John da Silva
Born(1934-06-11)11 June 1934
Pukekohe, New Zealand
Died8 April 2021(2021-04-08) (aged 86)
RelativesGarth da Silva (son)
Paul Silva (uncle)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)John Walter da Silva
John Silva
Debut1958
Retired1977

John Walter da Silva QSM (11 June 1934 – 8 April 2021) was a New Zealand wrestler and boxer.[1]

Biography

Da Silva was born on 11 June 1934.[2] He represented New Zealand in wrestling at the 1956 Olympics and at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In 1955 he held both the New Zealand Heavyweight Wrestling title and the Auckland Heavyweight Boxing title. He is of Portuguese, African, English and French Tahitian descent.[3] Paul Silva, a competitive wood chopper, was his uncle.[4]

An amateur from 1953, he turned professional after the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. He wrestled throughout New Zealand and around the world. He retired in 1977, and subsequently worked with disadvantaged youth. In the 1994 New Year Honours, he was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.[5]

Until his death on 8 April 2021 at the age of 86,[6][7] he lived on Great Barrier Island. He was the father of boxer Garth da Silva.[8]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "John da Silva". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "John da Silva". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "John Da Silva". Kiwi Pro Wrestling. 2007.
  4. ↑ Mackay, Jamie. "Paul Thomas Silva". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "No. 53528". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1993. p. 35.
  6. ↑ Oliver, Greg (14 April 2021). "New Zealand great John da Silva dies". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Wrestling legend John da Silva dies". Radio New Zealand (RNZ). 16 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Adams, Yvette (2005). More than meets the eye: a true story based on the life and times of the best blind wrestler the world has ever seen. Yvette Adams. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-9757770-0-8.
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