Born in
London of
Italian extraction, Marino initially turned to
boxing as a
Cruiserweight. However unable to obtain a licence to box in the
United Kingdom, he spent his entire career in mainland
Europe. He turned to wrestling in the early 1950s and came to prominence after winning an international tournament in
Paris in 1951. Marino won the World Mid-Heavyweight Championship in 1957 and went on to hold the title four times. The European Mid-Heavyweight Championship was added in 1967, although his claim was for a time disputed Bill Howes, with Marino eventually relinquishing his claim until Howes retirement. He eventually added the
British Mid-Heavyweight Championship, winning the title in December 1966 and holding it until his death in 1981. Marino held all three belts when he died. A regular on the main shows at the
Royal Albert Hall, Marino was recognised as one of British wrestling's leading technicians of the era. ==Death==