Akram Pahalwan
Encyclopedia
Akram Pahalwan also known as Iki Pehlwan was a well-known Pakistan
i wrestler
and a part of the Bholu Brothers Tag Team in professional wrestling during the late 1960's. He fought most of his wrestling matches with foreign wrestlers in distant countries and also within Pakistan
. Some of his well known opponents include Haji Afzal (1963), George Gordienko
(1967), Anton Geesink
(1968) and Antonio Inoki
(1976).
, capital of Kenya through a submission hold. The Mahinder Singh’s elder brother was the referee of that match. The East African public named him “The Lion” when he defeated the gigantic warriors of Kampala
including the Ugandan Champion Idi Amin
. Soon after this match he and Idi Amin became friends.
Akram's Pakistani opponents include Imam Baksh Ferozwala. Jero Pahalwan, Sheeda Gujanwalia, Goma, Hamida Ghaia Wala, Suleman and Sheeda Popat. He defeated Siddique son of Goonga Pahalwan in Sialkot, Bakhshu Pahalwan in Jampur, Mushtaq Pahalwan in Multan, Nazu Pahalwan in Bahawalpur, Gurda Pahalwan in Multan. The tremendous Bhola Gadi in Lahore. Rustam-e-Multan, Zamman Khan in Karachi. And one of the leading wrestlers known as Haji Muhammad Afzal in Lahore. The former Governor of Pakistan, Malik Amir Muhammad Khan was the Chief Guest of this event. The deputy superintendent Ghulam Hussain Butt was the referee.
In 1958, Akram was proclaimed the Champion of Malaya in Singapore
when he defeated the wrestler Hari Ram. He received an expensive car as a reward for his achievements.
In 1965 Akram defeated Indian wrestler Hardam Singh at the National Stadium, Karachi in the third round. Akram's previous record shows that he participated in around 280 major wrestling events during the 50s. Some of which remained alive in the memories of people who watched him wrestle for a long time.
Beside that he also defeated Emil Koroshenko, Baron Von Heczey, Bloorma, King Kong (Emile Czaja) and others. While during the 60s Pahalwan also remained a part of the Bholu Brothers wrestling team. Some of the opponents of Akram during the 60s include Tony Kontellis, Con Papalazarou, Shaikh Wadi Ayoub, Bert Assirati
etc. The Pakistani sporting arenas were regularly packed with up to 60,000 fans. He competed in freestyle wrestling during the 1960s. In 1967 he toured UK. The Bholu Brothers were rated 10th in the 1968 Tag Team world ratings.
In 1968 Akram wrestled in Suriname
, South America
where he was beaten unconscious by the Dutch 10th-dan Judoka, three-time undefeated World Judo Champion (1961, 1964 and 1965) Anton Geesink
. Later in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) he also injured his left arm in one of his match against Bill Verna
of Australia.
In 1976, when the World Champion Japanese Wrestler, Antonio Inoki
fought with the boxing legend Muhammad Ali
in a mixed martial arts match to a draw. The Bholu brothers, that claimed to be the world champions, slated Akram to fight Inoki. However on the day of the match Inoki defeated Akram through a submission hold, chicken wing armlock. Although Akram didn't submit, but the referee stopped the match because Akram's left arm broke under the submission hold. However soon after this match the former Ugandan Champion, Idi Amin
challenged Inoki, probably to avenge Akram's defeat. But due to some official reason the match never took place.
Akram's wrestling career ended in 1976 after his match with Inoki. He died on 12 April 1987.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i wrestler
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and a part of the Bholu Brothers Tag Team in professional wrestling during the late 1960's. He fought most of his wrestling matches with foreign wrestlers in distant countries and also within Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Some of his well known opponents include Haji Afzal (1963), George Gordienko
George Gordienko
George Gordienko was a Canadian professional wrestler and artist. Born of first generation Ukrainian and Cossack-Canadian parents in North Winnipeg, Manitoba, by age 17 Gordienko had received numerous awards for his physical prowess...
(1967), Anton Geesink
Anton Geesink
Antonius "Anton" Johannes Geesink was a Dutch 10th-dan judoka from Utrecht. He was a three-time World Judo Champion , Olympic Gold Medalist and won 21 European championships...
(1968) and Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
(1976).
Career
Akram was initially trained in Lahore as a student of the Great Gama. Akram actually started his professional wrestling career in 1953 as he wrestled the Ugandan and Kenyan wrestlers in East Africa. He also defeated Akram defeated the leading wrestler Mahindar Singh in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, capital of Kenya through a submission hold. The Mahinder Singh’s elder brother was the referee of that match. The East African public named him “The Lion” when he defeated the gigantic warriors of Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
including the Ugandan Champion Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
. Soon after this match he and Idi Amin became friends.
Akram's Pakistani opponents include Imam Baksh Ferozwala. Jero Pahalwan, Sheeda Gujanwalia, Goma, Hamida Ghaia Wala, Suleman and Sheeda Popat. He defeated Siddique son of Goonga Pahalwan in Sialkot, Bakhshu Pahalwan in Jampur, Mushtaq Pahalwan in Multan, Nazu Pahalwan in Bahawalpur, Gurda Pahalwan in Multan. The tremendous Bhola Gadi in Lahore. Rustam-e-Multan, Zamman Khan in Karachi. And one of the leading wrestlers known as Haji Muhammad Afzal in Lahore. The former Governor of Pakistan, Malik Amir Muhammad Khan was the Chief Guest of this event. The deputy superintendent Ghulam Hussain Butt was the referee.
In 1958, Akram was proclaimed the Champion of Malaya in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
when he defeated the wrestler Hari Ram. He received an expensive car as a reward for his achievements.
In 1965 Akram defeated Indian wrestler Hardam Singh at the National Stadium, Karachi in the third round. Akram's previous record shows that he participated in around 280 major wrestling events during the 50s. Some of which remained alive in the memories of people who watched him wrestle for a long time.
Beside that he also defeated Emil Koroshenko, Baron Von Heczey, Bloorma, King Kong (Emile Czaja) and others. While during the 60s Pahalwan also remained a part of the Bholu Brothers wrestling team. Some of the opponents of Akram during the 60s include Tony Kontellis, Con Papalazarou, Shaikh Wadi Ayoub, Bert Assirati
Bert Assirati
Bartolomeo Esserati , also known as Bert Assirati, was an English professional wrestler who became a multiple time British Heavyweight Champion, and, posthumously, a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame...
etc. The Pakistani sporting arenas were regularly packed with up to 60,000 fans. He competed in freestyle wrestling during the 1960s. In 1967 he toured UK. The Bholu Brothers were rated 10th in the 1968 Tag Team world ratings.
In 1968 Akram wrestled in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
where he was beaten unconscious by the Dutch 10th-dan Judoka, three-time undefeated World Judo Champion (1961, 1964 and 1965) Anton Geesink
Anton Geesink
Antonius "Anton" Johannes Geesink was a Dutch 10th-dan judoka from Utrecht. He was a three-time World Judo Champion , Olympic Gold Medalist and won 21 European championships...
. Later in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) he also injured his left arm in one of his match against Bill Verna
Bill Verna
Bill Verna , also known as Big Bill Verna, was an Australian professional wrestler. He wrestled throughout the world during his 20-year career, especially in his adopted country of Great Britain, winning the All European Championship and the British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship...
of Australia.
In 1976, when the World Champion Japanese Wrestler, Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
fought with the boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
in a mixed martial arts match to a draw. The Bholu brothers, that claimed to be the world champions, slated Akram to fight Inoki. However on the day of the match Inoki defeated Akram through a submission hold, chicken wing armlock. Although Akram didn't submit, but the referee stopped the match because Akram's left arm broke under the submission hold. However soon after this match the former Ugandan Champion, Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
challenged Inoki, probably to avenge Akram's defeat. But due to some official reason the match never took place.
Akram's wrestling career ended in 1976 after his match with Inoki. He died on 12 April 1987.