa , he started wrestling as a teenager and made money traveling around the Midwest wrestling in carnivals and fairs. As a professional wrestler , he claimed the American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis in 1895 and held the title for two years, during the time when contests were legitimate. At this time, Martin Burns himself claimed to have wrestled in more than 6,000 matches and
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#1732859386404572-405: Was exposed at an early age to the sport of wrestling, which was a preferred activity among the soldiers while stationed in camp. Consequently, the sport's popularity further increased during the 1860s, and many historians also speculate that the added interest may be due to the fact that President Abraham Lincoln had himself been a wrestler in his younger years. Burns wrestled impromptu matches as
598-415: Was now the reigning Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Joe Acton on March 14, 1887. However, fifteen minutes proved not enough time for Lewis to throw Burns; and again, the unknown “Farmer” was declared the winner and was subsequently lauded as a wrestling hero the next day in Chicago newspapers. Following Farmer Burns's emergence as a premier grappler, he traveled the country, taking on
624-487: Was so respected as a trainer that he was even recruited to serve as the conditioning coach for boxer Jim Jeffries’ 1910 title bout against Jack Johnson. In 1914, Burns published a 96-page mail-order course entitled The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture , which incorporated breathing techniques, calisthenics, stamina exercises, and Eastern martial arts principles, thus becoming the bible for all aspiring wrestlers during
650-3552: Was the first recognized professional wrestling world light heavyweight championship created in 1905. Title history [ edit ] Wrestler: Times: Date Won: Location: Notes: Martin "Farmer" Burns 1 January 19, 1881 New York City, New York Jack Dodd 1 August 7, 1882 New York City, New York William Demetral 1 April 11, 1887 Chicago, Illinois Yussif Hussane 1 April 20, 1895 Chicago, Illinois William Demetral 1 October 26, 1897 Indianapolis, Indiana Ad Santel 1 June 20, 1898 Chicago, Illinois Fred Beell 1 November 7, 1901 N/A Martin "Farmer" Burns 2 December 25, 1902 Worcester, Massachusetts Fred Beell 2 April 3, 1903 Buffalo, New York Americus 1 January 27, 1904 Bellingham, Washington Jim Londos 3 March 15, 1905 New York City, New York Earl Caddock 2 May 23, 1906 Kansas City, Missouri Jim Londos 1 December 1, 1906 New Orleans, Louisiana Clarence Eklund 3 December 17, 1906 Kansas City, Missouri Helmer Myre 1 April 3, 1908 N/A Clarence Eklund 1 October 25, 1910 Minneapolis, Minnesota Helmer Myre 2 February 1, 1911 Minneapolis, Minnesota Clarence Eklund 1 March 6, 1911 Chicago, Illinois Charlie Rentrop 2 March 25, 1911 Buffalo, New York Clarence Eklund 1 November 7, 1911 Des Moines, Iowa Ted Thye 2 December 14, 1911 Minneapolis, Minnesota Clarence Eklund 3 March 25, 1912 Chicago, Illinois Ira Dern 2 July 4, 1913 Benton Harbor, Michigan Pinky Gardner 1 September 18, 1913 Lexington, Kentucky Clarence Eklund 1 October 21, 1913 Lexington, Kentucky John Shimkus 3 July 10, 1914 Rock Island, Illinois Clarence Eklund 1 January 8, 1917 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Ray Steele 1 January 19, 1881 New York City, New York Ted Thye 1 August 7, 1882 New York City, New York Billy Edwards 1 April 11, 1887 Chicago, Illinois Charlie Fischer 1 April 20, 1895 Chicago, Illinois Clarence Eklund 1 October 26, 1897 Indianapolis, Indiana Hugh Nichols 1 June 20, 1898 Chicago, Illinois See also [ edit ] World Light Heavyweight Championship (Australian version) World Light Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association) References [ edit ] External links [ edit ] World Light Heavyweight Championship at Wrestling-Titles.com Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_Light_Heavyweight_Championship&oldid=1250564336 " Categories : World professional wrestling championships Light heavyweight wrestling championships Hidden categories: Articles needing additional references from November 2015 All articles needing additional references Martin %22Farmer%22 Burns Martin Burns (February 15, 1861 – January 8, 1937), nicknamed Farmer Burns ,
676-598: Was well known in the early twentieth century for his neck. He managed to have a twenty-inch neck. With this neck, according to an article in WWE Magazine , he gained fame by being put into a noose , getting hanged , and living, while whistling " Yankee Doodle ". Ted Thye Theodore Thye (August 26, 1890 – March 22, 1966) was an American wrestler, promotor and manager in the United States. During his career he worked with Emile Czaja and Ed "Strangler" Lewis . Thye
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