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![]() In his early career, Brazil was put up mainly against other wrestlers of African descent but the fans wanted to see more. Brazil went on to challenge some of the all time greats including Killer Kowalski, Dick the Bruiser, the great Johnny Valentine, and one of his all time great rivals, the Sheik. He finished them all off with the dreaded Coco Butt, a standing, full force head-butt. Brazil would reach the pinnacle of his career on October 18th, 1962 by defeating NWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, however, the NWA does not recognize this victory and thus Brazil is not technically the first Black American World Heavyweight Champion but rather Ron Simmons, who won the WCW World Title 30 years later. Brazil made history again in 1970, wrestling the very first mixed race match in Atlanta, Georgia, teaming with El Mongol to defeat Mr. Ito and the Great Ota. Brazil went on to win the NWA United States Championship and had a memorable feud with a young "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, as well, before mentoring the career of the "Soul Man" Rocky Johnson. Brazil retired in the early 1990s after wrestling on the independent scene. Bobo Brazil was honoured by the World Wrestling Federation in 1994 as part of the first full class inducted into the Hall of Fame, alongside other legends like the Fabulous Moolah, Buddy Rogers, and his long-time manager James Dudley. Brazil passed away in January of 1998 at the age of 74, leaving behind him not only a great legacy as a professional wrestler but also a great legacy as a pioneer in the battle for racial equality in the United States of America. Congratulations to you, Bobo Brazil, wherever you are... you are a Hall of Famer. |
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