Koca Yusuf was born in 1857 in the village of Karalar, located in the Shumen province of present-day Bulgaria, which was then a part of the Ottoman Empire. His real name was Yusuf İsmail and he became one of the prominent figures of his time not only due to his physical strength but also his identity as an athlete.
Early Life and Introduction to Wrestling
Koca Yusuf was born into a poor family and worked in agriculture and animal husbandry from an early age. Due to his strong physique, he was encouraged by his community to take up wrestling. He received training in traditional oil wrestling from notable wrestlers of the time, such as Nasuhçulu Kel İsmail Pehlivan, Dursun Pehlivan from Shumen, and Pomak Osman. Standing approximately 1.90 meters tall and weighing around 140 kilograms, Yusuf soon became widely known by the honorific title “Koca,” meaning “Great.”
Success at Kırkpınar and in the Ottoman Empire
In 1885, at the historic Kırkpınar oil wrestling tournament, he competed against the reigning champion Kel Aliço. The match lasted for hours, and Kel Aliço eventually withdrew, resulting in Yusuf being awarded the title of başpehlivan (chief wrestler). He faced many renowned wrestlers of the era, such as Adalı Halil, Kurtdereli Mehmet, Filiz Nurullah, and Hergeleci İbrahim. He gained significant fame in the wrestling community of the Ottoman Empire and also took part in wrestling events held under imperial patronage, receiving support from Sultan Abdulhamid II.
Matches in Europe and Rising Fame
In 1895, French promoter Joseph Doublier invited Koca Yusuf to Europe. In Paris, he competed successfully against notable wrestlers such as Sabès, Paul Pons, Charles Olsen, and Raoul le Boucher. The French press dubbed him “Le Terrible Turk”. His serious attitude and athletic demeanor during exhibition matches drew the attention of wrestling authorities and spectators across Europe.
Matches in the United States
In early 1898, Koca Yusuf traveled to the United States, where he participated in matches against wrestlers such as Tom Jenkins, Dan McLeod, and Evan “Strangler” Lewis. On March 26, 1898, during a match at Madison Square Garden with Ernest Roeber, he was disqualified for throwing his opponent out of the ring. A rematch scheduled for April 30 could not be concluded due to interference from the audience. Although he did not win an official championship, his victories in Europe and the United States earned him the honorary title “World Champion Wrestler”.
Death
On May 21, 1898, Koca Yusuf boarded the ship La Bourgogne to return to Turkey. On July 4, 1898, the ship sank off the coast of Newfoundland in a maritime disaster. Conflicting accounts exist regarding the incident, and according to official ship records, Koca Yusuf’s body was never recovered.
Legacy
Koca Yusuf’s name is commemorated through various sports halls, streets, and facilities in Turkey. His birthplace in the village of Karalar in Shumen has been converted into a memorial museum, and a statue of him stands in the village. Traditional oil wrestling tournaments continue to be held in the region. A Turkish Air Force A400M Atlas transport aircraft is popularly named after him, and his name has also been used for a floating crane, commemorative coins, and various biographical works. These tributes aim to honor and preserve his place in sports history.
Koca Yusuf is remembered as one of the Turkish wrestlers who participated in international wrestling competitions during the Ottoman period and is credited with contributing to the global recognition of Turkish wrestling.
Koca Yusuf Commemorative Coin (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Treasury and Finance)
