| Jimmy Carter | |
| Realname: | James Walter Carter |
| Weight: | Lightweight |
| Height: | 5 ft 6 in |
| Reach: | 68 in |
| Birth Date: | December 15, 1923 |
| Birth Place: | Aiken, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Style: | Orthodox |
| Total: | 125 |
| Wins: | 85 |
| Ko: | 34 |
| Losses: | 31 |
| Draws: | 9 |
James Walter Carter (December 15, 1923, in Aiken, SC – September 21, 1994) was an American world lightweight boxing champion three times between 1951 and 1955. His managers included Jimmy Roche and Willie Ketchum. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year. His professional record was 80-31-9 with 32 knockouts.[1] [2] [3] [4]
James Walter Carter was born on December 15, 1923, in Aiken, South Carolina, but his family moved to New York when he was nine. Carter began to use his fists defending himself on the streets of Harlem, but later received training at a Catholic Boys Club, making his amateur debut at the age of fourteen.[2] Beginning as a professional fighter in New York in 1946, he won 22 of his first 26 fights.[1]
On May 25, 1951, Carter took the World Lightweight Championship from reigning champion Ike Williams in a fourteenth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden. Williams was down in the fifth, tenth, and fourteenth rounds.[1] Carter knocked Williams to the mat a total of four times, and was leading the scorecards of all three officials before the bout was stopped. In the fifth round, Williams was dropped to the canvas for a five count, and never was the same. Surprisingly, Carter was not at all well known at the time of the bout, and his victory was considered an upset.[5]
In his first title defense before 7,251 fans on November 14, 1951, he went up against Art Aragon at the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles, winning in a fifteen-round unanimous decision. Aragon was down in both the sixth and fifteenth rounds, but claimed after the fight that a left to his jaw in the twelfth is what finally did him in.[1] It was an easy win for Carter, as Aragon lacked the skills to take down the world champion. Aragon took a severe beating in the last four rounds that sealed the victory for Carter.[3] Carter had oddly lost to Aragon on August 28 of that year in a fifteen-round split decision at the same location. Some boxing writers speculated he may have thrown the fight on purpose. Some even believed Carter was controlled by mafia kingpin Frankie Carbo.[4]
He lost the title on May 14, 1952, against Lauro Salas at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles in a fifteen-round split decision that was a jarring upset for many.[1] The decision was a controversial one, and many boxing writers disagreed with the official' final ruling for Sales.[6]
Carter took the World Lightweight Championship for a second time on October 15, 1952, against Mexican national Lauro Salas in a fifteen around unanimous decision at the Chicago Stadium before a small crowd of 5,283.[1] In a sweeping victory, which saw far more damage to Salas, the officials gave all but two of the rounds to Carter and his terrific left hook.[7]
On April 24, 1953, he staged a title defense against Tommy Collins before a substantial crowd of 12,477 at Boston Garden, winning in a fourth-round TKO. Collins' corner men ended the fight after their boxer had been knocked to the canvas ten times in the final two rounds. Both the TV audience and the crowd, who were largely fans of Collins, protested the continuation of such a brutal, and one sided bout.[8] He next fought George Araujo on June 12, 1953, in a lightweight world title bout at Madison Square Garden, winning in a thirteenth-round TKO.[1]
On March 5, 1954, Carter lost his second World Lightweight Championship against Paddy DeMarco in a fifteen-round unanimous decision at New York's Madison Square Garden.[1] DeMarco, a 4–1, underdog won the decision with ease rocking the crowd of 5,730 with a remarkable upset. Carter tried for a knockout throughout the bout, but DeMarco scored continuously with fleet footwork and a punishing left. Both judges gave DeMarco nine rounds, with the referee giving him seven.[9]
On November 17, 1954, Carter took the lightweight championship back from Paddy DeMarco in a fifteen-round TKO at the Cow Palace, in Daily City, California. DeMarco was down in the ninth and fourteenth rounds. Carter had lost his title to DeMarco only seven months earlier.[1]
Carter lost the title for the last time to Wallace "Bud" Smith at Boston Garden in a fifteen-round split decision on June 29, 1955.[1] Though the bout was close, Carter took one of the worst beatings of his career from Smith requiring fifteen stitches over his eyes. Smith himself needed three stitches to fix a cut over his own eye. The crowd of only 1,983 saw a razor close, hotly contested title match. Two of the officials gave a margin of only one point between the two boxers.[10]
Carter died of a heart attack on September 21, 1994, at the age of 70.[2]
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | Loss | 85–31–9 | Luis Garduno | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1960 | ||
| 124 | Loss | 85–30–9 | Jimmy Grow | UD | 10 | Feb 25, 1960 | ||
| 123 | Loss | 85–29–9 | Art Ramponi | PTS | 10 | Nov 24, 1959 | ||
| 122 | Win | 85–28–9 | Kildo Nunez | KO | 4 (10) | Nov 10, 1959 | ||
| 121 | Win | 84–28–9 | Jimmy Smith | KO | 3 (10) | Oct 13, 1959 | ||
| 120 | Win | 83–28–9 | Kildo Nunez | PTS | 10 | Aug 11, 1959 | ||
| 119 | Loss | 82–28–9 | Rudy Jordan | TKO | 6 (10) | Sep 23, 1958 | ||
| 118 | Loss | 82–27–9 | Al Nevarez | UD | 10 | Sep 9, 1958 | ||
| 117 | Win | 82–26–9 | Jimmy Grow | TKO | 7 (10) | Jul 19, 1958 | ||
| 116 | Loss | 81–26–9 | Joey Lopes | SD | 10 | Mar 11, 1958 | ||
| 115 | Loss | 81–25–9 | Joey Lopes | UD | 10 | Jan 14, 1958 | ||
| 114 | Loss | 81–24–9 | Willie Toweel | PTS | 10 | Oct 8, 1957 | ||
| 113 | Win | 81–23–9 | Mickey Northrup | UD | 10 | Sep 7, 1957 | ||
| 112 | Win | 80–23–9 | Buddy McDonald | UD | 10 | May 23, 1957 | ||
| 111 | Loss | 79–23–9 | Larry Boardman | TKO | 8 (10) | Sep 11, 1956 | ||
| 110 | Win | 79–22–9 | Lauro Salas | UD | 10 | Jun 21, 1956 | ||
| 109 | Loss | 78–22–9 | Art Aragon | UD | 10 | May 3, 1956 | ||
| 108 | Win | 78–21–9 | Don Jordan | UD | 10 | Mar 29, 1956 | ||
| 107 | Win | 77–21–9 | Phil Burton | PTS | 10 | Mar 5, 1956 | ||
| 106 | Loss | 76–21–9 | Cisco Andrade | SD | 10 | Feb 1, 1956 | ||
| 105 | Loss | 76–20–9 | Wallace Bud Smith | UD | 15 | Oct 19, 1955 | ||
| 104 | Loss | 76–19–9 | Wallace Bud Smith | SD | 15 | Jun 29, 1955 | ||
| 103 | Loss | 76–18–9 | Orlando Zulueta | SD | 10 | Apr 20, 1955 | ||
| 102 | Draw | 76–17–9 | Tony DeMarco | PTS | 10 | Feb 11, 1955 | ||
| 101 | Win | 76–17–8 | Bobby Woods | UD | 10 | Jan 26, 1955 | ||
| 100 | Win | 75–17–8 | Paddy DeMarco | TKO | 15 (15) | Nov 17, 1954 | ||
| 99 | Win | 74–17–8 | Freddie Herman | UD | 10 | Sep 22, 1954 | ||
| 98 | Win | 73–17–8 | Glen Flanagan | UD | 10 | Aug 4, 1954 | ||
| 97 | Win | 72–17–8 | Charley Riley | KO | 2 (10) | Jun 2, 1954 | ||
| 96 | Loss | 71–17–8 | Paddy DeMarco | UD | 15 | Mar 5, 1954 | ||
| 95 | Win | 71–16–8 | Billy Lauderdale | UD | 10 | Feb 8, 1954 | ||
| 94 | Win | 70–16–8 | Armand Savoie | KO | 5 (15) | Nov 11, 1953 | ||
| 93 | Win | 69–16–8 | Carlos Chavez | TKO | 6 (10) | Oct 15, 1953 | ||
| 92 | Win | 68–16–8 | Abdelkader Ben Miloud | TKO | 8 (10) | Sep 28, 1953 | ||
| 91 | Loss | 67–16–8 | Johnny Cunningham | SD | 10 | Sep 12, 1953 | ||
| 90 | Win | 67–15–8 | George Araujo | TKO | 13 (15) | Jun 12, 1953 | ||
| 89 | Win | 66–15–8 | Tommy Collins | TKO | 4 (15) | Feb 24, 1953 | ||
| 88 | Loss | 65–15–8 | Armand Savoie | SD | 10 | Feb 16, 1953 | ||
| 87 | Loss | 65–14–8 | Eddie Chavez | SD | 10 | Jan 12, 1953 | ||
| 86 | Draw | 65–13–8 | Freddie Herman | MD | 10 | Dec 16, 1952 | ||
| 85 | Win | 65–13–7 | Archie Whitewater | UD | 10 | Dec 9, 1952 | ||
| 84 | Win | 64–13–7 | Lauro Salas | UD | 15 | Oct 15, 1952 | ||
| 83 | Win | 63–13–7 | Basil Marie | UD | 10 | Sep 1, 1952 | ||
| 82 | Loss | 62–13–7 | Lauro Salas | SD | 15 | May 14, 1952 | ||
| 81 | Win | 62–12–7 | Lauro Salas | UD | 15 | Apr 1, 1952 | ||
| 80 | Win | 61–12–7 | Luther Rawlings | SD | 10 | Mar 12, 1952 | ||
| 79 | Win | 60–12–7 | Allan McFater | UD | 9 | Feb 5, 1952 | ||
| 78 | Win | 59–12–7 | Mario Trigo | MD | 10 | Jan 21, 1952 | ||
| 77 | Win | 58–12–7 | Art Aragon | UD | 15 | Nov 14, 1951 | ||
| 76 | Loss | 57–12–7 | Art Aragon | SD | 10 | Aug 28, 1951 | ||
| 75 | Win | 57–11–7 | Mario Trigo | UD | 10 | Aug 14, 1951 | ||
| 74 | Win | 56–11–7 | Del Flanagan | RTD | 6 (10) | Aug 2, 1951 | ||
| 73 | Win | 55–11–7 | Enrique Bolanos | TKO | 7 (10) | Jul 10, 1951 | ||
| 72 | Win | 54–11–7 | Ronnie Harper | KO | 5 (10) | Jul 2, 1951 | ||
| 71 | Win | 53–11–7 | Chick Boucher | KO | 4 (10) | Jun 18, 1951 | ||
| 70 | Win | 52–11–7 | Ike Williams | TKO | 14 (15) | May 25, 1951 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 51–11–7 | Percy Bassett | UD | 10 | Mar 5, 1951 | ||
| 68 | Win | 51–10–7 | Percy Bassett | UD | 10 | Feb 7, 1951 | ||
| 67 | Loss | 50–10–7 | Calvin Smith | SD | 10 | Jan 30, 1951 | ||
| 66 | Draw | 50–9–7 | Tommy Campbell | UD | 10 | Oct 6, 1950 | ||
| 65 | Win | 50–9–6 | Jesse Underwood | UD | 10 | Jul 25, 1950 | ||
| 64 | Win | 49–9–6 | Wallace Bud Smith | UD | 10 | Mar 28, 1950 | ||
| 63 | Loss | 48–9–6 | Rudy Cruz | MD | 10 | Nov 29, 1949 | ||
| 62 | Win | 48–8–6 | Bernie Hall | PTS | 12 | Oct 28, 1949 | ||
| 61 | Win | 47–8–6 | Charlie Ashenden | KO | 4 (12) | Oct 4, 1949 | ||
| 60 | Loss | 46–8–6 | Norm Gent | PTS | 12 | Sep 16, 1949 | ||
| 59 | Win | 46–7–6 | Mario Trigo | KO | 6 (10) | May 23, 1949 | ||
| 58 | Win | 45–7–6 | Archie Whitewater | KO | 6 (10) | Apr 22, 1949 | ||
| 57 | Win | 44–7–6 | Nick Diaz | TKO | 6 (10) | Apr 4, 1949 | ||
| 56 | Win | 43–7–6 | Talmadge Bussey | PTS | 10 | Jan 31, 1949 | ||
| 55 | Win | 42–7–6 | Harold Jones | SD | 10 | Jan 17, 1949 | ||
| 54 | Win | 41–7–6 | Louis Joyce | UD | 10 | Dec 6, 1948 | ||
| 53 | Loss | 40–7–6 | Sonny Boy West | UD | 10 | Nov 1, 1948 | ||
| 52 | Win | 40–6–6 | Issac Jenkins | PTS | 8 (10) | Sep 27, 1948 | ||
| 51 | Win | 39–6–6 | Joey Angelo | UD | 10 | Aug 30, 1948 | ||
| 50 | Win | 38–6–6 | George Bradford Smith | UD | 10 | Aug 9, 1948 | ||
| 49 | Win | 37–6–6 | Julie Kogon | RTD | 7 (10) | Jul 26, 1948 | ||
| 48 | Draw | 36–6–6 | Woody Winslow | PTS | 10 | Jul 20, 1948 | ||
| 47 | Win | 36–6–5 | Wilfredo Miro | PTS | 10 | Jul 12, 1948 | ||
| 46 | Win | 35–6–5 | Phil Burton | PTS | 10 | Jun 29, 1948 | ||
| 45 | Loss | 34–6–5 | Bobby McQuillar | PTS | 10 | May 21, 1948 | ||
| 44 | Win | 34–5–5 | Willie Russell | PTS | 10 | Apr 17, 1948 | ||
| 43 | Win | 33–5–5 | Calvin Smith | PTS | 8 | Mar 29, 1948 | ||
| 42 | Win | 32–5–5 | Charley Cabby Lewis | PTS | 10 | Mar 9, 1948 | ||
| 41 | Win | 31–5–5 | Thompson Harmon | PTS | 8 | Jan 27, 1948 | ||
| 40 | Draw | 30–5–5 | Al Pennino | PTS | 8 | Dec 9, 1947 | ||
| 39 | Loss | 30–5–4 | Charley Cabey Lewis | TKO | 7 (10) | Nov 18, 1947 | ||
| 38 | Draw | 30–4–4 | Danny Williams | PTS | 8 | Oct 27, 1947 | ||
| 37 | Draw | 30–4–3 | Danny Williams | PTS | 8 | Sep 29, 1947 | ||
| 36 | Win | 30–4–2 | Patsy Spataro | RTD | 7 (8) | Sep 16, 1947 | ||
| 35 | Win | 29–4–2 | Henry Polowitzer | PTS | 8 | Sep 8, 1947 | ||
| 34 | Win | 28–4–2 | Matt Parker | TKO | 8 (8) | Aug 11, 1947 | ||
| 33 | Win | 27–4–2 | Thompson Harmon | TKO | 5 (6) | Jul 22, 1947 | ||
| 32 | Draw | 26–4–2 | Sandy Saddler | MD | 10 | Jun 3, 1947 | ||
| 31 | Win | 26–4–1 | Mario Chico Morales | KO | 7 (8) | May 27, 1947 | ||
| 30 | Win | 25–4–1 | Johnny Johnson | PTS | 8 | May 12, 1947 | ||
| 29 | Loss | 24–4–1 | Joe Brown | PTS | 10 | Apr 18, 1947 | ||
| 28 | Win | 24–3–1 | Walter Stevens | PTS | 6 | Mar 28, 1947 | ||
| 27 | Win | 23–3–1 | Eddie White | RTD | 3 (8) | Mar 18, 1947 | ||
| 26 | Win | 22–3–1 | Walter Cabey Lewis | PTS | 6 | Feb 24, 1947 | ||
| 25 | Win | 21–3–1 | Leo Methot | PTS | 6 | Jan 20, 1947 | ||
| 24 | Win | 20–3–1 | Walter Keene | PTS | 8 | Jan 7, 1947 | ||
| 23 | Win | 19–3–1 | Ruby Garcia | TKO | 3 (8) | Dec 17, 1946 | ||
| 22 | Win | 18–3–1 | Eddie Smith | PTS | 8 | Dec 2, 1946 | ||
| 21 | Win | 17–3–1 | Billy Williams | TKO | 7 (8) | Nov 5, 1946 | ||
| 20 | Win | 16–3–1 | Charley Noel | PTS | 8 | Oct 19, 1946 | ||
| 19 | Win | 15–3–1 | Paul Midiri | UD | 8 | Oct 2, 1946 | ||
| 18 | Loss | 14–3–1 | Danny Carabella | SD | 8 | Sep 16, 1946 | ||
| 17 | Win | 14–2–1 | Johnny Johnson | KO | 4 (6) | Sep 5, 1946 | ||
| 16 | Win | 13–2–1 | Al Turner | KO | 5 (6) | Aug 26, 1946 | ||
| 15 | Loss | 12–2–1 | Ray Lewis | PTS | 6 | Aug 12, 1946 | ||
| 14 | Draw | 12–1–1 | Paul Midiri | PTS | 6 | Jul 29, 1946 | ||
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Joey Monteiro | PTS | 6 | Jul 9, 1946 | ||
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Lou Langley | KO | 1 (6) | Jun 12, 1946 | ||
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | Johnny LaRusso | PTS | 4 | May 31, 1946 | ||
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Leo LeBrun | PTS | 6 | May 28, 1946 | ||
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Lou Daniels | KO | 3 (?) | May 7, 1946 | ||
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Johnny LaRusso | PTS | 6 | May 1, 1946 | ||
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | George Wright | PTS | 6 | Apr 19, 1946 | ||
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Clifton Bordies | KO | 1 (4) | Apr 16, 1946 | ||
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Ray Morris | KO | 4 (6) | Apr 8, 1946 | ||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Joe Krikis | PTS | 4 | Apr 5, 1946 | ||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Harry Diduck | PTS | 6 | Mar 28, 1946 | ||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Richard Bohri | TKO | 4 (6) | Mar 21, 1946 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Clifton Bordies | PTS | 4 | Mar 14, 1946 | ||