Lord Athol Layton

Early life Born in the county of Surrey in England, He served in the Australian Imperial Forces during World War II, where he was Australia's Heavyweight Amateur Boxing champion for two years. At some point prior to his service, he met his wife Leah, with whom he settled down to run a pub with after his discharge from military services. They would go on to capture many tag team championships in various territories throughout the United States and Canada including the Ohio-New York version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship on two occasions. Layton would also win tag team championships with Bobo Brazil in August 1970 in Detroit and Ilio DiPaolo in November 1959 for the Midwest Wrestling Association.

In Detroit in August 1962, as a fan favorite, Layton beat Dick the Bruiser for the United States Heavyweight Championship. He went on to win the title again in 1963. Owing to concerns over an eye injury, Layton wrestled his final match in 1976 at Maple Leaf Gardens, teaming with Lou Klein in a tag-team match against the Kelly Twins He also performed as a color commentator in various territories including Cleveland and Toronto. In addition to his other M/C positions his show also appeared on a Windsor Ontario station CKLW across from Detroit,Michigan where he grappled physically with the likes of The Sheik & Dick The Bruiser. Fans also didn't know that he worked for Ed Farhat AKA The Sheik.

Personal life Throughout his career, Layton was a regular volunteer, working on behalf of disabled and underprivileged children. He was awarded the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship in 1983 for his charitable work, one year before his passing.

He gained Canadian citizenship in 1958.

Athol Layton died at the age of 62 on 18 January 1984, at his home in Mississauga, Ontario as the result of a massive heart attack, myocardial infarction.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur Boxing Heavyweight Amateur Boxing Champion (Australia), two years during the Second World War period

Professional wrestling Big Time Wrestling (Detroit) NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (2 times) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) - with Bobo Brazil National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Tag Team championship (Chicago/Indianapolis version) (1 time) - with Lord James Blears NWA World Tag Team championship (Ohio-New York version) (4 times) - Lord James Blears (2) and Ilio DiPaolo (2) NWA Canadian Open Tag Team championship (Toronto version) (1 time) - with Billy Watson NWA Hawaii Tag Team championship (1 time) - Tom Rice NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Tag Team championship (2 times) - with James Blears Midwest Wrestling Association MWA Ohio Tag Team championship (1 time) - with Ilio DiPaolo Worldwide Wrestling Associates WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (2 times) - James Blears American Wrestling Association AWA United States Heavyweight championship (Detroit version) (2 times)