Martin Burns

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Martin "Farmer" Burns (February 15, 1861 - 1937) was a world champion "catch-as-catch-can" wrestler as well as 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 he claimed the world title by defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis in 1895 and held the title for three years. Martin Burns himself claimed to have wrestled in over 6,000 matches and further claimed to have lost only six. 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 very 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.

[edit] References

• Wrestling Museum
• Martin "Farmer" Burns
• The "Farmer" Burns workout