Lucha Bio: Karloff Lagarde

Name Karloff Lagarde
Real name Carlos de Lucio Lagarde
Nicknames El Chilaquil
Name history Erik Karloff Lagarde (debut - ??), Karloff Lagarde (55? - ), El Caballero Bush ( 1951-1955)
Family El Ángel Negro (brother), Karloff Lagarde Jr. (nephew)
Maestro(s) unknown
Birth date, location July 27, 1928 - Zapotlán de Juárez, Hidalgo
Obituary date August 31, 2007
Debut, location 1950 - Hidalgo State
Lost mask to
Height
Weight
Signature moves La Lagardina
Titles: National Welterweight Title (4), NWA World Welterweight Title (3), National Middleweight Title, National Tag Team Titles (w/ René Guajardo)

Carlos de Lucio Lagarde, known to the wrestling world as Karloff Lagarade, was born July 27th, 1928 in Zapotlan, Juarez, Hidalgo. Karloff made his mark in lucha libre, but didn't start that career till after one in the military. Carlos started learning the secrets of Olympic, greco-roman and lucha libre wrestling before his in-ring debut in 1950 in Hidalgo. Carlos' first ring name was "Eric Karloff Lagarde", and he wrestled locally for about five years before making his debut in Mexico City.

Lagarde debuted in Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, on June 3, 1955. Lagarde was noted for his great rudo style in the ring and for his trademark hold, La Lagardina. Lagarde has a tough start, but his battles started to render fruits. Exactly a year after his debut, June 3, 1956, Lagarde won the Mexican National Welterweight Championship from Jalisco Gonzalez.

With the National Welterweight Championship already in hand, Karloff's success continued thru 1956 and into the start of 1957. On January 31 in Arena Coliseo DF, Lagarde beat the legendary Blue Demon in Arena Coliseo DF to take the NWA world version of the Welterweight belt. Unlike most, Lagarde didn't immediately vacate the National version, instead holding both for a time. Lagarde briefly dropped dropped the National Welterweight title to Demon in 1962, but held both titles for most of four straight years.

Lagarde's biggest year was 1964, when he etched his name in history as holding three titles at once, beating El Santo himself to do it. Lagarde captured the Mexican National Middleweight Championship on April 11, 1963 and held all three titles for two months. Lagarde was voted wrestler of the year in the magazines.

Lagarde's success opened doors for other members of his family: his son Karloff Lagarde Jr. and his brother Angel Negro enjoyed lucha libre careers. Lagarde won other titles, including the National Tag Team Championship with his real life friend Rene Guajardo, and they often teamed during their careers.

Lagarde's biggest apuesta wins include taking the hair of Cavernario Galindo in 1965 and the mask of Imposter. He also suffered great losses, losing his hair to El Solitario, Halcon de Oro II, Ray Mendoza, Jerry London and Perro Aguayo.

Despite the losses, Lagarde's place in lucha libre history is secure, because he always won and loss like a profesional. Lagarde fought against the best, names like Black Shadow, Huracan Ramirez, Gori Guerrero, and Enrique Llanes. Karloff Lagrade was a pioneer of lucha libre and a legend not to be forgotten.