Career
On July 19, 1961, Malenko challenged "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the NWA World title in Jacksonville, Florida, but was unsuccessful. On May 16, 1967, Malenko defeated Wahoo McDaniel to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship in Tampa, Florida. On August 16, 1968, Malenko and Johnny Valentine defeated the team of Joe Scarpa (later known as Chief Jay Strongbow) and Jose Lothario for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship titles, and four days later, Malenko defeated Eddie Graham for his first NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship in Jacksonville. Between 1968 and 1972, Malenko would win the Brass Knuckles title on seven more occasions, defeating the likes of Lothario, The Gladiator (Ricky Hunter), Strongbow (twice), Cyclone Negro, Bobby Duncum and Bearcat Wright.
On May 9, 1972, Malenko and Bob Roop defeated Bearcat Wright and Bobby Shane to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, and six days later, Malenko defeated Wright in singles competition to win his eighth and final Florida Brass Knuckles title in Orlando. On June 24, 1972, Malenko and Johnny Weaver defeated Mike Webster and The Professional for his second run with the Florida Tag Team titles.
Malenko also wrestled in the Texas territory in the early 1970s, often teaming with Lord Charles Montegue (known as Hans Mortier from the WWF). Montegue also acted as Malenko's manager during this run in Texas.
During the early days of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) territory, Malenko worked under the name Otto Von Krupp. He gained the AWA World Tag Team Championship with "Texas" Bob Geigel from Dale Lewis and Pat Kennedy (who wrestled elsewhere as Bobby "Hercules" Graham).
Malenko' wrestling name "The Great Malenko" was a pun; "Malenko" means "little" in Russian, and Boris was shorter than most of his fellow wrestlers.
Malenko has said on more than one occasion that Buddy Landel was the greatest thing he ever produced.
Read more about this topic: Boris Malenko
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