Beau Jack

Beau Jack, actually Sydney Walker, ( born April 1, 1921 in Augusta, Georgia, † February 9, 2000 in Miami, Florida ) was an American boxer.

Professional career

Beau Jack, who was given this nickname by his grandmother, came from Georgia, but punched above all on the east coast of the United States. He began in 1939 with the boxes and was with his spectacular attack boxes and good taker skills quickly popular. He holds the record with 21 major fighting in Madison Square Garden.

His first title he succeeded on December 18, 1942, he defeated in the battle for the vacant NYSAC lightweight title Tippy Larkin by TKO in the third round. In his next fight in the spring of 1943, he twice defeated the welterweight Fritzie Zivic. Even the veterans viewed Henry Armstrong he hit before he lost his title in May 1943 by a point defeat to Bob Montgomery in the first of four duels. The second encounter with Montgomery in November 1943, he was able to win, but lost the third battle in March 1944, in each case for the title. In the same month, he also won against Al " Bummy " Davis and Juan Zurita.

In August 1944 fourth fight against Montgomery took place, a non-title fight in order to boost the sale of war bonds, in which both boxers waived admission fees. It almost 16,000 of these bonds were sold, representing a revenue of 36 million dollars. Montgomery won the fight on points.

In 1946, Beau Jack managed a premature victory against Sammy Angott. Against Tony Janiro he was forced to retire in February 1947 with a knee injury, but won the rematch in May 1948 on points.

On July 12, 1948 met the hard-hitting lightweight champion Ike Williams, who previously Montgomery had by knockout defeats and was the only time in the lightweight knockout It was his last fight in this weight class, he had to boil too much.

In 1949, he succumbed to the welterweight Kid Gavilan on points. He boxed well against Williams three more times, but could not beat him. Also the welterweight Gil Turner defeated him prematurely. When he had to give up in 1955 against Williams after the eighth round, he finished his career.

1991 was Jack induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.