Lord Layton, Tiger Jeet & Fred Atkins 1967-68

Will be working on a longer length piece on Athol Layton for the main site. Unless you were a fan in the 1950's you would likely know Layton as a TV commentator, both here and in Detroit and Cleveland.  He was still wrestling into the mid 1970's but not as a full time star and past his prime as a star here decades prior.

When he fist hit Toronto he was quite a presence, tall and strong - and hated! - and he would go on to become one of the biggest stars of the '50's and later one of Tunney's inner circle alongside former stars Whipper, Flanagan, and Fred Atkins.

Here is a great Roger Baker shot of Layton interviewing Atkins and his young charge Tiger Jeet Singh circa 1967-68 for our TV show out of Hamilton.

Fred trained Tiger Jeet and teamed with him quite a bit before he went on to become the long time ref at MLG. Layton left in the mid 70's and went on to work for Bacardi here but still maintained ties with Tunney and wrestling.

Roger told me he gave a copy of this photo to Tiger Jeet some years ago and that he was very moved by the photo in remembering his mentor Atkins. Roger was seated above the ring for this shot as the interviews were taking place out of view of the studio audience. Thank you Roger !

Watch the main site for the Layton feature, we looked at Fred Atkins previously at
 Fred Atkins : Ferocious Fred

click on photo to enlarge