Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the wrestler has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
*
If used next to the names of the wrestlers, they may, in fact, not have held the title in the period indicated. If used next to the dates or places, either they are possibly wrong or the title changes are fictitious.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a wrestler held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
+
Broadcast date; the actual recording date is unknown.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the wrestler shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized in HTML files
Recognized as champion in Ohio as of 11-04-27; Beell continues to claim the title in Cincinnati, OH as late as 11-02-19; may be vacant when Americus wins World Heavyweight Title on 14-03-13 in Kansas City, MO.
John Ellis
1919-01
United States champion, briefly billed as the world champion in 19-01 in some Ohio towns.
Defeats Jim Londos for the title and is recognized in Ohio as of 21-03-13; still champion as of 22-06; officially retires in 23.
Joe Varga
1923-12-13
Dayton, OH
Defeats Charlie Fox, billed as English champion, to become the world champion; still champion as of 24-07-02; moves up to the heavyweight later in the year; billed as Ohio heavyweight champion as of 24-12-04.
Has claimed the title in Wyoming since defeating Charlie Rentrop on 23-01-26; billed as champion in Columbus, OH in 24-10 (The Columbus Dispatch, 24-10-19).
Defeats title claimant Ad Santel on 28-09-29 in Melbourne, AUS for the contendership to face the locally recognized champion Ted Thye; defeats Thye on 28-10-06 in Melbourne, AUS to become the undisputed champion; declines invitation to participate in tournament sponsored
by the National Boxing Association in 30.
Defeats Pinky Gardner in a match billed for the "unofficial" title (The Cincinnati Enquirer, 30-01-03); defeats Joe Banaski in tournament final on 30-04-04 in Cincinnati, OH to become the first NBA World Light Heavyweight
Wrestling Champion; Leo Alexander is briefly billed as champion in Sandusky, OH in 31-01.
