WRESTLER PROFILES

	Wrestler: Boris Volkoff Real Name: Francis Edward Zela known as "Frank" or "Butch" Birthday: May 9, 1927 Hometown: Calumet City, IL Billed from Leningrad, Russia Retired in Las Vegas Marital Status: Height & Weight: 245 lbs Trained by: Debut: Previous Names: Finishing Move: Favorite Moves: Notable Feuds: Reggie & Stan Lisowski
NWA (Chicago) World Tag Team titles w/Nicoli Volkoff defeating Reggie & Stan Lisowski (December 15, 1956); NWA (Chicago) World Tag Team titles w/Nicoli Volkoff defeating Reggie & Stan Lisowski (February 22, 1958); NWA (Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/Nicoli Volkoff defeating Kurt & Karl Van Brauner (May 1965 in Memphis, TN);
In The Beginning: Francis Zela served with the Merchant Marines in World War II when he met body builder Jack LaLayne.. Francis Zela owned and operated health clubs including the All-American Health Club and the Acres Health Club in Calumet City.. ~~~The weights in Zela's clubs were custom made by his brother-in-law, John Koscielniak.. ~~~Legends "Dick the Bruiser", "Bobo Brazil", "Sammy the Mongol", "Golden Moose Cholak" and Ray Schafer trained there.. Francis Zela dated one of the first female wrestlers ever, Dolores Nastoff, in the 1960's.. Boris Volkoff: 1964: Frank Zela became known as Boris Volkoff.. 1960s: Boris Volkoff formed a tag team with his "fictional" brother Nicoli Volkoff (Steve Gobb), as the heel team Volkoff Brothers.. ~~~They wrestled in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Detroit, Cleveland, South Bend, Indianapolis, Benton Harbor, Chicago & Georgia.. Retirement: October 15, 2003: Francis Edward Zela died of congestive heart failure at age 76 in Las Vegas.. ~~~Francis Zela is survived by his daughter Frankalene Zela Rae and son John Gerard Zela..