JOE KOPECKY 1922 World Junior Middleweight Wrestling Champion |
Joe Kopecky was born in Texas on December 20, 1893 to John F. Kopecky and Frances Wojtek Kopecky. He was the fourth child of twelve (of which two sisters still call Texas home). Joe called the small Texas towns of Blessing and El Maton his home. He lived in Blessing when he died after losing a battle with mouth cancer (probably caused by smoking and chewing cigars while playing "42" dominos everyday). He loved to dance and socialize. After retiring from wrestling he owned a farm between Blessing and Bay City. He died in Bay City September 26, 1973. |
This page was last updated on: October 9, 2001
During his wrestling years, Joe was best known as the "Wild Bohemian" because of his rough tactics in the ring. Newspaper accounts also refer to him as "Sir Joseph Kopecky," "Tiger," "The Bohemian Bohunk" and many other titles. Joe fought throughout the United States, including in Madison Square Garden. A newspaper account refers to one of Joe's numerous victories by reading, "After winning the first fall, Kopecky strode around in the ring with his chest held up, as eager to show off as one of the boys in the preliminary match, who nonchalantly turned a back somersault." Another account reads, "The last round in which Joe Kopecky only took 17 minutes to win a world's title was fast and rough. The Indian was steadily losing ground, and when butted from the ring by the Tiger, came back with a lame arm and considerably weakened. This was by far the roughest wrestling of the evening. Kopecky soon secured a crushing flying mare and by slamming the Indian, he soon wore him down into submission. It took five minutes and five men to bring the Indian back to his senses." Scroll down the page to see Joe Kopecky's World Championship Belt. Although of Moravian heritage, some may not realize that Joe joined the U.S. Army in the midst of his wresting career. As with his wrestling career, the Wild Bohemian was also a star in the military. Fifty years after leaving the army, Joe received a Purple Heart. He was with Pershing's forces in Argonne Wood where he suffered two serious body injuries. According to Joe's still living sister, after receiving his injuries, Joe was lying face up on the ground in the rain for 24 hours before he was rescued. Other family members say that Joe was also a prisoner of war, held by the Germans. Amazingly, after his discharge from the Army, Joe successfully returned to the wrestling ring. Click here to add your text. |
