John Katan

{{Short description|Ukrainian-Canadian professional wrestler (1901–1968)}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name=John Katan | birthname= |image= File:John Katan 1945.jpg |caption= |names= Honest John Palermo Panther Calgary Eyeopener The Blue Mask Blue Masked Devil The Masked Marvel  |height= {{height|ft=6|in=1}}<ref name="canoe" /> |weight= {{convert|240|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}<ref name="canoe" /> |birth_date = {{birth date|1901|7|12}}<ref name="canoe">{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBios/katan.html |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: John Katan |last=Sokolyk |first=Kon |date=2000 |website=Canadian Online Explorer |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |access-date=18 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001216013200/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBios/katan.html |archive-date=December 16, 2000}}</ref> |death_date = {{death date and age|1968|3|9|1901|7|12}}<ref name="canoe" /> |birth_place = Cherniwtsi, Austria-Hungary<ref name="canoe" /> |death_place = Brantford, Ontario, Canada<ref name="canoe" /> |resides= |billed= |trainer= |debut= July 1, 1928<ref name="canoe" /> |retired= 1949 <ref name="canoe" /> |website= }} '''John Katan''' (July 12, 1901 – March 9, 1968) was a Ukrainian Canadian professional wrestler, trainer and promoter. A journeyman wrestler, Katan appeared throughout the world competing in nearly 6,000 matches during his 21-year career. Dubbed "Honest John", as well as the "Calgary Eyeopener" and "Palermo Panther", Katan was known for his great strength and won an estimated 90 percent of his bouts.<ref name="canoe" />

Katan was one of the first foreign wrestlers to compete in New Zealand's Dominion Wrestling Union and became one of the country's most popular stars along with fellow Canadians Earl McCready, George Walker and Roy McLarty.<ref name="FightTimes">{{cite web |url=https://magazine.fighttimes.com/a-look-into-the-past-rick-martel/ |title=A Look into the Past – Rick Martel |author=Cameron, Dave |date=August 1, 2005 |work=Fight Times|publisher=Fight Times Magazine|access-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref> He defeated both McCready and Lofty Blomfield for the New Zealand-version of the NWA British Empire Championship in 1940. Katan was also regarded as one of the top stars in Canadian professional wrestling, especially his tenure in Maple Leaf Wrestling and International Wrestling Association, winning the Toronto version of the NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship twice in 1942 and Montreal version of the World Heavyweight Championship in 1943. He went into semi-retirement after unsuccessfully challenging Whipper Billy Watson for the British Empire title in 1947 and worked with Frank Tunney as a promoter until leaving the business in 1958.<ref name=HOFCanada>{{cite book|author=Oliver, Greg|title=the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame – The Canadians|publisher=ECW Press|year=2003|chapter=Roll Call: John Katan|page=144|isbn=1-55022-531-6}}</ref>

==Early life== Katan was born on July 12, 1901, in Cherniwtsi, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine), and his family immigrated to Canada when he was 4 years old.<ref name=HOFCanada/> Katan grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta and went to work in the local coal mines when he turned 17. He became known for his strength at an early age after shoveling 58,000 pounds of coal during an eight-hour shift. This set a new record in Western Canada and he was awarded $28.13 and a turkey. During this period, Katan worked out at the mine's sports club. He competed as an amateur for three years and went undefeated in 150 matches. During his amateur career, Katan held the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight championships of Western Canada.<ref name="canoe" />

==Professional wrestling career== ===Early career=== On July 1, 1928, less than two weeks before his 27th birthday, Katan made his pro debut in Milk River, Alberta. His success as an amateur followed him in the professional ranks. Within four months, Katan was wrestling bouts against Canadian Heavyweight Champion Jack Taylor at the Majestic Theatre in Lethbridge, Alberta.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=October 13, 1928 |title=JACK TAYLOR TO WRESTLE HERE. Taylor-Katan Go Will Open Wrestling Season. Jack Taylor, Former Local "Cop," Will Meet John Katan of North Lethbridge, at Majestic Next Saturday — Card Will Also Feature Six Rounds of Boxing — Jack Should Prove Strong Drawing Card. |url=https://digitallibrary.uleth.ca/digital/collection/herald/id/119263/rec/4 |page=3 |work=Lethbridge Herald |location= |access-date=}}</ref> The Red Deer Advocate reported that many wrestling fans believed Katan would be the next Canadian champion based on his performance against Taylor.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=November 29, 1928 |title=WRESTLING MATCH AT SYLVAN LAKE |page=1 |work=Red Deer Advocate |location= |quote=Katan, who recently met Jack Taylor, Canadian champion, is believed by many present at the bout to be Canada's next champion.}}</ref> By 1929, he was working in Ontario for Jack Corcoran's Queensbury Athletic Club. In the 1930s, Katan appeared for various promotions throughout Canada and the United States: American Wrestling Association, Al Haft Sports, Eastern Sports Enterprises, Great Lakes Athletic Club, Gulf Athletic Club, Jack Curley Promotions, Ray Fabiani Sports and Tom Packs Sports Enterprises.

Katan met Jim Londos, the reigning World Heavyweight Championship, for a two-out-of-three falls title match in Chattanooga, Tennessee on June 9, 1931. Six-thousand spectators turned out to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium to see Londos retain his title. Katan was rendered unconscious for ten minutes following the first fall, but demanded the match be re-started when he regained consciousness. Police stepped in and stopped the fight when Londos put Katan in a headlock. The United Press International reported that Katan suffered a concussion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mat Champ Will Meet Katan in Memorial Ring; Complete Sell-out for Seasons Biggest Show Indicated—Interest Runs High |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/604058289/?terms=%22John%20Katan%22&match=1 |access-date=31 October 2022 |work=The Chattanooga News |date=9 June 1931 |location=Chattanooga, Tennessee |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=John Katan Treated Roughly by Londos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/772615326/?terms=%22John%20Katan%22&match=1 |access-date=31 October 2022 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |agency=United Press International |date=10 June 1931 |location=Knoxville, Tennessee |page=12}}</ref>

On December 31, 1932, Everett Marshall was suspended by the National Wrestling Association after refusing to wrestle Katan. A previous bout between the two men earlier that month in Kansas City had ended in controversy and the Missouri State Athletic Commission ordered a rematch. The suspension was lifted on January 9, 1933, after Marshall agreed to another match with Katan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/NWASuspensions.html |title=National Wrestling Association Suspensions |last=Hornbaker |first=Tim |date= |website=LegacyOfWrestling.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

While working for Jim Crockett Promotions during the mid-1930s, Katan headlined two of the biggest attended shows in the promotion's history. The first was in Richmond, Virginia against Jim Browning on January 17, 1936, a best two-out-of-three falls match with Katan losing via referee's decision when Browning injured his leg. This was followed by a bout against Dr. Len Hall on January 31, 1936, another best two-out-of-three falls match which Hall won in two straight falls. Both matches were held at the Richmond City Auditorium and were seen by a then record four-thousand fans.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=January 18, 1936 |title=Browning Defeats Katan; Wild Matches That Thrill Big Crowd. Katan Unable To Return After Browning Injures Leg; Joe Savoldi to Appear Here Next |page=11 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=February 1, 1936 |title=Hall Defeats Katan |page=11 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}</ref>

===Time in Australia and New Zealand=== In 1935, American wrestling promoter Walter Miller took control of the Dominion Wrestling Union.<ref name="TAENZ">{{cite web |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/wrestling/1 |title=Wrestling |editor=McLintock, A. H. |date=23 April 2009 |publisher=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> As part of his efforts to develop professional wrestling in New Zealand, Miller brought over wrestlers from North America which were pitted against local stars.<ref name="Cameron">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/americans.html |title=Americans add flavor to New Zealand |author=Cameron, Dave |date=November 1972 |work=Wrestling Revue |publisher=Puroresu Dojo|access-date=9 June 2010}}</ref> First approached by Miller in 1937,<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=February 2, 1937 |title=NEW SEASON'S WRESTLING. WALTER MILLER'S PLANS EXCHANGE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19370202.2.26?items_per_page=10&query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |work=Evening Star |location= |page=4 |access-date=}}</ref> Katan took part in three tours to New Zealand and Australia in the late-1930s. He became one of the most popular stars in New Zealand during this period,<ref name=HOFCanada/> along with other Canadian wrestlers such as Earl McCready, George Walker and Roy McLarty.<ref name="FightTimes"/> Taking part in the 1939 wrestling season he arrived in Auckland on May 1, 1939, along with Jack Donovan, Roland Kirchemeyer, Mayes McClain and Dazzler Clark. They were later joined by McCready, Ted Cox, Ray Steele and Paul Jones.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=March 21, 1939 |page=8 |title=WRESTLING. TEAM FOR COMING SEASON. |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19390321.2.141?items_per_page=10&query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |work=Manawatū Standard |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Katan was booked to face Lofty Blomfield during the first day of the tour.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=March 24, 1939 |title=WRESTLING SEASON TO OPEN ON MAY 1. BLOMFIELD AND KATAN. |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19390324.2.151?items_per_page=10&query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |work=Auckland Star |page=13 |location= |access-date=November 1, 2022}}</ref>

Nicknamed "The Iron Man of the Ring" by the New Zealand press, Katan was billed as one of the top five wrestlers in the world by ''The Evening Post'' at one point.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=April 24, 1940 |title=WRESTLING |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400424.2.10.6?items_per_page=100&query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |page=2 |work=Evening Post |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Katan defeated McCready for the DWU's NWA British Empire Championship in Wellington on July 8, 1940.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=July 9, 1940 |title=EMPIRE WRESTLING. Katan Conquers McCready |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19400709.2.123?query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |page=12 |work=Auckland Star |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=July 9, 1940 |title=WRESTLING SURPRISE. MCCREADY BEATEN. KATAN GETS EMPIRE TITLE |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400709.2.156?query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |page=15 |work=Evening Post |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Katan had wrestled McCready for the belt four times previously, resulting in a draw and three losses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosM/mccready.html |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Earl McCready |last=Oliver |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Oliver |date=September 22, 2000 |website=SLAM! Wrestling |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818215851/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosM/mccready.html |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |quote=}}</ref> He lost the title to Lofty Blomfield on August 7, but regained it at Auckland Town Hall a month later.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=September 10, 1940 |title=McCREADY TO KATAN; TO BLOMFIELD; TO KATAN; TO ... ? |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19400910.2.114?query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |page=11 |work=Auckland Star |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=September 10, 1940 |title=TITLE REGAINED. CANADIAN WRESTLER KATAN DEFEATS BLOMFIELD. FALL IN SEVENTH ROUND |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19400910.2.18?query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |page=4 |work=New Zealand Herald |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Katan was defeated by McCready in Dunedin on September 24, 1940, ending his second title reign after only 15 days.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=September 25, 1940 |title=WRESTLING. EMPIRE CHAMPIONSHIP. McCREADY REGAINS TITLE |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19400925.2.91?query=%22john+katan%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA |work=Otago Daily Times |page=8 |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Katan's tour was cut short with Canada's entry in World War II. Upon the Canadian government's declaration of war on Japan on December 7, 1941, Katan took the first available ship out of the country. He spent the three-week trip training the officers in hand-to-hand combat.<ref name=HOFCanada/>

===Return to Canada=== Upon his return, the then 40-year-old Katan joined the war effort by visiting military bases with other wrestlers and staging exhibition bouts to entertain the soldiers. He also trained the Hamilton Police Service in hand-to-hand combat and was involved in coaching potential wrestlers for the Canadian Olympic wrestling team.<ref name="canoe" />

Katan also continued his pro wrestling career spending early 1941 in the Western Athletic Club before leaving the Pacific Northwest for Eastern Canada. Returning to Toronto, he took part in one of the earliest Steel Cage matches in Canada with Frank Marconi on September 28, 1942, in Hamilton, Ontario.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=031870;p=1#000012 |title=First steel cage match? |last=Will |first=Gary |author-link=Gary Will |date=May 11, 2004 |website=WrestlingClassics.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=The Katan match wasn't the first cage match in the Toronto territory. About six months earlier, there was a cage/fence (it was referred to both ways) match at Maple Leaf Gardens between Whipper Billy Watson and Nanjo Singh. The Hamilton promoter, Sammy Sobel, fell off the cage and bounced off the ring apron after the match. There were seven cage/fence matches in Toronto in the 1940s. Wild Bill Longson defended the NWA title in two of them.}}</ref> Three days later, Katan ended the five-month reign of NWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion Whipper Billy Watson defeating him for the title on October 1, 1942. Katan lost the title to his old New Zealand rival Earl McCready on November 11, 1942, but won it back 9 weeks later. He was stripped of the title on January 28, 1943, after failing to appear for a scheduled title defense against Whipper Billy Watson. Watson was declared the new champion after defeating Nanjo Singh that same night. A rematch between the two men took place on February 25, 1943, which Katan lost. He subsequently moved on to the International Wrestling Association in Montreal. Katan briefly held the Quebec version of the World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Yvon Robert for the title at the Montreal Forum on April 15, but dropped it back to Robert after two weeks as champion.<ref name="Yohe">{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=005141;p=0 |title=The Montreal World Title 1942 & 1943 |last=Yohe |first=Steve |date=May 27, 2019 |website=WrestlingClassics.com }}</ref> On one of Katan's last overseas tours, he defeated NWA British Empire Champion Earl McCready in Dunedin, New Zealand on May 28, 1946. As Katan had won on points, however, the title did not change hands.<ref name="Titles-NZ"/>

==Retirement and later years== [[File:John Katan 1953.jpg|thumb|Katan shows what irate wrestling fans did to Steve Stanlee's trousers during a February 1953 show at the Kitchener Auditorium.]] In 1947, Katan began promoting wrestling in Hamilton, Ontario. He continued wrestling for another two years but decided to retire as an in-ring competitor when managing both careers became too difficult.<ref name="canoe" /> Katan worked closely with Frank Tunney and was responsible for convincing him to bring New Zealand wrestler Fred Atkins to Canada. Atkins became a longtime mainstay of Tunney's Maple Leaf Wrestling promotion, initially as one of its main "heel performers", as well as a manager, trainer and referee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/02/07/17189291.html |title=Fred Atkins was a tough man, tougher trainer |last=Oliver |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Oliver |date=June 15, 2011 |website=SLAM! Wrestling |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129013603/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/02/07/17189291.html |archive-date=January 29, 2016 |quote=}}</ref> During Katan's time as a booker-promoter, he enjoyed close friendships with a number of up-and-coming wrestlers. He helped train a number of future stars including, most notably, Billy Red Lyons.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McCarther |first=George |author-link=George Cannon (wrestler) |date=February 1974 |title=WITH TUTORS LIKE ED DON GEORGE, BILLY RED LYONS HAD TO BE STAR |volume=4 |number=2 |page=58 |magazine=Wrestling Monthly |location=Montreal, Quebec |publisher= |quote=Billy Red was tutored by some of the best. Red Sims, John Katan, and Ed Don George all had a hand in developing this fine young man. [...] Sims introduced Lyons to John Katan who was promoting the city of Hamilton. Katan took up where Sims left off and passed on all his wrestling knowledge to the young red headed tyro. Katan stayed on Billy to show him discipline and when he was finished brought Lyons to Buffalo, New York to meet one of the all time greats Ed Don George, who was finishing a very successful career, to take over Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse as a promoter.}}</ref> NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz in particular, who faced Katan a number of times early in his career, praised his wrestling ability and strength.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=000440#000000 |title=John Katan |last=Thesz |first=Lou |author-link=Lou Thesz |date=January 7, 2001 |website=WrestlingClassics.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote=I knew him well! Ed and I were always invited to his house after the matches when he was the promoter is Hamilton, Ontario. I wrestled him often and he was a good wrestler and very strong. (so the story makes sense) Build like a tree trunk! A wonderful guy and his wife was lovely and gracious. He was a credit to the industry!}}</ref>

In 1958, Katan sold his interests in Hamilton to Tunney and retired from pro wrestling. He bought the Ava Golf Club in Brantford, Ontario where he continued to live until his death on March 9, 1968,<ref name="canoe" /><ref name=HOFCanada/> at age 66.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=March 11, 1968 |title=Weekend Deaths |page=24 |work=Ottawa Citizen |location= |quote=BRANTFORD, Ont. - John Katan, 66, four-time heavyweight wrestling champion of the British Empire.}}</ref>

== Championships and accomplishments == === Amateur wrestling === * Middleweight Championship of Western Canada<ref name="canoe" /> * Light-Heavyweight Championship of Western Canada<ref name="canoe" /> * Heavyweight Championship of Western Canada<ref name="canoe" />

=== Professional wrestling === *'''Dominion Wrestling Union''' **NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship (New Zealand version) (2 times)<ref name="Titles-NZ">{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan and Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|chapter=New Zealand: British Empire Title |page=429|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=BEGHPD>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/allstar/nz-be-h.html |title=British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Title (New Zealand) |last=Tanabe |first=Hisaharu |year=2003 |work=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo |publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com |accessdate=2016-02-18}}</ref> *'''International Wrestling Association (Montreal)''' **IWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan and Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|chapter=Montreal: AWA American Wrestling Association Title / IWA International Wrestling Association Title [Eddie Quinn until 1964, Johnny Rougeau & Bob Langevin from 1965] |page=356|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/qc-world-h.html |title=World Heavyweight Title (Québéc) |last=Tanabe |first=Hisaharu |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> *'''Maple Leaf Wrestling''' **NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version) (2 times)<ref>{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan and Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|chapter=Toronto: British Empire Title [Frank Tunney] |page=351|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/can-be-h.html |title=British Empire Heavyweight Title (Canada) |last=Tanabe |first=Hisaharu |year=2003 |work=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo |publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com |accessdate=2016-02-18}}</ref>

==References== '''General''' * {{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/katan-john.html |title=Wrestlers Results Archive: John Katan |last1=Nevada |first1=Vance |author-link=Vance Nevada |last2=Ayoub |first2=Libnan |last3=Kenyon |first3=J. Michael |last4=Luce |first4=Don |date=December 19, 2004 |website=Canadian Online Explorer |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919175658/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/katan-john.html |archive-date=September 19, 2015}}

'''Specific''' {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=13724 John Katan at Cagematch.net] * {{find a Grave|146135590}} * [http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=2172 John Katan at Wrestlingdata.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katan, John}} Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent Category:Ukrainian male professional wrestlers Category:1901 births Category:1968 deaths Category:Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to Canada Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen

John Katan

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