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Anton Charles Stecher (February 7, 1889 – October 10, 1954) was an American
professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...
, professional wrestling and
boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...
promoter and trainer. He was the booker and trainer for his brother, World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
Joe Stecher Joe Stecher (April 4, 1893 – March 29, 1974), sometimes spelled Joe Stetcher, was an American professional wrestler and three-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. Known for his ferocity, tremendous leg strength and extensive knowledge ...
, and later was America's top wrestling promoter. In 1948, Stecher was one of five promoters to back Paul "Pinkie" George in the formation of the
National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...
. In boxing, he was a prominent promoter in the sport, particularly from 1944–1954, and is credited with reviving boxing in Minnesota during the 1940s. He is a member of the
Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame The Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame is a commemorative organization with plans to create a museum. It celebrates the history of boxing in the state of Minnesota by honoring individuals whose achievements within the sport are noteworthy. History Thou ...
( Class of 2013) and the
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to their professions. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Mel ...
( Class of 1996)


Early life

Anton Stecher was born on February 7, 1889, on a farm just outside
Dodge, Nebraska Dodge is a village in Dodge County, Nebraska, Dodge County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 612 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. History Dodge was platted in 1886 when the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad wa ...
. "Tony" had a substandard education and worked as a farmhand from a young age. His younger brother Joe was born on April 4, 1893. In January 1912, Tony and Joe visited nearby
Fremont, Nebraska Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, Dodge County in the eastern portion of the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. The population was 27,141 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it t ...
, to see famed wrestler
Ben Roller Benjamin Franklin Roller (July 1, 1876 – April 19, 1933) was an American physician, a professional wrestler and a American football, football player. Biography Early life Roller was born in Newman, Illinois. where he grew up on his family's ...
. As he often did, Roller challenged all comers on the mat and both Tony and Joe took him up on the challenge. Roller tossed both but was impressed by Joe's natural talent. Following a disagreement with their father about them becoming professional wrestlers instead of farmers, Joe and Tony ran away from home, hitchhiking to Fremont where they joined the local
YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...
and began honing their skills in wrestling


In-ring wrestling career

Stecher would soon turn pro in wrestling and competed throughout the Central States against wrestlers such as Frank Coleman and John Solomon. In 1914, he was wrestling as the Middleweight Champion of Nebraska and on October 15 of the same year he defeated Tom Doctor in Dodge to also become Kansas State Middleweight Champion. On April 22, 1914, he competed in a 5 hour, 18 minute bout against Wesley Cobb in Stuart, Nebraska.


Booking for Joe Stecher

Stecher went on to have memorable rivalries with the likes of Clarence Eklund but his work as promoter and booker for his brother Joe (whom he also trained) soon became his main focus. The undefeated Joe achieved unparalleled success but battled demons throughout his career and needed Tony to protect him against unscrupulous promoters. With his matches managed by Tony, Joe became one of wrestling's biggest stars. As brothers they were very close and travelled throughout the United States together, with Tony brokering scores of bouts from 1917 to 1934. After capturing numerous World Heavyweight Championships, at 43 years of age and after some business setbacks, Joe was hospitalised after suffered a breakdown. Tony arranged for him to be moved to a hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota where he attended to his brother until his own passing.


Promoter and booker

Independently wealthy from his decades in the wrestling business, Stecher began a wrestling office as a promoter in Minneapolis. He was taken by the city after a trip in the early 1930s and relocated his family from Nebraska to Minnesota in 1933. His first program was on February 21, 1933, with the wrestling debut of football star Bronko Nagurski. Stecher achieved great success and became the nation's top wrestling promoter. He formed business relationships with various promoters in neighbouring states and aided an upstart
Sam Muchnick Samuel Muchnick (born Jeshua Muchnick, August 22, 1905 – December 30, 1998) was an American professional wrestling promoter from St. Louis, Missouri. He is often regarded as wrestling's equivalent of Pete Rozelle (the forward-thinking commissio ...
in created his territory in St. Louis, sending him wrestlers to help the outfit grow. Stecher's career in the boxing business continued alongside his wrestling tenure. He was the exclusive promoter recognised by the Minnesota Boxing Commission and was a prominent figure in the sport from 1944-1954. He put on scores of bouts with boxing stars such as Jackie Graves,
Rocky Graziano Thomas Rocco Barbella (January 1, 1919 – May 22, 1990), better known as Rocky Graziano, was an American professional boxer and actor who held the World Middleweight title. Graziano is considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing ...
,
Willie Pep Guglielmo Papaleo ( Middletown - September 19, 1922 – November 23, 2006) was an American professional boxer, better known as Willie Pep, who held the World Featherweight championship twice between the years of 1942 and 1950. Papaleo was born ...
,
Beau Jack Beau Jack (born Sidney Walker; April 1, 1921 – February 9, 2000) was an American lightweight boxer and two-time world lightweight champion in the 1940s. One of the most popular fighters during the War Years, he headlined at Madison Square Gar ...
and
Sandy Saddler Joseph "Sandy" Saddler (June 23, 1926 – September 18, 2001) was an American professional boxer. He was a two-time featherweight world champion, having also held the super featherweight title. Over his twelve-year career (1944–56), Saddler s ...
. He joined Maxwell Clayton and Pinkie George to form an innovative working arrangement to bring top-level boxing fights to the American Heartland. Other promoters joined the successful collaboration, and soon thereafter a similar professional wrestling agreement was made. Pinkie George organised a symposium in Waterloo, Iowa with regional promoters, including Stecher, at which the
National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...
was formulated.


Later life and career

Stecher continued to play a pivotal role in the ongoing success of the
National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...
and professional wrestling in his territory. He was thought of as a generous and fair man by wrestlers and his "kindness was renowned". In boxing, Stecher is credited with reviving boxing in Minnesota and set records for both ''attendance and gates for boxing''


Death

Stecher died of a heart attack on October 10, 1954, having felt unwell the night before. His death was national news and his funeral was attended by sports figures such as Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey. A bronze plaque was made for Stecher which now is displayed at the Dodge County Historical Society


Championships and accomplishments


Professional wrestling

*''
Wrestling Observer Newsletter The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') is a newsletter that covers professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Founded in print in 1982 by Dave Meltzer, the ''Wrestling Observer'' website merged with Bryan Alvarez's ''Figure Four Wee ...
'' **
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to their professions. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Mel ...
( Class of 1996) **Nebraska Middleweight Champion **Kansas State Middleweight Champion


Boxing

*
Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame The Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame is a commemorative organization with plans to create a museum. It celebrates the history of boxing in the state of Minnesota by honoring individuals whose achievements within the sport are noteworthy. History Thou ...
** Class of 2013


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tony Stecher 1889 births 1954 deaths American male professional wrestlers Professional wrestlers from Nebraska Professional wrestling promoters American boxing promoters American professional wrestling trainers