Arnold Raymond Cream, best known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was an American professional boxer who

Arnold Raymond Cream, best known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1930 to 1953. He held the NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles from 1951 to 1952, and broke the record for the oldest man to win the title, at the age of 37. That record would eventually be broken in 1994 by 45-year-old George Foreman. Despite holding the world heavyweight title for a relatively short period of time, Walcott was regarded among the best heavyweights in the world during the 1940s and 1950s.

After retiring from boxing, Walcott did some acting, playing small parts in a few movies and television shows. He also refereed several boxing matches, but after the controversial ending to the second fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, Walcott was not asked to referee again. From 1971 to 1974, Walcott held the elected position of Sheriff of Camden County, New Jersey, the first African-American to do so. From 1975 to 1984, he was the chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.

EARLY LIFE
Walcott was born in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. His father was an immigrant from St. Thomas, Danish West Indies. His mother was from Jordantown (Pennsauken Township), New Jersey. Walcott was only 15 years old when his father died. He quit school and worked in a soup factory to support his mother and 11 younger brothers and sisters. He also began training as a boxer. He took the name of his boxing idol, Joe Walcott, a welterweight champion from Barbados. He added "Jersey" to distinguish himself and show where he was from.

BOXING CAREER
He debuted as a professional middleweight 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.

Walcott lost two bouts to Tiger Jack Fox and was knocked out by heavyweight contender Abe Simon during his 10th year as a pro. After losing to Simon, Walcott was inactive for over four years between 1940 and 1944. Many heavyweights at the time were serving in the war, although Walcott does not have a military record.

Walcott had built a record of 45 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw before challenging for the world title for the first time. But that would change in 1945 when Walcott beat top heavyweights such as Joe Baksi, Lee Q. Murray, and Curtis Sheppard. He closed out 1946 with a pair of losses to light heavyweight Joey Maxim and top ranked heavyweight contender Elmer Ray, but he promptly avenged those defeats in 1947.

LINK TO ARTICLE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Joe_Walcott

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