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Walcott vs. Joe Louis I
Walcott vs. Joe Louis II
Walcott vs. Ezzard Charles (HL)
Walcott vs. Hoff
Walcott vs. Rex Layne
Walcott vs. Ezzard Charles II
Walcott vs. Ezzard Charles III
Walcott vs. Ezzard Charles IV
Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano I
Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano II
Jersey Joe Walcott Fights on DVD
$20
$20
Fights in the set include:
Arnold Raymond Cream (January 31, 1914 – February 25, 1994), better known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was a world
heavyweight boxing champion. He broke the world's record for the oldest man to win the world's Heavyweight title when
he earned it at the age of 37 years old.
Background
Walcott was born in Merchantville, New Jersey, the son of immigrants from Barbados. Walcott's father died when he
was 13 years old, so he quit school and took a job working in a soup factory to support his mother and 11 siblings. He
also began training as a boxer. He took the name of his boxing idol, Joe Walcott, the welterweight champion from
Barbados, hence his nickname, "Jersey Joe".
Boxing career
He debuted as a professional boxer on September 9, 1930, fighting Cowboy Wallace and winning by a knockout in
round one. After five straight knockout wins, in 1933, he lost for the first time, beaten on points by Henry Wilson in
Philadelphia.
He built a record of 45 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw before challenging for the world title for the first time. Walcott lost
early bouts against world-class competition. He lost a pair of fights to Tiger Jack Fox and was knocked out by contender
Abe Simon. But that would change in 1945 when Walcott beat top heavyweights such as Joe Baksi, Lee Q. Murray,
Curtis Sheppard and Jimmy Bivins. He closed out 1946 with a pair of losses to former light heavyweight champ Joey
Maxim and heavyweight contender Elmer Ray, but promptly avenged those defeats in 1947.
On December 5, 1947, he fought Joe Louis, at thirty three years of age breaking the record as the oldest man to fight for
the world heavyweight title. Despite dropping Louis in round one, and once again in round four, he lost a 15 round split
decision. Most ringside observers and boxing writers felt Walcott deserved the win, and so there was a rematch on June
25, 1948, when Louis prevailed once again, this time by a knockout in round 11.
June 22 of 1949, Walcott got another chance to become world heavyweight champion, when he and Ezzard Charles met
for the title left vacant by Louis. However, Charles prevailed, winning by decision in 15 rounds. Walcott, disappointed but
eager to see his dream of being a champion come true, went on, and in 1950, he won four of his five bouts, including a
three round knock-out of future world light heavyweight champion Harold Johnson.
On March 7 of 1951, he and Charles fought for a second time and once again Charles won a 15 round decision to retain
his world title. But on July 18, he joined a handful of boxers who claimed the world title in their fifth try, when he knocked
out Charles in seven rounds in Pittsburgh, to finally become world's heavyweight champion, at the relatively old age of 37.
[1] This made him the oldest man ever to win the world heavyweight crown (a distinction he would hold until George
Foreman won the title at age 45 in 1994).
Walcott retained the title with a 15 round decision victory against arch-enemy Charles. On September 23, 1952, in spite
of having a comfortable lead on his challenger, he lost his title to Rocky Marciano by knockout in round 13. There was a
rematch in Chicago, on May 15, 1953, and the second time around, Walcott was again defeated by Marciano by a
knockout in the first round.
Post boxing
He did not go away from the celebrity scene after boxing. In 1956, he co-starred with Humphrey Bogart and Max Baer
in the boxing drama The Harder They Fall. In 1963, he tried professional wrestling, losing to Lou Thesz. Thesz pinned
Walcott in the fifth round, but has stated that Walcott knocked him (Thesz) down and most likely out in that fifth round.
As he fell to the floor, he relied on instinct, grabbing Walcotts knees, taking him down with him and stretching him out for
the pin.
In 1965, he refereed the controversial world heavyweight championship bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston.
Walcott lost the count as Ali circled around a floored Liston and Walcott tried to get him back to a neutral corner. Then
Walcott looked outside the ring (presumably to the ringside count keeper) as Ali and Liston went at each other before
Walcott instructed them to keep on fighting, then Walcott approached the fighters and abruptly stopped the fight. Walcott
would never be appointed as a referee after this bout. It should be said, however, that most of the controversy
surrounding this fight had nothing to do with Walcott, as this was the famous fight with the "phantom punch".
Walcott became Sheriff of Camden County in 1972 and then chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission in
1975 until 1984, when he stepped down at the mandatory retirement age of 70. Walcott was inducted into the
International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.
heavyweight boxing champion. He broke the world's record for the oldest man to win the world's Heavyweight title when
he earned it at the age of 37 years old.
Background
Walcott was born in Merchantville, New Jersey, the son of immigrants from Barbados. Walcott's father died when he
was 13 years old, so he quit school and took a job working in a soup factory to support his mother and 11 siblings. He
also began training as a boxer. He took the name of his boxing idol, Joe Walcott, the welterweight champion from
Barbados, hence his nickname, "Jersey Joe".
Boxing career
He debuted as a professional boxer on September 9, 1930, fighting Cowboy Wallace and winning by a knockout in
round one. After five straight knockout wins, in 1933, he lost for the first time, beaten on points by Henry Wilson in
Philadelphia.
He built a record of 45 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw before challenging for the world title for the first time. Walcott lost
early bouts against world-class competition. He lost a pair of fights to Tiger Jack Fox and was knocked out by contender
Abe Simon. But that would change in 1945 when Walcott beat top heavyweights such as Joe Baksi, Lee Q. Murray,
Curtis Sheppard and Jimmy Bivins. He closed out 1946 with a pair of losses to former light heavyweight champ Joey
Maxim and heavyweight contender Elmer Ray, but promptly avenged those defeats in 1947.
On December 5, 1947, he fought Joe Louis, at thirty three years of age breaking the record as the oldest man to fight for
the world heavyweight title. Despite dropping Louis in round one, and once again in round four, he lost a 15 round split
decision. Most ringside observers and boxing writers felt Walcott deserved the win, and so there was a rematch on June
25, 1948, when Louis prevailed once again, this time by a knockout in round 11.
June 22 of 1949, Walcott got another chance to become world heavyweight champion, when he and Ezzard Charles met
for the title left vacant by Louis. However, Charles prevailed, winning by decision in 15 rounds. Walcott, disappointed but
eager to see his dream of being a champion come true, went on, and in 1950, he won four of his five bouts, including a
three round knock-out of future world light heavyweight champion Harold Johnson.
On March 7 of 1951, he and Charles fought for a second time and once again Charles won a 15 round decision to retain
his world title. But on July 18, he joined a handful of boxers who claimed the world title in their fifth try, when he knocked
out Charles in seven rounds in Pittsburgh, to finally become world's heavyweight champion, at the relatively old age of 37.
[1] This made him the oldest man ever to win the world heavyweight crown (a distinction he would hold until George
Foreman won the title at age 45 in 1994).
Walcott retained the title with a 15 round decision victory against arch-enemy Charles. On September 23, 1952, in spite
of having a comfortable lead on his challenger, he lost his title to Rocky Marciano by knockout in round 13. There was a
rematch in Chicago, on May 15, 1953, and the second time around, Walcott was again defeated by Marciano by a
knockout in the first round.
Post boxing
He did not go away from the celebrity scene after boxing. In 1956, he co-starred with Humphrey Bogart and Max Baer
in the boxing drama The Harder They Fall. In 1963, he tried professional wrestling, losing to Lou Thesz. Thesz pinned
Walcott in the fifth round, but has stated that Walcott knocked him (Thesz) down and most likely out in that fifth round.
As he fell to the floor, he relied on instinct, grabbing Walcotts knees, taking him down with him and stretching him out for
the pin.
In 1965, he refereed the controversial world heavyweight championship bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston.
Walcott lost the count as Ali circled around a floored Liston and Walcott tried to get him back to a neutral corner. Then
Walcott looked outside the ring (presumably to the ringside count keeper) as Ali and Liston went at each other before
Walcott instructed them to keep on fighting, then Walcott approached the fighters and abruptly stopped the fight. Walcott
would never be appointed as a referee after this bout. It should be said, however, that most of the controversy
surrounding this fight had nothing to do with Walcott, as this was the famous fight with the "phantom punch".
Walcott became Sheriff of Camden County in 1972 and then chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission in
1975 until 1984, when he stepped down at the mandatory retirement age of 70. Walcott was inducted into the
International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.
(Editor's Note. The fourth fight between Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles, on June 5, 1952, was a close, boring
bout in which Walcott retained his title by unanimous decision. Columnist Jimmy Cannon saw the fight differently,
however, and believed former champion Charles had done enough to regal the heavyweight championship.)
The heavyweight champion of the world travelled to Municipal Stadium last night in a limousine. But it wouldn't have
surprised me if Jersey Joe Walcott had gone home to Camden in a flaming chariot. The car that a normal inhabitant of
th earth might consider splendid was a demeaning vehicle for man who was the beneficiary of a miracle. The power o
Walcott's faith must have obscured the sight of the referee an two judges.
There is no other explanation why the would present Walcott with this gift of, decision over Ezard Charles. Divine inter
vention has to be the reason for their quee tabulation, although the laws of the stat of Pennsylvania specify that boxing
offi cials must not be advised by anyone. The saw a vision and reported it, not in th, literature of the scriptures, but in
the simple bookkeeping used by fight appraisers.
- It was a reward, undoubtedly, for Walcott's aggressive piety It should be remembered that Walcott is the first pugilist
to lis a chaplain as a training camp functionary who was accorded the respect usually reserved for such dignitaries as
Felix Bocchiccio The services conducted in the gym in Atlantic City by a preache with hands taped to work should get
the credit for this improb able occurrence. It certainly wasn't Walcott's skill.
The message appeared to get to Zack Clayton, the refereewith a forceful clarity. Seldom has a fight magistrate acted
wits more passion. It was obvious that he classified Charles a sinned who was profaning Walcott's sanctified person.
In excited ha rangues, Clayton demanded that Charles commit no sacrilege or this exalted being. Frequently, Clayton
denounced Charles fo^l striking blows that the referee c^!airned were fouls, although they were valid punches. He
urged Charles to reform hip ways insisting that he stop this desecration.
At the end of the 15 rounds, Clayton estimated that Walcott on nine rounds and Charles six. The referee's confederate
~ Rent confirmed his evaluation of the course of the fight but were milder in their punishment of Charles. Pete Tomaso,
~ judge, ^ao^Dtnbuted seven rounds to Walton, six to Charles, anc died one as even. The other, Buck McTiernan,
was no^l absduteh; ^0han^ceJ and marked his card 8-7 for Walcott. My jottings had Charles ahead, 9-6. It doesn't
solve the mystery, but it should be noted that Clayton used to be a basketball player
The common hallucination shared by the deciding trinity was all that made this fight spectacular. It was a replica of their
other three contests but could not compare with the last one, when a left hook transformed Charles into a tangled pile.
It was fought not in anger but in a mood suggesting despair. Like genuine admirers of the human race, they abhorred
inflicting unnecessary pain on one another. They had the timid ferocity ol
· bull rabbits, moved slowly as though part of a somber pageant, constantly embraced one another in clinches in
postures oi brotherly affection, and plainly proved that man is always the master of the beast that hides in the hearts of
the kindest of men.
Until the
round, Charles complemented Walcott^is se
renity of the spirit and did not molest his companion in bore dom. There are heretics who shall cry that even this effete
exertion swindled Walcott of his stamina. But those who knob him best realize Walcott was obeying the most beautiful
of al instructions given to man by his guides to happiness.
He turned the other cheek in majestic humility and Charles accommodated him until the end of the fight. But it was with
the anger of a mouse, not a tiger, that Charles belabored hit elderly friend of so many tranquil encounters. In that round
Charles punched with a right hand that caused Walcott to smile with the tolerance of a man who rises above
vengeance. There were other occasions when it seemed that Charles was going tc knock out Walcott, but he managed
to avoid his comrade or miss blows, and the opportunities passed.
The crowd in the arena that is, symbolically, on the city dump, were not offended by the result. They sat quietly id the
presence of these kindly men but applauded when the verdict was proclaimed.
It may establish a precedent in the fight racket. Guys such as Tommy Ryan, who slugged a referee and a matchmaker,
gel locked up. The pure at heart get the duke.
Then there was the remark that Ike Williams, the old light weight champion, made last week when Walcott went to
Wash: ington to invite the President to the fight.
"Not even Truman can help Joe," Williarns said.
Someone bigger than Truman did, Ike. That's the only way can figure it.
bout in which Walcott retained his title by unanimous decision. Columnist Jimmy Cannon saw the fight differently,
however, and believed former champion Charles had done enough to regal the heavyweight championship.)
The heavyweight champion of the world travelled to Municipal Stadium last night in a limousine. But it wouldn't have
surprised me if Jersey Joe Walcott had gone home to Camden in a flaming chariot. The car that a normal inhabitant of
th earth might consider splendid was a demeaning vehicle for man who was the beneficiary of a miracle. The power o
Walcott's faith must have obscured the sight of the referee an two judges.
There is no other explanation why the would present Walcott with this gift of, decision over Ezard Charles. Divine inter
vention has to be the reason for their quee tabulation, although the laws of the stat of Pennsylvania specify that boxing
offi cials must not be advised by anyone. The saw a vision and reported it, not in th, literature of the scriptures, but in
the simple bookkeeping used by fight appraisers.
- It was a reward, undoubtedly, for Walcott's aggressive piety It should be remembered that Walcott is the first pugilist
to lis a chaplain as a training camp functionary who was accorded the respect usually reserved for such dignitaries as
Felix Bocchiccio The services conducted in the gym in Atlantic City by a preache with hands taped to work should get
the credit for this improb able occurrence. It certainly wasn't Walcott's skill.
The message appeared to get to Zack Clayton, the refereewith a forceful clarity. Seldom has a fight magistrate acted
wits more passion. It was obvious that he classified Charles a sinned who was profaning Walcott's sanctified person.
In excited ha rangues, Clayton demanded that Charles commit no sacrilege or this exalted being. Frequently, Clayton
denounced Charles fo^l striking blows that the referee c^!airned were fouls, although they were valid punches. He
urged Charles to reform hip ways insisting that he stop this desecration.
At the end of the 15 rounds, Clayton estimated that Walcott on nine rounds and Charles six. The referee's confederate
~ Rent confirmed his evaluation of the course of the fight but were milder in their punishment of Charles. Pete Tomaso,
~ judge, ^ao^Dtnbuted seven rounds to Walton, six to Charles, anc died one as even. The other, Buck McTiernan,
was no^l absduteh; ^0han^ceJ and marked his card 8-7 for Walcott. My jottings had Charles ahead, 9-6. It doesn't
solve the mystery, but it should be noted that Clayton used to be a basketball player
The common hallucination shared by the deciding trinity was all that made this fight spectacular. It was a replica of their
other three contests but could not compare with the last one, when a left hook transformed Charles into a tangled pile.
It was fought not in anger but in a mood suggesting despair. Like genuine admirers of the human race, they abhorred
inflicting unnecessary pain on one another. They had the timid ferocity ol
· bull rabbits, moved slowly as though part of a somber pageant, constantly embraced one another in clinches in
postures oi brotherly affection, and plainly proved that man is always the master of the beast that hides in the hearts of
the kindest of men.
Until the
round, Charles complemented Walcott^is se
renity of the spirit and did not molest his companion in bore dom. There are heretics who shall cry that even this effete
exertion swindled Walcott of his stamina. But those who knob him best realize Walcott was obeying the most beautiful
of al instructions given to man by his guides to happiness.
He turned the other cheek in majestic humility and Charles accommodated him until the end of the fight. But it was with
the anger of a mouse, not a tiger, that Charles belabored hit elderly friend of so many tranquil encounters. In that round
Charles punched with a right hand that caused Walcott to smile with the tolerance of a man who rises above
vengeance. There were other occasions when it seemed that Charles was going tc knock out Walcott, but he managed
to avoid his comrade or miss blows, and the opportunities passed.
The crowd in the arena that is, symbolically, on the city dump, were not offended by the result. They sat quietly id the
presence of these kindly men but applauded when the verdict was proclaimed.
It may establish a precedent in the fight racket. Guys such as Tommy Ryan, who slugged a referee and a matchmaker,
gel locked up. The pure at heart get the duke.
Then there was the remark that Ike Williams, the old light weight champion, made last week when Walcott went to
Wash: ington to invite the President to the fight.
"Not even Truman can help Joe," Williarns said.
Someone bigger than Truman did, Ike. That's the only way can figure it.