Jack, Beau [Sidney Walker]
Boxing
b. April 1, 1921, Atlanta, GA
d. Feb. 9, 2000
Beau Jack began fighting at fifteen in battles royal, in which a half-dozen or so blindfolded fighters swung wildly at one another until only one was left standing. The fighters were usually black and the spectators were often well-to-do whites who put up a purse for the winner.
In 1936, Beau Jack won $1,000 in a battle royal at the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. As a further reward, he was given a job as a shoeshine boy at the club.
Nicknamed "Beau Jack" by his maternal grandmother, who raised him, he went to New England after she died in 1940 and he began boxing professionally. After winning 22 of 28 fights, 15 by knockout, he moved on to New York in August of 1941. He quickly became a popular, crowd-pleasing fighter.
On December 18, 1942, he won the vacant New York lightweight championship by knocking out Tippy Larkin in the 3rd round. He lost the title to Bob Montgomery in a 15-round decision on May 21, 1943, but won it back on November 19.
He faced Montgomery again on March 3, 1944, in a bout for recognition in New York as world champion. Montgomery won another 15-round decision.
After serving in the Army, Beau Jack returned to boxing in December of 1945. In his last title fight, he was knocked out in the 6th round by Ike Williams on July 12, 1948. He retired in 1951 but made a comeback in 1955. Beau Jack retired permanently after being knocked out by Williams again in a non-title fight on August 12, 1955.
His twenty-one matches in Madison Square Garden alone drew more than 355,000 fans and receipts of $1,578,069. Beau Jack lived well during his fighting years but after leaving the ring he became a shoeshine boy again, at the Fontainebleu Hotel in Miami.
He won 83 of his 112 professional bouts, 40 by knockout; lost 24, 4 by knockout; and fought 5 draws.