- — Plutor
Jynik Gowno
From The Great Outdoor Fight
(b. 1951, d. 1984) While never a Champion, "the Pole Who Won't Fold," as he was dubbed by Bob Raffles, is still considered by some to be one of the great personalities of the modern Fight. To this day, he still holds the record for the most consecutive Fights attended: 16, beginning in 1968, and ending with his death on the Acres at the hands of the infamous Fauntleroy Brown in 1984. As a testament to his popularity and dedication, Bob Raffles and Young Jude Surrency hosted a "Tribute To Jynik Gowno" special broadcast the year after his death. Few other contestants can claim such an honor, especially contestants that never once won the Fight.
Gowno entered the United States illegally at the age of thirteen, having stowed aboard an oil tanker from his native Szczecin. He never officially gained U.S. citizenship, and never learned to speak English. His first Fight was in 1968, where he was part of Champion Carl Haskins' army. His kneecap was ripped off on Day 2 of the competition; the next year, however, he showed up with a implanted replacement kneecap. He would continue in much the same way for 16 years, in each fight being injured. He was taken out on Day 2 before he could face Rodney Leonard Stubbs in 1973, a fact that he always claimed to regret. He was the first fighter disposed of by Ishihiro Yagi in 1975. Gowno's long career in the Fight was finally ended by Fauntleroy Brown, who, in his fugue-like state, ripped out with his bare hands the pacemaker Gowno was forced to take on after injuries sustained at the hands of Jc Stocker in 1983. Ironically, he was 13th left standing that day. Unlucky, perhaps, to the end.
The 1989 biopic The Polish Sausage was inspired by the events of Gowno's life. A somewhat more respectful picture commissioned by Gowno's 12 illegimate children, The Man from Szczecin, was released to mixed reviews in 2001.
[edit] Quotes
"I have - how do you say it? - a good feeling this time." - interview in 1984, before entering the Fight for the last time.
"I once beat Stalin himself into the ground and took his beautiful mistress Rita Hayworth into my bed. So will it be with your American women." - on why he kept entering the Fight; interview with Bob Raffles, 1974.
"I am believing that anyone can, if he tries hard enough, long enough, win Fight." - interview in 1970.
"That stupid sonuvabitch really said that? That poor dumb Pollock sonuvabitch." -Young Jude Surrency, responding to the above quote by Gowno read by Bob Raffles during the "Tribute to Jynik Gowno", 1985.
