Joe Brown (Boxer)

Joe Brown ( born May 18, 1926 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; † December 4, 1997 in New Orleans ) was an American boxer.

Professional career

Joe Brown earned his first professional fight in 1943 in New Orleans at the age of 17 years and won on points over four rounds. The remained, however, for the time being his only fight since he was subsequently called up for military service with the U.S. Navy. After the war he continued his boxing career, but lost his first two fights after the forced two-year break from Melvin Bartholomew and his debut critic Leonard Caesar, against whom he ever punched four times in the early stages of his career. Even the much more experienced Sandy Saddler he lost early in this time period.

With unspectacular but effective boxes with a good left hook, he worked in the lightweight with wins over Virgil Akins, Isaac Logart and Teddy " Redtop " Davis then steadily upward.

In May 1956, he first won a non-title fight against champion Wallace " Bud " Smith, on 4 August 1956, he struck in the fight for the world championship Smith again. Brown was at that time already above 30 and therefore called himself " Old Bones ". Another fight against Smith, he won by knockout, then followed by ten more defenses (then a record ) in five years against the average boxer at the time were active, including a tight point victory over the British attack boxer Dave Charnley 1961 in London.

On April 21, 1962 " Old Bones " lost then 35 - year his title on the ten years younger than Carlos Ortiz. Brown struggled thereafter to to 1970, but lost most of his fights. Among other things, he was defeated Nicolino Locche 1963 in Argentina. At the age of 44 he finally ended his career.

1996 was Brown induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.