Bobo Brazil
| Bobo Brazil | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Houston Harris |
| Born |
July 10, 1924 Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Died | January 20, 1998 (aged 73) St. Joseph, Michigan |
| Spouse(s) | Kathleen Wimbley (his death) |
| Children | 6 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Bobo Brazil Boo-Boo Brazil BuBu Brasil Houston Harris |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Billed weight | 270 lb (120 kg) |
| Billed from | Benton Harbor, Michigan |
| Trained by | Joe Savoldi |
| Debut | 1951 |
| Retired | 1993 |
Houston Harris (July 10, 1924 – January 20, 1998) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Bobo Brazil. Credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling, Harris is considered one of the first successful African American professional wrestlers.
Houston Harris was born in Little Rock, Arkansas but later lived in East St. Louis, Illinois, and Benton Harbor, Michigan. He played baseball and worked in a steel mill.
Harris was trained by Joe Savoldi after meeting him at matches at the Naval Armory. Savoldi originally named Harris, BuBu Brasil, "The South American Giant," but a promoter misprinted his first name as "Bobo" in an advertisement and it stuck.
Early in his career, some wrestling promoters would match Brazil against fellow African American wrestlers, including Ernie Ladd and Abdullah the Butcher. Fans clamored to see Brazil face opponents of any type and Brazil would have many matches with competitors such as Killer Kowalski, Dick the Bruiser, Johnny Valentine, and The Sheik, who feuded with Brazil over the course of several decades. These and other rivals would all fall victim to Brazil's finishing maneuver, the Coco Butt. Brazil also once wrestled Bill Miller to a draw, and challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Heavywight Championship in a battle of two top babyface competitors. On October 18, 1962, Brazil made history by becoming the first African American to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (this distinction is usually given to Ron Simmons, the first recognized African American world champion after winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship). Although Brazil initially refused the title (because of an "injury" that Rogers had claimed to have), Brazil was awarded the title the next day after doctors had found nothing wrong with Rogers. However, this title change is not recognized by the NWA.
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