Walcott, Jersey Joe

Joe Walcott (Arnold Raymond Cream) was born in January 1914 in a poor large family. The young man Arnold came to the boxing club. There he met Joe Walcott, nicknamed the Barbados Demon. This boxer admired Arnold for his brilliant welterweight victories, as well as for his ferocity: some of his opponents had pale faces when he appeared in the ring. Walcott's terrible face, his heavy gaze made him want to quickly carry his legs away. Somehow the young boxer liked this sullen, ruthless fighter, he gave him some useful tips, and Krim decided to take the name of his idol, adding the word "Jersey" so that it was clear where he was from.

Jersey Joe Walcott early poured masculine power, and already a 16-year-old this silent, heavy guy began to fight with the established, experienced fighters. Three years later, he married and became the father of six children. There is no information about his early battles, which indirectly indicates that for several years he competed without much brilliance.

In 1944, he left boxing altogether, since this occupation, which took Jersey Joe a lot of time and effort, in fact, did not return anything in return. He came home tired and bruised, but with an empty pocket. Therefore, having undertaken to work at a soap factory in his hometown of Camden, Walcott completely stopped training.

But then his fate changed dramatically again. One local businessman had the idea to hold a kind of New Jersey boxing championship, and, on the same day, so as not to spend money on renting a ring. Among others, he invited Walcott, who had fame on his staff. Jersey Joe refused. Then the boss promised him free equipment, $ 500 for one participation and twice as much if it comes out victorious. The half-hearted, burdened boxer agreed. He prepared for this tournament for only two weeks. But his despair was so great that one day he beat all six of his rivals and went home in triumph with a thousand dollars - a fortune for then Walcott. After that, he seemed to have a second wind, every year he became more and more powerful, causing general amazement, about which the San newspaper wrote: “He seems to know nothing about the passage of time, starting to win at the age of when any other man sums up and thinks about leaving boxing. "

After 21 years in the ring, in July 1951, Jersey Joe Walcott made his last attempt in Pittsburgh to win the title fight. The first rounds of Ezzard Charles had a good advantage, but not overwhelming. Thunder struck in the 7th round, when Walcott, who had a rare ability to find some mysterious forces in critical situations, suddenly came to life and performed his favorite and strange trick. He almost turned his back to Charles, and when he stepped towards the challenger, he turned lightning fast and left a cruel hook. On this, in essence, it was all over. The World Champion went limp, and finishing it was not a problem. Hardly defeated Charles came to his senses, as he immediately told reporters that he would definitely challenge Walcott for a rematch. In a difficult and uninteresting battle, he lost to Walcott on points.

But not for long Joe Walcott managed to hold out on the throne. He spent his next title fight with the magnificent master Rocky Marciano . On September 23, 1952, in the thirteenth round of a fierce bloody battle, similar to the battle of Sayers with Hinan in 1860, Marciano knocked out Walcott. In this dramatic battle, Marciano himself bled with blood that oozed from broken eyebrows and a deep wound on his nose. He got the first knockdown of his career and was hopelessly behind points. Walcott could only hold out for three rounds, but the miracle did not happen. Walcott recalled it this way:

As soon as I fell, all the lights went out.

A year later, Marciano finished off the “fragments” of the former champion in the rematch.

Jersey Joe Walcott became a sheriff in his native Camden and until the end of his days, he died in 1994, enjoyed great respect among the locals. In 1965, he was the referee of Sonny Liston and Mohammed Ali (then Cassius Clay), and the people of Camden were very proud of the role of their countryman in that legendary match.

• Track record (Eng.)