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'''Karolis Požėla''' (born February 13, 1893 |
'''Karolis Požėla''' (born February 13, 1893 in Steigviliai, [[Šiauliai|Šiaulių]] aps., [[Lithuania]]) was a Lithuanian [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and promoter. |
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== Early Life == |
== Early Life == |
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Revision as of 14:40, 21 June 2013
| Karl Pojello | |
|---|---|
| File:Karl Pojello wrestler.jpeg | |
| Birth name | Karolis Požėla |
| Born | February 13, 1893 Steigvilių k, Šiauliai, Lithuania |
| Died | September 4, 1954 (aged 61) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Karl Pojello |
Karolis Požėla (born February 13, 1893 in Steigviliai, Šiaulių aps., Lithuania) was a Lithuanian professional wrestler and promoter.
Early Life
He was born near Šiauliai, in Lithuania in 1893. In 1906 he moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, to his brothers Antanas and Motiejus,to work in a pharmacy owned by them. During World War I he fought for Russian army.
Amateur wrestling career
At the age of 18 he was thought to be one of the best amateur wrestlers in Russia. In 1913 Požėla won an international wrestling tournament in Breslav.
Professional wrestling career
As a successful amateur wrestler, he joined a group of professional wrestlers traveling from ciy to city. With them he traveled to and wrestled in China, Japan and in 1924 he came to Chicago. His career took a drastic turn, when in 1927, in Wisconsin, Canada he met a Lithuanian wrestling promoter A. Tamašiūnas. There he beat Canadian wrestling champion Carl van Wurden in under 3 minutes. But it wasn't until he beat Johnny Mayers, another Lithuanian wrestler, considered to be middleweight champion of the world, when he came to fame and recognition. At the time he was one of the most popular professional wrestlers in the United States. Pojello came back to Europe and wrestled there until World War II, when he and his friend Maurice Tillet were forced to come back to US.[1]
Death
Karolis Požėla died on September 4, 1954. He died from lung cancer. Upon hearing of the death of Karl, Maurice Tillet had a heart attack. He was taken to Cook County Hospital where he died on the same day. They are buried together. Pojello's friend and promoter Tamašiūnas built them a gravestone. Text on the gravestone reads: "FRIENDS WHOM EVEN DEATH COULDN'T PART".[2]