Boris Malenko

Boris Malenko
Born June 28, 1933
New Jersey
Died August 27, 1994 (aged 61)
Tampa, Florida
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Boris Malenko
Professor Boris Malenko
Laurence Malenko
The Masked Muscovite
Mr. Miami
Crusher Duggan
Otto Von Krupp
Larry Simon
Billed height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Billed weight 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st)[1]
Billed from Moscow, Russia[1]
Debut 1957

Lawrence J. Simon[2] (June 28, 1933 – August 27, 1994) better known by his ring name Boris Malenko, was an American professional wrestler who wrestled for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the 1960s and 1970s. He is the father of retired professional wrestlers Dean Malenko and Joe Malenko.[1]

Career

On July 19, 1961, Malenko challenged "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the NWA World title in Jacksonville, Florida, but was unsuccessful. On May 16, 1967, Malenko defeated Wahoo McDaniel to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship in Tampa, Florida. On August 16, 1968, Malenko and Johnny Valentine defeated the team of Joe Scarpa (later known as Chief Jay Strongbow) and Jose Lothario for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship titles, and four days later, Malenko defeated Eddie Graham for his first NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship in Jacksonville. Between 1968 and 1972, Malenko would win the Brass Knuckles title on seven more occasions, defeating the likes of Lothario, The Gladiator (Ricky Hunter), Strongbow (twice), Cyclone Negro, Bobby Duncum and Bearcat Wright.

On May 9, 1972, Malenko and Bob Roop defeated Bearcat Wright and Bobby Shane to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, and six days later, Malenko defeated Wright in singles competition to win his eighth and final Florida Brass Knuckles title in Orlando. On June 24, 1972, Malenko and Johnny Weaver defeated Mike Webster and The Professional for his second run with the Florida Tag Team titles.

Malenko also wrestled in the Texas territory in the early 1970s, often teaming with Lord Charles Montegue (known as Hans Mortier from the WWF). Montegue also acted as Malenko's manager during this run in Texas.

During the early days of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) territory, Malenko worked under the name Otto Von Krupp. He gained the AWA World Tag Team Championship with "Texas" Bob Geigel from Dale Lewis and Pat Kennedy (who wrestled elsewhere as Bobby "Hercules" Graham).

Malenko' wrestling name "The Great Malenko" was a pun; "Malenko" means "little" in Russian, and Boris was shorter than most of his fellow wrestlers.{{https://www.facebook.com/amelia.e.french?fref=ts|date=June 2010}}

Personal life

After retiring from the ring, Malenko opened a gym and training center, training wrestlers such as Buddy Landell, Barry Horowitz/Hart, Masked Superstar/Demolition Ax, Gangrel, Norman Smiley, Alex Gibson, Paul Diamond, Fred Ottman, Mark Hildreth, Perry Saturn, Sean Waltman (X-Pac), and his own sons Dean Malenko and Joe Malenko among others. He died in August 1994 from cancer.

Cultural references

Malenko was the inspiration for the title of Insane Clown Posse's fourth album, The Great Milenko, released in 1997.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. ↑ Social Security Death Index

External links