Paul Anderson, USA -Strongman
Paul Anderson (The Dixie Derrick)
Born 17th October 1932, Toccoa, Georgia. For two years, 1955 and 1956, he was the world’s greatest super-heavy-weight, winning the US championships, the World title in 1955 and the Olympia title in 1956 (by virtue of lighter bodyweight). In 1956 he pressed 400lb, snatched 335lb and clean and jerked 440lb for a record total. He then turned professional as a night-club strongman and for a time wrestled and boxed professionally.
In 1957 at Las Vegas, his best feat was a squat with an offer of two “safes” of 15,000 silver dollars (worth £900 at the time!) to anybody beating him in this lift.
He made his debut as a professional boxer on 17th February 1960. He retired from show business to devote his time to underprivileged children. At 5′ 9″, his body weight sometimes approached 400lb, neck 25″, arm 25″ and thigh 36″.
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