Tarzan Taborda

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Tarzan Taborda (Albano Taborda Curto Esteves) (May 27, 1935 - September 9, 2005), was a Portuguese professional wrestler. He is the most significant professional wrestling star ever to emerge from Portugal.

[edit] Career

Born in Aldeia do Bispo, Penamacor, Portugal, Esteves became a professional wrestler after coming second in the Mister Europe bodybuilding competition. He wrestled over 4000 professional wrestling matches (without losing a single one in his native country) from the late 1950's until 1981, earning the nicknames Taborda Sputnik, Tarzan Curtys, White Angel (France), King Kong (Africa), Mr. Mexico, and Juan Perez, among others. As achievements he was four times European Champion and five times World Champion.[1] Until 1994, he was the World Wrestling Federation's color commentator for their television airings in Portugal.

He also wrestled in the Middle East, in countries like Iraq, where he performed in Baghdad for Saddam Hussein.

Tarzan Taborda was also a ballet dancer in Le Lido, Paris, and a stuntman, where he worked with Brigitte Bardot, Alain Delon, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum on various movies.

On September 9, 2005 he died of a myocardial infarction at the age of 70.