The Demon Fighter! Part 1

148 Pounder: Joe Walcott Had The Power To Knockout Heavyweights

This is a story about Joe Walcott, from Barbados, West Indies who had the power to beat heavyweights; in fact he scored a first round kayo over 180 pound Tom McCarthy fairly early in his career. Joe Walcott, "The Barbados Demon" was born in Demerara, British Guyana 13^th March 1873, and died 1st of October 1935. Walcott, who stood at 5'1½" tall, was a formidable fighter who fought from 1890 to 1911. Joe Walcott fought a number of other light heavyweights and heavyweights. Walcott's manager, Tom O'Rourke, also handled heavyweight contender Sailor Tom Sharkey, whom some historians compare favourably to Rocky Marciano. Sharkey twice went the distance with heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries. Tom O'Rourke once stated, I had to stop Joe from sparring with Sailor Tom because Walcott dumped him on his ear one afternoon in the gym. Joe Walcott hit hard enough to knock out heavyweights. Can you imagine any of our modern welterweights such as Oscar Dela Hoya, Trinidad or even the great Sugar Ray Robinson ko'ing a 180 plus pounder heavyweight?

Joe Walcott In A Class By Himself: Different From Anything Else

Sugar Ray Robinson once ventured up to light heavyweight once, found running out of gas against Joey Maxim. Robinson never again moved beyond the middleweight limit. "The Barbados Demon" Joe Walcott often gave weight to opponents and came out victorious. In one of his fight against Dick O'Brien, who was considered to be one of the best fighters of his weight, On the 28^th August 1895. Boston Herald reported according to Tom O'Rourke, Joe Walcott weighed in at 138 pounds, against Dick O'Brien's 150 pounds. This ordinarily would be considered a vast handicap. Few fighters would care to give away such weight advantage. O'Rourke was so certain that his man would win that he waived the weight. Joe Walcott knocked out O'Brien in 2 minutes 25 seconds of the first round. The Police News stated on 28^th August 1895; Joe Walcott now surpasses any of our welterweights, unless it be Mysterious Billy Smith, in the telling execution of a single blow.

The Barbados Demon Showed His Ability to Speed The Fight

I do not see how he is to be beaten by any rival who will give him punch for punch in the boxing ring. Any man except a very big man whom he gets his right hand on to fairly and squarely isn't coming up for much more. Joe Walcott in his dumpy, dwarf like built, hardness of flesh, power of punching and the small surface he offered for a fighter to return hits. Joe Walcott is in a class by himself, different from anything else in boxing. Such was Joe Walcott's reputation as a fierce puncher that he claimed in newspaper reports that since no welterweight or middleweight will fight me I am compelled to go to the next class. Will any heavyweights fight me? At the beginning of the year of 1900 Joe Walcott issued challenges to Tom Sharkey, Gus Ruhlin and even the mighty world heavyweight champion, Jim Jeffries. They all declined to meet him in the ring because he was black. Research by Tracy Callis puts his record at 96-24-24 62 KO's with 22 No Decision and 3 No Contest.

Joe Walcott Was Widely Recognised As The Best Welterweight

Most however fail to realise that the many of his losses came after Walcott severally injured his right hand in a gun accident in late 1904. News reports, such as the 18^th October 1904 Philadelphia Record indicated that his hand might have to be amputated, although his hand was saved Joe Walcott wasn't same fighter after this, and in fact he did not fight again for two years. In his 15 round fight against Jack Bonner the Gazette reported that "The Barbados Demon" showed his ability to fight faster than ever. Walcott fought at a fast pace throwing rapid punches only the final bell came to the rescue of Bonner from a certain knockout defeat. Joe Walcott also had a good number of unrecorded fights. The Police Gazette reported, “While on the road he knocked out at least 100 men. Among the high class men he has beaten are Dick O’Brien, Mike Walsh, Mike Harris, and Tom Tracy of Australia.

Joe Walcott turned Rube Ferris Into jelly

Joe Walcott was widely recognised as the best welterweight in the world long before he won the title. Walcott had won the welterweight title on the 15^th of December 1901 from James "Rube" Ferris via a 5 round TKO. 11^th January 1902 the Police Gazette went on to state; From a technical standpoint three or four fighters have been recognised as welterweight champion, but it was apparent to men who have knowledge of prize ring affairs that they only held that title on sufferance because of an obvious desire to avoid meeting with a black man who was conceded to be their superior.  Walcott won the championship on a fifth round stoppage beating Rube Ferris in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Gazette reported that Joe Walcott turned Rube Ferris into a jelly in five rounds.

The Demon Fighter Part 1