In this segment, I am going to focus on Boxer vs Wrestler matches that have taken place over the years and talk about if they have worked, or if they were a failure. The two types of matches are “pre-determined endings” and shoots, which were considered legitimate contests.
The first match took place on December 2, 1963, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gene Lebell was a Judo fighter. I am going to include this because Lebell was an AAU Judo Champion and represented Judo in this contest. However, he had hundreds (or even thousands) of matches as a Pro Wrestler. This match was against Milo Savage, a top-rated journeyman in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.
Lebell was the brother of promoter Mike Lebell and the son of Aileen Eaton (Promoter). She also was the first woman to ever be inducted into the IBHOF (in 2002). Milo Savage later became a boxing judge and settled in the Trenton, New Jersey, area.
Background Of The Fight
This match was classified as a duel and could not be sanctioned in most states throughout the Country.
Author Jim Beck wrote an article criticizing martial arts and said a boxer could easily defeat any man wearing pajamas, a reference to wearing a gi. Both men wore gis, boxing bag gloves, and rules were established. Many were in fear for Lebells life.
Beck did not fight after making fun of Asians in general and Savage was chosen to represent boxing. Gene ended up choking out Milo and knocking him unconscious. This match was legit and many call it the Grandfather of MMA.
Ali vs. Inoki
The second match is Muhammad Ali (Heavyweight Boxing Champion) vs. Antonio Inoki (a legendary Pro Wrestler from Japan). The match took place on June 26, 1976, in Tokyo, Japan.
Ali learned to hype fights by watching Gorgeous George Wagner. Ali wore gloves and Inoki did not. The match was scheduled for 15 rounds, with two judges. One represented boxing and the other represented wrestling, with the referee being none other than Judo Gene Lebell.
The match was originally supposed to be “a work,” meaning the match would be fixed. However, circumstances changed, and it became a legitimate shoot. Inoki, who was given many limitations, only stood upright several times throughout the match. He laid on his back and tried to hook the back of Ali’s left leg with his right foot.
Throughout the contest, Ali suffered severe blood clots, and he was hospitalized briefly. He threw and landed only a half dozen punches throughout the whole 15 rounds. How do you hit someone laying on the canvas?
Ali knew better than to go to the ground with Inoki where he would be out of his element. Needless to say, the fight went the 15 round distance, and the scoring was very interesting.
The boxing judge (Toyama) scored for Inoki 72-68
The wrestling judge (Endo) scored for Ali 74-72
Gene Lebell (the referee) scored 71-71, so the fight ended in a draw.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it was a very forgettable night, an overhyped disappointment. This fight is also some of the beginning of the MMA origins in the early 1990s.
The Undercard: A Work
The undercard of Ali-Inoki in Shea Stadium on June 25, 1976, was another boxer-wrestler match. The mammoth Andre the Giant challenged Heavyweight fringe contender, and Rocky inspiration, Chuck Wepner. This match turned out to be “a work,” and Andre threw Wepner out of the ring in the third round. He gave the crowd a show before he decided to finally end the contest.
Jack Dempsey vs. Wrestlers
Jack Dempsey fought three wrestlers with gloves on, including strictly boxing rules:
July 1, 1940 – Atlanta, GA. Dempsey anhilated “Cowboy Lutrell” in 2 rounds, knocking him out of the ring.
July 15, 1940 – Detroit, MI. Dempsey beat “Wild Bill Curry.” Curry at least fared a little better than Lutrell, but was ultimately defeated.
July 29, 1940 – Charlotte, NC. Dempsey KO2 over Ellis Bashara.
These men were very foolish to put on the gloves and box the legendary Jack Dempsey. Jack was 45 years of age and admitted he did not train a minute and smoked cigars as part of his regimen, but he was still a former Heavyweight Champ. If you know anything about Dempsey, ladies and gentlemen, he was ruthless, ferocious, and never pulled punches. Mercy was never shown to any opponent, no matter the experience.
Wrestlemania Matches
The next match occurred on March 28, 1999, at Wrestlemania 15 in Philadelphia, PA. This was a boxing match, which I thought was “a work.” However, after research, I found it was a legitimate “shoot.”
Vinny Pazienza was the guest referee and Eric Butterbean Esch knocked out Bart Gunn in 34 seconds. Both men wore gloves and fought under boxing rules.
Later, at Wrestlemania 24, FLoyd Mayweather fought Paul Wight, better known as “The Big Show.” The was certainly “a work.” The match was on March 30, 2008 in Orlando, FL. Mayweather “KO” The Big Show.
Final Thoughts
The boxer is in most of these contests at a great disadvantage, especially if he is gloved, and the wrestler is allowed to wrestle. If the boxer is ungloved and is allowed to use street fighting tactics, and can apply them, they have a better chance.
The bottom line on these contests, ladies and gentlemen, is I believe they do not benefit the sport of Boxing or Pro Wrestling.
This is your host Frank Reading, signing off and saying until next time, be happy, be healthy, and be safe.
I am your host Frank Reading and I am a middle-aged former boxing mega-fan from the 1980s-1990s. I have no allegiance or affiliation with any Boxing Organization Alliance or Federation.
I have a background in research and public speaking as well as boxing training and coaching. I hope you will enjoy the factual information provided on this program. My goal is to educated and inform the listener on the History of “The Sweet Science”

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