Leroy Kemp
Leroy " Lee" P. Kemp Jr. ( born December 24, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio ) is a former American professional wrestler. He was three times world champion in free style at welterweight.
Career
Leroy began as a teenager at the Hich School in Chardon, Ohio, with the rings. He soon became very successful and in 1974 U.S. junior champion in free style at lightweight. At the University of Wisconsin- Madison, which he attended at the high school time in port, he continued to develop and in 1976, 1977 and 1978 American students welterweight champion, after he had already finished second in 1975. From 1979 to 1983 Leroy was five times in a row and American masters of the AAU (Amateur Athlete Union).
1978 represented the first time that Lee U.S. colors at an international championship. At the World Championships in Mexico City, he immediately won with five wins the world title at welterweight. In the final he defeated while the experienced Bulgarian champion Alexandar Nanew sure on points.
Also in 1979, Lee won the world title. In San Diego he defeated in the final of the West German newcomer Martin Knosp just on points. At the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 Lee was unable to attend because of the boycott these Games by the United States. He would have considered safe as a two -time world champion as a favorite in his weight class.
At the World Championships in 1981 in Skopje Lee tried to win his third world title. But he lost this time already in the pool finale against Martin Knosp on points and could thus only against the pool Second of the other pool, the Koreans Ko Ti -Won, to fight for the bronze medal. This fight he won safely on points.
1982 won Lee Kemp in Edmonton / Canada but then still his third world title. He met it already in his third fight on Martin Pool Knosp and won 1-0 on points. Knosp was eliminated then, while Lee also the Czechs Dan Karabín had no chance for victory.
1983 Lee Kemp was thus replaced in the United States and internationally by Dave Schultz. When in 1984 he ended his career, he had 435 's matches of which he won 400. The coach, which he owed most, were Duane Kleven, Stan Dziedzic, Russell Hellickson and Dan Gable.
After his playing days Lee Kempf herself worked for years as a coach at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and is now an independent businessman in the automotive industry. After he was admitted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990, followed in August 2008, the inclusion in the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.
International success
(WM = World Championship, F = Freestyle, We = welterweight, then to 73 kg or 74 kg body weight)
Swell
- Various editions of the magazine " The Ringer " from the years 1978 to 1985
- International Wrestling Database of the University of Leipzig,
- Website National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum