“Lewis is undoubtedly without a peer as a catch as catch can wrestler. He is master of the terrible lock hold around the neck, and once his powerful arm gets a vice like grip about an adversary’s throat the game is usually up for the enemy, who finds himself confronted by the alternatives… Yield or be strangled.”

Boston Post, 1893.

Evan Lewis, known to fame as “The Strangler”, was born at Ridgeway, Wisconsin on May 24, 1861. The champion Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestler of the World came of Welsh parentage, a strong wrestling strain running through several generations of his ancestry. He stood 5 feet 9 inches, and scaled in condition 185 to 190 pounds.

The strangler scored wins over Charles Moth, Joe Acton, Jack King and noted English Wrestler Tom Canon to name a few.

Lewis had two matches against Sorakichi Matsuda in Chicago, the first one took place at Battery D Armory which was then home of the most important events in the wrestling and pugilistic line. Lewis won the definitive fall by strangle.
Their second encounter was at a sold out Central Music Hall where the Strangler secured the first and only fall of the bout at 18 minutes and 20 seconds via leglock, injuring Matsuda’s leg in the process.

Some people from the crowd began hailing Lewis as a brute, they had to be reminded that the Leglock he used to submit Matsuda was a legal hold and that “Catch as Catch Can” was just what the name implied. (By whatever means or in any way possible).

The decorated champion took part in a historic World Championship bout with Ernest Roeber that unified the Greco-Roman and Catch Wrestling Titles. As a coach he shaped American Champion Fred Beell. After retirement he became a civic leader and spent the last portion of his life in his farm in Wisconsin.

Embrace the true meaning of “Catch As Catch Can” and celebrate your grappling heritage with the new “Strangler” t-shirt from Gotch Fightwear. You can order here, or go to GotchFightwear.com