Dan Kolov

Doncho Kolеv Danev (Bulgarian: Дончо Колев Данев) (27 December 1892 – 26 March 1940), better known by his ring name Dan Kolov (Bulgarian: Дан Колов), was a Bulgarian wrestler and mixed martial artist.

He was the first European freestyle wrestling champion from Bulgaria. He won the European gold in 1936 in the championship in Paris. This was the second distinction for Bulgaria after the world title of Nikola Petrov (Greco-Roman wrestling) from 1900.

Early years

Doncho Kolev Danev was born on 27 December 1892 in the village of Sennik, Sevlievo municipality.^[2] He was seven years old when his father died. This tragic event forced him to become a shepherd in order to survive. He left Bulgaria in 1905 and went to then Austro-Hungarian Empire, where he worked as a gardener in Budapest. In 1909, he met with another Bulgarian wrestler, Nikola Petrov, who convinced him to emigrate to the United States.

Sport career (wrestling and martial arts)

Group photo with Dan Kolov (who is standing right in the center)

Kolov left Bulgaria and moved to the United States at the age of 17.^[2] He worked various jobs until he found work as a railroad construction worker. He impressed people with his physical power and became famous for his ability to twist metal rails around his neck. He even fought a bear while hunting. Legend has it that he fought the beast for an hour with his bare hands until he got a chance to kill the animal with his rifle later. Apparently, witnesses saw the marks of Kolov's hands on the neck of the bear. He was subsequently hired as a wrestler with "Victoria Circus". At the beginning of the last century, wrestling was represented in freestyle wrestling bout in which punches and kicks were allowed. It was a dangerous sport with extremely serious and severe injuries. Catch as Catch Can (CACC) or catch wrestling could be considered the father of today's mixed martial arts (MMA).

Before being discovered and trained to be a professional wrestler by Zbyszko Cyganiewicz, Kolov was self-taught.^[2] Kolov was the first wrestler who captured professional world heavyweight wrestling championship's "Diamond Belt" twice.^[2] His most famous victories are: in New York vs. Latvian Rudy Dusek (1919), in Tokyo vs. Jiki Higen "The Strangler" (1921) and in Paris vs. Henri Deglane (1933). He was also three times European Heavyweight Champion (1934, 1937, 1937).^[3] In 1937, Kolov defeated then European Heavyweight Champion, American Al Pereira, only for Pereira to win the title back and for Kolov to reclaim it, before losing it in turn to Joe Savoldi.^[2][4]

He started his career as a wrestler by taking part in the organised wrestling matches between the workers. He later won the tournament in the circus "Victoria" in 1914, when the director of the circus invited people from the public to compete and check their physical power with the star Jeff Lawrence "The Cyclope". Kolov accepted the challenge and he succeeded in overpowering the 233 pound wrestler. He won against many famous MMA fighters from that time such as Jeff Lawrence, Stanislaus Zbyszko, Jack Shirey (also called "The Lightning Man"), Rudy Dusec, Jo Stecker, Ed "Strangler" Lewis and Jim Browning. He was invited in Japan, where he claimed victory against Djiki Hegen "The Strangler" – idol in Japan's wrestling, who never lost to anyone before as a professional. After this win, the public tried to kill Kolov. Similar incident also happened before the match, when through the window of his hotel room it flew a dagger that Kolov successfully avoided. In the MMA tournament in Paris, Kolov won all of his matches against all of his opponents, including the final against Henri Deglane.

Wins

Kolov had between 1,500 and 2,000 fights, and won almost all of them.^[1] His wins include:

• 2 times Diamond Belt World Heavyweight Champion (1927, 1933)
• 3 times European Heavyweight Champion (1934, 1937, 1937/1938)
• 1 time tournament winner in Japan (1924)
• 1 time tournament winner in Brazil (1927)
• multiple winner of tournaments in the United States (1914/1927)

Losses

Kolov has 72 registered losses in official matches.^[1] The following list shows the date, the location and the wrestler who defeated him.

1922

• 12 April 1922, Moberly, MO – Jim Londos defeated Dan Kolov

1923

• 8 February 1923, St. Louis, MO, The Coliseum – Jim Londos defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)^[5]
• 6 March 1923, Chicago, IL – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)^[6]
• 7 March 1923, St. Louis, MO, The Coliseum – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)^[5]
• 22 November 1923, St. Louis, MO, The Coliseum – Joe Stecher defeated Dan Kolov (1–0)^[5]

1924

• 6 February 1924, Lethbridge, Canada – Jack Taylor defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)^[7]
• 12 March 1924, Edmonton, Canada – Jack Taylor defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)^[8]

1925

• 5 March 1925, St. Louis, MO, The Coliseum – Oreste Vadalfi defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 16 March 1925, Manhattan, NY, 71st Regiment Armory – Jim Londos defeated Dan Kolov (47 minutes)
• 6 May 1925, St. Louis, MO – Jim Londos defeated Dan Kolov (29 minutes)
• 10 June 1925, Los Angeles, CA – Joe Stecher defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)^[9]
• 24 June 1925, Los Angeles, CA – Renato Gardini defeated Dan Kolov
• 23 July 1925, Spokane, WA, Fort George Wright Arena – Stanislaus Zbyszko defeated Dan Kolov (2–1) (32 minutes)
• 28 September 1925, Los Angeles, CA, The Olimpic Auditorium – Jim Londos defeated Dan Kolov
• 2 November 1925, St. Louis, MO, The Coliseum – Joe Stecher defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 1 December 1925, Chicago, IL, Ashland Boulevard Auditorium – George Calza defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)^[10]
• 14 December 1925, Manhattan, NY – Ivan Poddubny defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 28 December 1925, Manhattan, NY, 71st Regiment Armory – Hans Steinke defeated Dan Kolov (16 minutes)

1926

• 9 February 1926, Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Municipal Auditorium – Wladek Zbyszko defeated Dan Kolov
• 19 May 1926, Los Angeles, CA, Olympic Auditorium – Ivan Poddubny defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 17 August 1926, San Francisco, CA, Dreamland Auditorium – Wladek Zbyszko defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 30 August 1926, San Diego, CA, – Renato Gardini defeated Dan Kolov (2:0) with flying headlocks in both falls
• 8 September 1926, Los Angeles, CA, Olympic Auditorium – Ad Santel defeated Dan Kolov (18 minutes) with a Japanese toehold

1927

• 2 November 1927, Columbus, OH, Chamber of Commerce – Alan Eustace defeated Dan Kolov^[11]

1928

• 10 January 1928, Queens, NY, Ridgewood Grove Sporting Club – Hans Steinke defeated Dan Kolov (51 minutes)
• 23 January 1928, Manhattan, NY – Wladek Zbyszko defeated Dan Kolov (38 minutes)
• 30 January 1928, Manhattan, NY – Renato Gardini defeated Dan Kolov (21 minutes)
• 21 February 1928, Queens, NY, Ridgewood Grove Sporting Club – Toney Rocco defeated Dan Kolov (13 minutes)
• 19 March 1928, New York City, NY, Madison Square Garden – John Pesek defeated Dan Kolov (29 minutes) with head scissors and an armlock
• 20 March 1928, Queens, NY, Ridgewood Grove Sporting Club – Dick Shikat defeated Dan Kolov
• 7 May 1928, Manhattan, NY, 71st Regiment Armory – Hans Steinke defeated Dan Kolov (14 minutes)
• 5 June 1928, Queens, NY, Ridgewood Grove Sporting Club – Wladek Zbyszko defeated Dan Kolov (13 minutes) with a flying mare
• 20 June 1928, Boston, MA, Mechanic's Building – Hans Steinke defeated Dan Kolov (2–0) (35 minutes)

1929

• 21 January 1929, New York City, NY, Madison Square Garden – Howard Cantonwine defeated Dan Kolov (4 minutes)
• 5 February 1929, Providence, NY, The Arcadia – Bull Komar defeated Dan Kolov (40 minutes)
• 21 February 1929, Boston, MA, Boston Arena – George McLeod defeated Dan Kolov (32 minutes)
• 25 February 1929, Chicago, IL, The Coliseum – Jim McMillen defeated Dan Kolov
• 6 June 1929, Worcester, MA – Gus Sonnenberg defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 15 October 1929, Toronto, Canada, Arena Gardens – Gus Sonnenberg defeated Dan Kolov (2–0) (47 minutes)
• 9 December 1929, Toronto, Canada, Arena Gardens – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov (2–1) (51 minutes)

1930

• 10 February 1930, Toronto, Canada, Massey Hall – Joe Devito defeated Dan Kolov
• 31 March 1930, Kansas City, KS, Convention Hall – Gus Sonnenberg defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 10 April 1930, Kansas City, KS – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 24 April 1930, Boston, MA, Boston Garden – Henri Deglane defeated Dan Kolov (8 minutes)
• 5 May 1930, Los Angeles, CA, Wrigley Field – Ed Don George defeated Dan Kolov
• 14 May 1930, Los Angeles, CA – Nick Lutze defeated Dan Kolov
• 10 May 1930, Kansas City, KS – Gus Sonnenberg defeated Dan Kolov
• 26 November 1930, Los Angeles, CA, The Olympic Auditorium – Ed Don George defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 10 December 1930, Los Angeles, CA, The Olympic Auditorium – Henry Deglane defeated Dan Kolov (17 minutes)
• 18 December 1930, Chicago, IL, The Coliseum – Ed Don George defeated Dan Kolov (24 minutes)

1931

• 26 January 1931, Los Angeles, CA, Post Street Theater – John Freberg defeated Dan Kolov
• 31 March 1931, Portland, ME – Gus Sonnenberg defeated Dan Kolov (2–0)
• 28 April 1931, Buffalo, NY – Ed Don George defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 5 June 1931, West Springfield, MA – Gus Sonnenberg defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 11 June 1931, Toronto, Canada – Henri Deglane defeated Dan Kolov
• 3 September 1931, Vancouver, Canada – Marin Plestina defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 1 October 1931, Vancouver, Canada – Roland Kirchmeyer defeated Dan Kolov
• 3 November 1931, Tacoma, WA – John Freberg defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)

1932

• 25 January 1932, Buffalo, NY, Queensbury Club – Henri Deglane defeated Dan Kolov
• 8 February 1932, Buffalo, NY, Queensbury Club – Joe Malcewicz defeated Dan Kolov
• 15 March 1932, Rochester, NY, Convention Hall – Henri Deglane defeated Dan Kolov (20 minutes) with top scissors and an armlock
• 10 May 1932, Buffalo, NY, Queensbury Club – Len Macaluso defeated Dan Kolov
• 17 August 1932, Portland, OR – Ed Don George defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 30 August 1932, San Francisco, CA – Ed Don George defeated Dan Kolov (2–1) – Kolov was disqualified in the third fall

1933

• 26 January 1933, Toronto, Canada – Joe Malcewicz defeated Dan Kolov (2–1) (31 minutes)
• 7 April 1933, Oakland, CA, The Auditorium – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov
• 12 April 1933, Stockton, CA, The Stockton Auditorium – Glen Wade defeated Dan Kolov (2–1)
• 25 May 1933, Vancouver, Canada – Everett Kibbons defeated Dan Kolov
• 12 June 1933, Sacramento, CA – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov
• 6 July 1933, Portland, OR – Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Dan Kolov
• 6 August 1933, Sacramento, CA – Jim Browning defeated Dan Kolov (26 minutes)

1937

• 7 July 1937, Paris, France – Al Pereira defeated Dan Kolov

Return in Bulgaria

After 30 years in a foreign country, he came back to Bulgaria and was greeted as a national hero.^[2] Throughout his whole career, he was asked many times to change his citizenship to American. He refused it with the words: "Dan Kolov is Bulgarian". Kolov remained proud Bulgarian until his death and was famous for his words: "I feel strong, because I am Bulgarian". For him, his motherland was the most holy and sacred thing. He is remembered for helping many Bulgarian people in the country and abroad. He gave all of his money to charities.^[2] The first Bulgarian airplane for the National Bulgarian Post was donated by him.^[2]

Having returned home, he spent most of his time establishing wrestling clubs by training young people, but continued to compete professionally until the last years of his life. He also arranged many wrestling matches in Sofia and donated all the profits.^[2] He is also famous with another saying, upon his return to Bulgaria, he was asked if he wanted someone to take him home by carriage, to which he replied: "I left home walking, I will go home walking!".

The new communist government, after 9 September 1944, awarded him with the high accolade "Honoured Master of Sport".

In 1962, the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation organised an international freestyle wrestling tournament named after him to commemorate his memory.^[2][12]

In 1999, it was produced the movie about his life Dan Koloff - The King of Wrestling.^[13]

Death

Kolov died in Bulgaria on 26 March 1940 from tuberculous.^[2] His coffin was carried by officers of the Ninth Artillery Corps from the town of Sevlievo also escorted by an honorary company of cavalry.^[2] He was buried with the specific request of facing the Balkan ("Balkan against Balkan"), as Balkan in Bulgarian means "mountain" thus the meaning is "mountain against mountain".

Each year, in the town of Sevlievo is held in freestyle wrestling tournament in memory of Kolov.^[2][12]

Rumors around his death

One of the versions for his condition is that he did not get infected naturally, but that he was purposely infected by French doctors. It is known that there were a lot of attempts to get Kolov disgraced and disqualified from tournaments.

Championship and accomplishments

• Diamond Belt World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• European Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• Tournament in Brazil (1927)
• Tournament in Japan (1924)
• Tournaments in the United States (1914/1927)

References