Beau Jack

The Boxing Life of Sidney Walker, Two-Time Lightweight Champion

Robert Mullins (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

311 Seiten

2019
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-1-4766-7906-8 (ISBN)

Artikel merken

Like most black pugilists of his day, Boxing Hall of Famer Sidney "Beau Jack" Walker (1921-2000) struggled against discrimination in the sport. Despite this, he sustained an impressive 18-year professional career - 117 fights, 83 wins, 40 by KO. Walker retired from the ring penniless and went back to shining shoes.

Among the great lightweights of the 1940s and 1950s, Boxing Hall of Famer Sidney "Beau Jack" Walker (1921-2000) was virtually orphaned by his parents and eked out a living as a shoeshine boy. He honed his craft fighting battles royale for wealthy white members of the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club, eventually receiving financing for his career from club founders.

He went on to win two lightweight titles and set numerous records. He was the draw for the highest admission paid for a ringside seat--$100,000--and was named "Fighter of the Year" in 1944.

Like most black pugilists of his day he struggled against discrimination in the sport. Despite this, he sustained an impressive 18-year professional career--117 fights, 83 wins, 40 by KO. Walker retired from the ring penniless and went back to shining shoes, the money set aside for him by his handlers mysteriously depleted.

Robert Mullins is an attorney and assistant professor of political science at East Georgia State College–Augusta. He has authored numerous professional journal articles and regularly writes about local history.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Part I. The Early Days

1. Roaring Twenties, Racial Tension and Segregation

2. Beau’s Early Life

3. Battles Royal Bring Opportunity

4. Beau Begins Boxing

5. A Syndicate Forms

Part II. Media Sensation at “Valley” Arena

6. Learning the Ropes

7. A Featured Attraction

Part III. Beau Bounces to New York

8. Publicity and Training

9. Fistic Debut in New York

10. Eleven Straight Wins and a Title Fight

Part IV. Claiming the Lightweight Title

11. Stolz Stands Between Beau and a Title Bout

12. Beau Crowned Lightweight Champion

13. Beau’s First Reign

14. Montgomery Dethrones Beau

15. Beau Regains the Title

16. Beau vs. Montgomery III

Part V. Called to Service

17. Jack Selects the Army

18. The Great “War Bonds Fight”

19. 1944 Fighter of the Year

20. Beau’s Return as a Welterweight

Part VI. Jack Breaks His Kneecap

21. Stopped for the First Time

22. Comeback from a Broken Kneecap

23. Third Shot at the Lightweight Title

24. Beau Seeks Welterweight Title

25. Beau’s 27th Appearance Makes Madison Square Garden History

26. Tissue Paper Legs

27. Reentering the Ring

Part VII. Retirement from the Ring

28. Financial Woes

29. On His Knees Again

30. Beau Jack the Trainer

31. Final Days

32. An American Hero Passes

Appendix: Boxing Record

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index

Erscheinungsdatum	31.10.2019
Zusatzinfo	39 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Verlagsort	Jefferson, NC
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 229 mm
Gewicht	422 g
Themenwelt	Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Sport ► Kampfsport / Selbstverteidigung
ISBN-10	1-4766-7906-1 / 1476679061
ISBN-13	978-1-4766-7906-8 / 9781476679068
Zustand	Neuware