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Walcott had to wait a long time to blossom as a fighter. He broke the world's record for the oldest man to win the world's Heavyweight title when he earned it at the age of 37. Before winning it, he had to face many of the best boxers of his era. His fame transcended boxing, and he became a popular New York figure after he retired as a boxer.
He debuted as a professional boxer on September 9, 1930, fighting Cowboy Wallace and winning by a knockout in round one. After five straight knockout wins, in 1933, he lost for the first time, beaten on points by Henry Wilson in Philadelphia.
He built a record of 45 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw before challenging for the world title for the first time. Among those 57 bouts, he won two out of three against future world Light Heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, he beat Jimmy Bivins and Lee Oma , and lost to Abe Simon and Al Ettore , among many others.
On December 5 of 1947, he was given his first world title try, breaking a record for the oldest man to receive a world title try at the world Heavyweight title. Despite dropping Joe LouisJoseph Louis Barrow ( May 13, 1914 April 12, 1981), better known in the boxing world as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber was a native of Lexington, Alabama who became World Heavyweight Champion. The son of a cotton picker and a homemaker, Louis be in round one and once again in round four, he lost a 15 round split decision. Most ringside observers and boxing writers felt Walcott deserved the win, and so a rematch was fought, on June 25June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. Events 1788 Virginia ratifies the United States Constitution and is admitted as the 10th state of the United States. 1876 Battle of the Little B, 19481948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 1 Nationalisation of UK railways to form British Railways. Arab militants lay siege to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. First day of the Ital. The second time around, Louis prevailed once again, but by knockout in round 11.
June 22June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. Events 168 BC Battle of Pydna: Romans under Lucius Aemilius Paullus defeat and capture Macedonian King Perseus, ending the Third Macedonian War of 19491949 is the common year starting on Saturday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 4 RMS Caronia of the Cunard Line departs Southampton for New York on her maiden voyage January 4 February 22 Series of winter storms in Nebraska, Wyoming,, Walcott got another chance to become world Heavyweight champion, when he and Ezzard CharlesEzzard Mack Charles ( July 7, 1921 May 27, 1975) was a professional boxer and former Heavyweight Champion of the world. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he served in the US military during World War II. Known as "The Cincinnati Cobra", he returned to boxing met for the title left vacant by Louis. Charles prevailed, however, by decision in 15 rounds. Walcott, disappointed but eager to see his dream of being a champion come true, went on, and in 1950Events January January 5 US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with, he won four of his five bouts, including a three round knockout of future world Light Heavyweight champion Harold JohnsonHarold Johnson (born August 9, 1928, Manayunk, Pennsylvania) was a professional boxer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Johnson, Harold Johnson, Harold Johnson, Harold..On March 7 of 1951, he and Charles fought once again, and Charles retained the world title with a 15 round decision. But on July 18, he joined a handful of boxers who claimed the world title in their fifth try, when he knocked out Charles in seven rounds in Pittsburgh, to finally become world's Heavyweight champion, at the relatively old age of 37. This made him the oldest man ever to win the world Heavyweight crown.
Walcott retained the title with a 15 round decision victory against arch-enemy Charles, then, on September 23, 1952, he lost his title to Rocky Marciano by knockout in round 13. This fight was called by many experts as one of the greatest fights of all time. Walcott dropped Marciano in round one and was ahead on all scorecards when Marciano landed what many have called the greatest punch in boxing history, to defeat Walcott by knockout.
There was a rematch, on May 15, 1953, in Chicago, but the second time around, Marciano retained the belt by a knockout in the first round, when Walcott attempted to become the first man in history to regain the world's Heavyweight crown. Walcott retired after this bout, remaining retired for the rest of his life.
He did not go away from the celebrity scene until his death, however: In 1963, he tried wrestling, losing to Lou Thesz. In the 1960s, he refereed the controversial world Heavyweight championship bout between Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston. Walcott lost the count as Clay/Muhammad Ali circled around a floored Liston and Walcott tried to get him back to a neutral corner. Then Walcott looked outside the ring (presumably to the ringside count keeper) as Clay/Ali and Liston went at each other before Walcott instructed them to keep on fighting, then Walcott approached the fighters and abruptly stopped the fight. Walcott would never be appointed as a referee after this bout. It should be said, however, that most of the controversy surrounding this fight had nothing to do with Walcott, as this was the famous fight of the phantom punch.
In the early 1980s, Walcott was appointed as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, which oversees the state's boxing, wrestling, kick-boxing and karate competition affairs. In 1984, he stepped down from that position.
His record as the oldest man ever to win the world Heavyweight title was broken in 1994 by then 44 year old George Foreman.
Walcott is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota. He had a record of 53 wins, 18 losses and 1 draw, with 33 wins by knockout.
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