Product Code Database
Beau Jack (born Sidney Walker; April 1, 1921 – February 9, 2000) was an American lightweight boxing and two-time world lightweight champion in the 1940s. One of the most popular fighters during the War Years, he headlined at Madison Square Garden on 21 occasions, a record that still stands.
Following his first battle royale at the Augusta National Golf Club, Jack accepted a position as a caddie there. He quickly befriended some of the club's members, including golfing legend Bobby Jones, who helped fund his boxing training.
Going into the fight, Stolz was the clear favorite, with 3-1 odds. Before an enthusiastic crowd, Jack staged an upset, winning the match with a technical knockout of Stolz in the seventh round. Stoltz had cuts on his left eyelid and eyebrow that led the referee to end the bout.
In his first NYSAC Lightweight Title bout against Tippy Larkin on December 18, 1942, Jack surprised again by knocking out the champion in the third round with a right uppercut to the chin. He floored Larkin with a left hook for a count of one in the first minute of the first round. The bout was furious and both boxers landed constant blows, though Jack seemed to withstand the onslaught of Larkin and deliver an equal or greater number of counterpunches. Larkin was carried to his corner from a blow by Jack, 1:19 into the third, that rendered him unconscious for the ten count. It was only the third KO of Larkin's career. Both boxers were within a pound of 133.Cuddy, Jack, "Beau Jack's Win Impressive", The Berkshire Evening Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, pg. 7, December 19, 1942.
The crowd of more than 20,000 in the Garden on February 5, were displeased when Jack was called for a low blow in the eighth round, and the point's scoring became closer when Jack lost the round as a result of the foul. Nonetheless, the referee and judges gave the bout to Jack by at least a two-round margin."Zivic Loses to Beau Jack on Low Blow", The Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, pp. 5, February 6, 1943.
In the ninth round, Jack scored one of his strongest blows after coming out of a clinch, and it helped him to take the offensive and win the ninth and tenth rounds. In the final five and particularly the last two rounds, Montgomery seemed strongest, nearly taking the bout in the opinion of some ringside.Meier, Ted, "Bobcat Bob to Receive Another Go At Crown", The Mason-City Glove Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, pg. 4, November 20, 1943. Jack was battered and required great conditioning and willpower to hold on through the final rounds.Feder, Sid, "New Titleholder Weathers Strong Finish to Win Decision", The Ottawa Journal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, pg. 18, November 20, 1943.
Jack met Sammy Angott in a non-title match on January 28, 1944, drawing in ten rounds at Madison Square Garden before an impressive crowd of 19,113, the largest of the year. The match was an important contest between Jack, the New York State World Lightweight Champion, and Angott, the National Boxing Association World Lightweight Champion. Who led the battle see-sawed from boxer to boxer so frequently, it was a difficult contest to score. There were no knockdowns in the bout. The United Press gave each boxer four rounds with two even.
Angott had a problem from a thigh injury he had received in training and was limping as he was led from the ring at the end of the bout.Cuddy, Jack, "Sammy Angott Battles Beau Jack to Draw", The St. Louis Star and Times, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 5, January 29, 1944.Cuddy, Jack, "Turn Away Crowd Sees Lightweights", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 9, January 29, 1944
Jack finally lost the Lightweight Championship for the second time to Montgomery on March 3, 1944, in a fifteen-round split decision before 19,066 fans in Madison Square Garden. Jack had led in the early betting. The fighting was fierce and close throughout and Montgomery was given no more than a two-round advantage by the judges or referee, though the Associated Press scored the bout 8 for Montgomery, 4 for Jack, and three even. It would be Jack's last lightweight title match until meeting Ike Williams in July 1948."19,066 Fans See Bob Montgomery Defeat Beau Jack", The Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, pg. 2, March 4, 1944.
On March 17, 1944, he defeated Al "Bummy" Davis, the "Brooklyn Bomber", at Madison Square Garden before a crowd of nearly 20,000, in a ten-round unanimous decision. The referees and judges gave him no less than nine of the rounds, with two scoring all ten rounds for Jack. Jack, who was a slight favorite in the betting, brought crowds to the Garden in 1943–44. The Georgia boot-black got out of his crouching style and slugged it out in close quarters with Davis in several rounds.Howell, Fritz, "Ex-Georgia Bootblack Beats Brooklyn Bomber", Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 11, March 18, 1944.
Although Montgomery's title was not on the line, the gate was a record $36 million with 15,822 war bonds being sold. Many people who purchased bonds charitably left their tickets at the box office to be used by American servicemen. Montgomery and Jack, who were both serving as privates in the US Army, refused to take purses for the fight. Jack took the fight on points after 10 rounds, however the highlight of the evening was when the lights dimmed and a spotlight shone on Joe Louis was standing in the front row. Louis was received with a standing ovation.
Jack met Sammy Angott for the second time on July 8, 1946, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., where a crowd of 10,353 saw Jack win in a seventh-round technical knockout. Angott was very briefly down in round two, and Jack was down twice briefly in round four. The fighting was close but Jack rallied strongly in rounds five and six, and Angott did not answer the opening bell in round seven. The fighters boxed "as if the world championship was at stake". It was a "wild" and "reckless" fight and injuries suffered by Angott to his hip and back were briefly investigated at the request of the D.C. Boxing Commission after the fight. X-rays determined the aging thirty-one year old Angott had chipped a rib and suffered a torn ligament in his foot."Two Monday Night Fights Being Probed Today", The Reno Gazette Journal, Reno, Nevada, pg. 14, 9 July 1946"Angott Cleared Gets Purse", The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 22, 10 July 1946Crowd of 10,353 in "Beau Jack Stops Sammy Angott in Wild Fight", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 10, 9 July 1946
Williams was managed and on occasion financially exploited by boxing promoter Frank Palermo, who was Mafia-connected and a partner of Murder Inc. button-man Frankie Carbo. Carbo operated a stable of fighters which would later include heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. The first bout marked the start of a rivalry between Williams and Jack who would go on to fight on three more occasions. With Jack's skills clearly waning, Williams took the first match by a split decision, tied in the second match with a draw, and won the third when his opponent Jack was unable to answer the ninth round bell. Their third fight, on August 12, 1958, in Augusta, Georgia, though memorable, marked the end of Jack's career.
Boxing career
Jack turned professional in 1940, and began his career fighting in Massachusetts where he established an impressive record of 27–4–2. During this period, he earned his reputation as a relentless and powerful fighter, essential traits that endeared him to his fans and won over admirers.
First taking the NYSAC World Lightweight Championship, December 1942
He moved to New York City in August 1941, where he continued to impress under the management of Chick Wergeles. In November 1942, he found himself in a fight against Allie Stolz at Madison Square Garden to determine who would challenge for the New York version of the world lightweight title.
Victories over Fritzie Zivic, February – March 1943
Jack twice defeated Fritzie Zivic at Madison Square Garden on February 5, and March 5, 1943, in ten and twelve round unanimous decisions, though their second meeting was rather close. One source wrote Zivic was known for "dirty tactics", and that he fought like "a back ally brawler."Zivic was a dirty fighter in Sterrit, Mike, (2011) The Great Underrated Boxers, iUniverse Books, Bloomington, Indiana, pg. 17
Losing the NYSAC World Lightweight Championship to Bob Montgomery, May 1943
Jack held the World Lightweight Title for only six months before dropping it to fellow hall-of-famer Bob Montgomery on May 21, 1943, before 18,343 in a fifteen-round unanimous points decision at the Garden. Jack won the first round by a wide margin with a flurry of uppercuts and his signature free-wheeling, constant punching from many angles. But Montgomery quickly settled down and scored frequently with a strong straight right that at times had Jack close to a knockout and against which he could find no adequate defense. Jack's eyes were virtually closed during much of the bout, but Montgomery's injuries were restricted to a cut above one eye. A right to the chin briefly knocked Jack to his knees in the eleventh round and he struggled in the remaining rounds. One ringside reporter gave Montgomery eleven rounds to only four for Jack.Carver, Lawton, "Jack Drubbed As Philly Negro Pulls Big Upset", The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 15, May 22, 1943.
Regaining the World Lightweight Championship from Montgomery, November 1943
Jack would go on to regain the title from Montgomery on November 19, 1943, in a fifteen-round unanimous decision at New York's Madison Square Garden before a crowd of 17,866. Beau carefully followed the advice of his trainer Larry Amadee, who told him to stay close to Montgomery, fight fiercely when separated from clinches, and generally use his strength in infighting. He coasted on the advice of Amadee in several rounds. He stayed with Amadee's advice when Montgomery finished strong in the last five rounds. The Associated Press gave Jack seven rounds, six to Montgomery, and two even, though both judges gave Jack an impressive ten rounds.
Win over NBA Lightweight Champion Juan Zurita, March 31, 1944
On March 31, 1944, Jack defeated Mexican-born boxer Juan Zurita in a ten-round points decision at New York's Madison Square Garden. Zurita had taken the NBA Lightweight Title only three weeks earlier from Sammy Angott in Los Angeles. Zurita faded after the fifth round, and was given only three rounds to seven for Jack by the United Press. The Mexican champion looked strong in the tenth, and took the round. The capacity crowd of 17,593 were hoping for more action in the early rounds, but both boxers, knowing the skills of their opponent fought cautiously."Beau Jack Wins Over Zurita in Garden", The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, pg. 3, 1 April 1944Crowd of 17,593, in "Beau Jack Decisions Juan Zurita", The Bakersfield Californian, Bakersfield, California, pg. 9, 1 April 1944
War bonds fight with Bob Montgomery, August 1944
Some consider the most famous fight of Jack's career, a bout with Montgomery on August 4, 1944. Staged at a critical time in the second World War, it became known as the "War Bonds Fight", and tickets were only made available to purchasers of war bonds. A ringside seat required purchase of a $100,000 war bond.$100,000 for a ringside seat in Williams, Bernard, "I Bet You Didn't Know", Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, pg. 23, 1 April 2000
Last shot at the World Lightweight Title, Ike Williams, July 1948
Jack would not challenge for the title again until July 12, 1948, when he fought hall-of-famer and reigning champion Ike Williams in a sixth-round TKO at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The fighting was fairly close in the first three rounds, as the referee gave one round to each fighter, and declared one even. The fourth was fought cautiously but by the fifth, Williams penetrated Beau's defenses and connected repeatedly. Williams brutally ended the bout with a left hook and flurry of subsequent blows in the sixth which led the referee to end the bout."Champ Keeps Crown as Ref Halts Battle", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 33, 13 July 1948
Life after boxing
He retired with a record of 83 wins, with 40 knockouts, 24 losses and five draws. After retirement, he ran a drive-in barbecue stand and operated a small farm in Augusta, Georgia. He refereed wrestling matches in South Carolina during the period. With his boxing earnings, he moved to Miami and returned to shoe shining, working at Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel. He trained fighters in Miami's 5th Street Gym.
Family
Beau Jack had seven children, Ronald, Donald, George, Barbara Ann, Yvonne, Georgiana and Timothy. His wife was named Josephine. None of the sons became boxers.
Last years and death
In his later years he suffered from poverty and Parkinson's disease. He died at 78, in a Miami nursing home, on February 9, 2000, of complications from Parkinson's disease.
Honors
Jack was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
Professional boxing record
121 Loss Ike Williams RTD 8 (10) Aug 12, 1955 120 Win 91–23–5 Willie Kid Johnson SD 10 Jul 4, 1955 119 Draw 90–23–5 Ike Williams PTS 10 Apr 9, 1955 118 Win 90–23–4 Eddie Green UD 10 Jan 20, 1955 117 Loss 89–23–4 Gil Turner TKO 8 (10) May 21, 1951 116 Loss 89–22–4 Gil Turner UD 10 Apr 16, 1951 115 Win 89–21–4 Leroy Willis UD 10 Mar 30, 1951 114 Loss 88–21–4 Ike Williams SD 10 Mar 5, 1951 113 Win 88–20–4 Emil Barao UD 10 Jan 31, 1951 112 Loss 87–20–4 Del Flanagan UD 10 Jan 18, 1951 111 Loss 87–19–4 Fitzie Pruden SD 10 Jan 1, 1951 110 Loss 87–18–4 Frankie Fernandez UD 10 Nov 14, 1950 109 Win 87–17–4 Philip Kim MD 10 Oct 3, 1950 108 Win 86–17–4 Bobby Timpson TKO 6 (10) Jul 17, 1950 107 Win 85–17–4 Ronnie Harper TKO 5 (10) Jun 28, 1950 106 Win 84–17–4 Johnny Potenti UD 10 May 22, 1950 105 Win 83–17–4 Jackie Weber RTD 6 (10) May 8, 1950 104 Win 82–17–4 Lew Jenkins TKO 5 (10) Apr 14, 1950 103 Loss 81–17–4 Joey Carkido PTS 10 Apr 3, 1950 102 Loss 81–16–4 Tuzo Portuguez SD 10 Dec 16, 1949 101 Loss 81–15–4 Kid Gavilán UD 10 Oct 14, 1949 100 Win 81–14–4 Livio Minelli SD 10 Sep 30, 1949 99 Win 80–14–4 Tote Martinez UD 10 Sep 6, 1949 98 Win 79–14–4 Johnny Gonsalves SD 10 Aug 31, 1949 97 Win 78–14–4 Eddie Giosa UD 10 Jul 13, 1949 96 Loss 77–14–4 Johnny Greco UD 10 Mar 28, 1949 95 Win 77–13–4 Jackie Weber UD 10 Jan 17, 1949 94 Win 76–13–4 Leroy Willis UD 10 Dec 17, 1948 93 Win 75–13–4 Chuck Taylor TKO 3 (10) Nov 23, 1948 92 Win 74–13–4 Eric Boon TKO 3 (10) Oct 28, 1948 91 Loss 73–13–4 Ike Williams TKO 6 (15) Jul 12, 1948 90 Win 73–12–4 Tony Janiro UD 10 May 24, 1948 89 Win 72–12–4 Johnny Greco MD 10 Apr 9, 1948 88 Loss 71–12–4 Terry Young SD 10 Feb 20, 1948 87 Win 71–11–4 Johnny Bratton TKO 8 (10) Jan 23, 1948 86 Win 70–11–4 Jimmy Collins KO 2 (10) Jan 5, 1948 85 Win 69–11–4 Billy Kearns UD 10 Dec 29, 1947 84 Win 68–11–4 Frankie Vigeant PTS 10 Dec 16, 1947 83 Win 67–11–4 Humberto Zavala KO 4 (10) Nov 3, 1947 82 Loss 66–11–4 Tony Janiro TKO 4 (10) Feb 21, 1947 81 Loss 66–10–4 Buster Tyler PTS 10 Oct 22, 1946 80 Win 66–9–4 Danny Kapilow UD 10 Aug 19, 1946 79 Win 65–9–4 Sammy Angott TKO 7 (10) Jul 8, 1946 78 Win 64–9–4 Johnny Greco UD 10 May 31, 1946 77 Draw 63–9–4 Johnny Greco PTS 10 Feb 8, 1946 76 Win 63–9–3 Morris Reif KO 4 (10) Jan 4, 1946 75 Win 62–9–3 Willie Joyce UD 10 Dec 14, 1945 74 Win 61–9–3 Bob Montgomery MD 10 Aug 4, 1944 73 Win 60–9–3 Juan Zurita UD 10 Mar 31, 1944 72 Win 59–9–3 Al Davis UD 10 Mar 17, 1944 71 Loss 58–9–3 Bob Montgomery SD 15 Mar 3, 1944 70 Win 58–8–3 Maxie Berger UD 10 Feb 15, 1944 69 Draw 57–8–3 Sammy Angott PTS 10 Jan 28, 1944 68 Win 57–8–2 Lulu Costantino SD 10 Jan 7, 1944 67 Win 56–8–2 Bob Montgomery UD 15 Nov 19, 1943 66 Loss 55–8–2 Bobby Ruffin UD 10 Oct 4, 1943 65 Win 55–7–2 Johnny Hutchinson TKO 6 (10) Jul 19, 1943 64 Win 54–7–2 Maxie Starr TKO 6 (10) Jun 21, 1943 63 Loss 53–7–2 Bob Montgomery UD 15 May 21, 1943 62 Win 53–6–2 Henry Armstrong UD 10 Apr 2, 1943 61 Win 52–6–2 Fritzie Zivic UD 12 Mar 5, 1943 60 Win 51–6–2 Fritzie Zivic UD 10 Feb 5, 1943 59 Win 50–6–2 Tippy Larkin KO 3 (15) Dec 18, 1942 58 Win 49–6–2 Allie Stolz TKO 7 (10) Nov 13, 1942 57 Win 48–6–2 Terry Young UD 10 Oct 12, 1942 56 Win 47–6–2 Chester Rico PTS 8 Oct 2, 1942 55 Win 46–6–2 Joe De Jesus KO 4 (10) Sep 28, 1942 54 Win 45–6–2 Billy Murray PTS 10 Aug 28, 1942 53 Win 44–6–2 Carmine Fatta KO 1 (8) Aug 18, 1942 52 Win 43–6–2 Ruby Garcia TKO 6 (8) Aug 1, 1942 51 Win 42–6–2 Cosby Linson TKO 8 (8) Jul 7, 1942 50 Win 41–6–2 Bobby McIntire TKO 6 (8) Jul 3, 1942 49 Win 40–6–2 Guillermo Puentes KO 1 (8) Jun 23, 1942 48 Win 39–6–2 Bobby Ivy PTS 8 May 22, 1942 47 Win 38–6–2 Carmelo Fenoy UD 10 Jan 5, 1942 46 Loss 37–6–2 Freddie Archer PTS 8 Dec 29, 1941 45 Loss 37–5–2 Freddie Archer UD 8 Dec 8, 1941 44 Win 37–4–2 Sammy Rivers TKO 3 (8) Dec 1, 1941 43 Win 36–4–2 Guillermo Puentes PTS 8 Oct 31, 1941 42 Win 35–4–2 Tommy Speigal PTS 8 Oct 14, 1941 41 Win 34–4–2 Al Reid KO 8 (8) Sep 19, 1941 40 Win 33–4–2 Guillermo Puentes PTS 6 Aug 26, 1941 39 Win 32–4–2 Al Roth RTD 5 (6) Aug 14, 1941 38 Win 31–4–2 Minnie DeMore TKO 3 (6) Aug 5, 1941 37 Win 30–4–2 George Zengaras UD 8 Jun 16, 1941 36 Win 29–4–2 Tommy Speigal PTS 8 Jun 2, 1941 35 Win 28–4–2 George Salamone KO 8 (8) May 19, 1941 34 Draw 27–4–2 Chester Rico PTS 8 May 5, 1941 33 Win 27–4–1 Harry Gentile TKO 1 (6) Apr 28, 1941 32 Win 26–4–1 Bob Reilly TKO 7 (8) Apr 22, 1941 31 Win 25–4–1 Tony Iacovacci KO 6 (6) Apr 7, 1941 30 Win 24–4–1 Joey Silva UD 6 Mar 24, 1941 29 Win 23–4–1 Nicky Jerome TKO 3 (6) Mar 10, 1941 28 Win 22–4–1 Lenny Isrow TKO 3 (6) Feb 24, 1941 27 Win 21–4–1 Mexican Joe Rivers TKO 4 (6) Feb 10, 1941 26 Loss 20–4–1 Joey Silva SD 6 Jan 27, 1941 25 Win 20–3–1 Mel Neary TKO 5 (6) Dec 30, 1940 24 Win 19–3–1 Young Johnny Buff KO 1 (6) Dec 16, 1940 23 Win 18–3–1 Jimmy Fox PTS 6 Dec 2, 1940 22 Win 17–3–1 Joey Stack UD 6 Nov 4, 1940 21 Win 16–3–1 Ritchie Jones KO 3 (6) Oct 21, 1940 20 Win 15–3–1 Abe Cohen KO 3 (6) Oct 14, 1940 19 Win 14–3–1 Tony Dupre TKO 2 (6) Sep 30, 1940 18 Win 13–3–1 Oliver Barbour TKO 3 (6) Sep 16, 1940 17 Win 12–3–1 Jackie Small TKO 2 (4) Sep 2, 1940 16 Win 11–3–1 Carlo Daponde UD 4 Aug 26, 1940 15 Loss 10–3–1 Jackie Parker UD 4 Aug 19, 1940 14 Win 10–2–1 Joe Polowitzer PTS 6 Aug 12, 1940 13 Loss 9–2–1 Joe Polowitzer PTS 6 Aug 2, 1940 12 Loss 9–1–1 Jackie Parker SD 4 Jun 17, 1940 11 Win 9–0–1 Billy Bannick TKO 3 (4) May 27, 1940 10 Draw 8–0–1 Frankie Allen PTS 4 May 20, 1940 9 Win 8–0 Joe James KO 2 (6) Mar 27, 1940 8 Win 7–0 Silent Stafford PTS 6 Mar 21, 1940 7 6–0 Vincent Corbett ND ? (6) Feb 29, 1940 6 Win 6–0 Alvin Stevens KO 3 (6) Feb 15, 1940 5 Win 5–0 Battling Burns PTS 4 Feb 8, 1940 4 Win 4–0 Jack Moseley PTS 4 Feb 1, 1940 3 Win 3–0 Unknown PTS 4 Jan 18, 1940 2 Win 2–0 Battling Henry KO 5 (6) Apr 12, 1939 1 Win 1–0 Unknown TKO ? (6) Apr 7, 1939
External links
Categories: 1921 Births, 2000 Deaths, World Lightweight Boxing Champions, World Boxing Champions, African-american Boxers, Sportspeople From Augusta, Georgia, International Boxing Hall Of Fame Inductees, American Male Boxers, Boxers From Georgia, Deaths From Parkinson's Disease In Florida, United States Army Personnel Of World War Ii, United States Army Soldiers, African Americans In World War Ii, African-american United States Army Personnel, 20th-century American Sportsmen
|
|
