Quick Facts
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Biography
Karolis Požėla (February 13, 1893 – September 4, 1954) was a Lithuanian professional wrestler and promoter.
Early life
Pojello was born near Šiauliai, in Lithuania in 1893. In 1906, he moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, to work in a pharmacy owned by his brothers Antanas and Motiejus. During World War I he fought on the side of the Russian army.
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.
As a successful amateur wrestler, he joined a group of professional wrestlers traveling from city 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, 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 U.S.
Death
Karolis Požėla died on September 4, 1954 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".
Championships and accomplishments
- European Heavyweight Championship (1 time)