On This Day: Barbados Joe Walcott Remembered

 

 

 

By Peter Silkov

 

 

Joe Walcott stood just 5' feet 1" and a half inches, but was one of the most formidable fighters pound-for-pound, of his era. He was known as the "Barbados Demon" and fought like one too. He was fast and powerful, with a tremendous punch in both hands, and immense stamina and durability. Walcott never weighed more than 150 pounds, yet, he fought top fighters from the lightweight to heavyweight divisions.

Walcott’s outstanding opponents included fellow greats such as George "Kid" Lavigne, "Mysterious" Billy Smith, Bobby Dobbs, Joe Choyniski, "Philadelphia" Jack O’Brien, Sam Langford, "Young" Peter Jackson, James "Rube" Ferns, Joe Gans and Dixie Kid, amongst others.

Walcott’s all-action, aggressive fighting style, and his willingness to meet anyone regardless of weight, made him one of the most popular fighters of his time.

In his first attempt at winning a world championship, Walcott was stopped in 12 rounds by George "Kid" Lavigne, for the World lightweight championship in October 1897. Then, in December 1898, Walcott was out pointed in 20 rounds by ’Mysterious’ Billy Smith, in a battle for Smiths world welterweight title.

 

Walcott finally won the World welterweight title on December 18, 1901, when he stopped James "Rube" Ferns in 5 rounds. He retained this title until October 19, 1906, when he lost on points over 15 rounds to Billy "Honey" Melody. Walcott had previously lost via a foul after 20 rounds, to Dixie Kid on April 29, 1904, and Dixie Kid had claimed the World welterweight title after this victory. But after the Dixie Kid moved on to the higher divisions, Walcott had regained recognition as the Welterweight champion.

Shortly after fighting a 20-round draw with the great Joe Gans in September 1904, Walcott accidentally shot himself in the hand, and did not fight again until 1906. He was never quite the same fighter afterwards, having lost some of the punching ability in his injured hand. After losing his world title to Melody, Walcott fought on for a number of years, with decreasing success, and never got another world title chance.

Walcott’s final right record was 95(61)-25-24.

 

Sam Langford and Barbados Joe Walcott

Like so many other greats of the ring Walcott ended his ring career with little money left to show for his exploits. In later years, he worked as a janitor at the legendary Madison Square Garden and lived in a tiny hotel room. Walcott died in 1935 after being hit by a car. He was often hailed by those who saw him fight as the greatest fighter pound for pound of his time.

Long after Walcott retired many fighters would name themselves after him, including Jersey Joe Walcott, (real name Arnold Cream) who called himself after his idol, "The Barbados Demon" Joe Walcott, and took his name all the way to the Heavyweight championship of the world.

 

 

 

Follow us on Twitter: @TheBoxingGlove and  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theboxingglove

If you are an athlete and want us to follow you or tell your story, contact petersilkov@yahoo.com   or theboxingglove@yahoo.com

If you are an author and you would like your book reviewed, contact Peter Silkov at petersilkov@yahoo.com or theboxingglove@yahoo.com

 

 

 

On This Day: Tom McCormick Welterweight Champion Remembered

By Peter Silkov

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, which was one of the bleakest, largest, and most brutal episodes of WW1.  Also known as the Somme Offensive, it was fought near the Somme River in France, and raged between July 1, 1916, to November 1, 1916. On the very first day of the battle, Britain would have 57,000 casualties and when it was over, 1.5 million Allies and Central Powers troops died in one of the bloodiest battles of WW 1.

Of all the 420,000 casualties that Britain lost during the war many were outstanding sportsmen, including a number of boxers, including Tom McCormick, whose life and boxing career ended on July 6, 1916, at the age of just 25 years old, in the mud of the Somme.

Tom McCormick was an extremely talented fighter, whose career and life was cut tragically short by WW1.

Born on August 8, 1890, in Dundalk, Ireland, but resided in Plymouth, Devon, from an early age, after his parents relocated there.  McCormick started boxing professionally in 1912, at the age of 22.

Almost straight away, McCormick was mixing it with top class fighters.  In just his 27th professional contest, he out-pointed veteran, Young Joseph, over 15 rounds.  He followed this by knocking out Sid Burns in the 7th round, then two fights later, won a 20-round point’s decision over Gus Platts.

On January 1, 1914, McCormick won the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles, when he out-pointed Johnnny Summers over 20 rounds.

In his very next contest, McCormick traveled to Australia, where he beat Waldemar Holberg on a 6th round disqualification, and won the Australian version of the World welterweight title. 

McCormick lost recognition as World welterweight champion after he was out- pointed over 20 rounds by Matt Wells, losing his British and commonwealth welterweight titles, in the process.

McCormick-Daniels-Summers

Over the next 18 months McCormick would have 7 more fights, but lost 6 of them, including a May 10, 1915 contest with Johnny Basham for the National Sporting Clubs British Welterweight title, which Basham won on a 13th round stoppage.

McCormick’s boxing career was like so many others interrupted by the outbreak of WW1.  After enlisting he became a sergeant in the 12th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, which took very severe losses from the start at the Battle of the Somme.  Tragically Tom McCormick was killed 5 days into the battle as his Battalion tried to push forward.  Tom’s body was never found, and his name is on the Thiepval Memorial.

Tom McCormick’s final record was 42-9-2.

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com