Barbados Joe Walcott
Joe Walcott (March 13, 1873 – October 1, 1935), also known as Barbados Joe Walcott to distinguish him from the more recent American boxer known by the same name, was a Bajan professional boxer who reigned as the World Welterweight Champion from 1901 to 1906, becoming the first black man ever to capture the title. He was elected to The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1955 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
Barbados Joe Walcott | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joe Walcott March 13, 1873 |
| Died | October 4, 1935 (aged 62) Massillon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | Bajan |
| Other names | Barbados Demon Black Demon |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Welterweight |
| Height | 1.56 m (5 ft 1 in) |
| Reach | 65 in (165 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 157 |
| Wins | 96 |
| Wins by KO | 57 |
| Losses | 31 |
| Draws | 27 |
| No contests | 3 |
Walcott was a formidable fighter with exceptional power to his punch. His manager was Tom O'Rourke. In evidence, his wins were an impressive 60% by knockout.
Nat Fleischer rated Walcott as the greatest welterweight of all time, and in 2003 he was included in the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. He was elected to The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1955 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
"Barbados" Joe Walcott was the idol of the more contemporary boxer Arnold Cream, who adopted his idol's real name as his own, going by Jersey Joe Walcott in the ring.