Dead Man in the Ring: Part One

Question: What is the connection between Fairbury native and pro-wrestling pioneer “Big” Wayne Munn, Nobel Prize-winning writer Ernest Hemingway and a brutal mob murder?Answer: Andre Anderson. PART ONE By Gordon Hopkins “Wrestling is rigged!”Denigrators of the much-maligned sport will arrogantly proclaim, “It's fake! It's phony!”There was a time when accusations such as these actually hurt fans of pro wrestling. These days, should supporters of the sport deign to respond at all, it is usually to quip sarcastically, “Sure, wrestling is rigged. But boxing? Yeah, that's totally on the up and up.”In truth, any sport in which money can be made on the outcome is susceptible to the machinations of less than honorable men willing to use less than honorable methods to ensure the most profitable outcome. This is true of wrestling, boxing, football, basketball, baseball, hockey and virtually every other competition that pits one man against another or one team against anotherThere is always money to be made by gambling, and some men will do anything to win.There can be dire consequences to crossing such men.Frederick Boeseneilers, better known by his professional name, “Agile” Andre Anderson, would learn that the hard way. The Life of “Agile” Andre AndersonFrederick Boeseneilers, the name he was given at the time of his birth, was born in Chicago, though the exact date of his birth in unknown. The year is usually recorded as 1890 or 1891. Sources differ. His parents, Adolph and Lena, were German immigrants. Adolph worked primarily as a salesman to put food on the family table.He was an athletic youth, reaching 6' 4” and adept at boxing, though most historians view his truncated career and agree he never truly reached his full potential.Before he became known as “Agile” Andre Anderson, he spent 17 months at the Italian front during the early years of World War I and was the only American boxer to receive a medal of honor for distinguished service.Upon return from the service, he began his training at O’Connell’s Gym. In 1913, he began his wrestling career, adopting a less ethnic and more bankable moniker, Andre Anderson.His first professional bout was on February 13. Press leading up to the fight was favorable.“The name of Dr. B.F. Roller was added to the wrestling card to be staged Thursday night a the Globe Theater under the auspices of the Blackstone Athletic Club,” wrote one unnamed sports reporter for the Chicago Examiner. “for a finish contest with Andre Anderson, a newcomer to the local game, who is said to be exceptionally good.” After the match, the Chicago Tribune reported, “In the semiwindup Dr. B.F. Roller won from Andre Anderson in straight falls, the first in 13:29 with a body scissors and bar arm and the second in 13:07 with a head scissors and hammerlock.”Despite a less-than-auspicious start to his wrestling career, Anderson continued to grapple with local comers, including familiar names like Yussiff Hussane, Charles “Kid” Cutler and Ivan Linow. According to WrestlingData.com, Anderson once even did battle with Wayne Munn's nemesis, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, in 1913, although there are no details as to the venue or even who won. A search of newspapers of the time offer no indication that such a match ever took place. Losing more matches than he won, Anderson never rose above the bottom rung of the local wrestling circuit. It was not his, frankly, abysmal record that convinced him to shift gears. Anderson's motivation for making the move to boxing was altogether more practical: money. When not in the ring, he was working as a machinist and the meager sums he was making from wrestling, even as a supplement to his day job, was insufficient to support his family.Unlike his time as a wrestler, Anderson quickly made a name for himself after putting on the gloves.Anderson began training under boxing manager Kid Howard as a heavyweight boxer. He made his boxing debut on March 23, 1915, at the Ben Ali Theater in Lexington, Kentucky, pitting his still green skills against the “Russian Lion,” Jack Stone Leon, as the headline event. For some reason, newspapers of the day weren't entirely consistent with the big Russian's name, variously referring to him as Jack Leon, Jack Stone, and Jack Stone Leon. One is reminded of the old seventies' beer commercials staring Bill Saluga. (You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me…etc.) Attempting to give Anderson nicknames that would not stick, like “the Chicago crackerjack” and “Swede Hercules,” the Lexington Herald hyped the bill considerably in the days leading up to the fight. The issue that came out the morning of the big fight said, “Jack Stone and Andrew Anderson await the bell. Trained to the minute, both men announced last night that they felt confident of victory and would have no excused of offer regardless of the decision.”The next day's Lexington Herald brutally stuck a pin in that balloon with the headline, “Boxing Match a Dainty Affair,” adding an even meaner subhead for good measure, “Jack Stone and Andre Anderson Put on Love-Bird Attraction, and Manager Walls Should Have Served Tea.” In what can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to get punched in the face, the writer referred to the big Russian as “Miss Jacqueline Stone.”Ouch.Despite the unenthusiastic reaction of local sport writers, Anderson won every one of the ten rounds except the sixth, and Anderson's ability was acknowledged, albeit grudgingly.It was a rocky start to a potentially successful career. He was Jack Dempsey's first New York opponent. Anderson managed to knock down (but not out) the world heavyweight champion in a grueling, 10-round “no decision” bout. Anderson still took on a few wrestling matches, losing more than he won, in between boxing matches, winning more than he lost. They only served to further illustrate Anderson was a boxer, not a wrestler.Then, in 1926, Anderson would take on Fairbury native and wrestling legend, “Big” Wayne Munn. It was a fight that would be truly fateful for both men. To be continued…

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