Joe Brown (boxer) explained

Joe Brown
Nickname:Old Bones
Height:5feet
Weight:Lightweight
Reach:680NaN0
Nationality:American
Birth Date:18 May 1926
Birth Place:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Death Place:New Orleans
Style:Orthodox
Total:185
Wins:122
Ko:56
Losses:47
Draws:14
No Contests:3

Joe Brown (May 18, 1926 – December 4, 1997) was an American professional boxer who won the world lightweight title in 1956, making 11 successful defenses against 10 contenders before losing his crown to Carlos Ortiz in 1962. Brown was a classic boxer and a knockout puncher. Known as "The Creole Clouter" and "Old Bones", he was managed by Lou Viscusi and named The Ring's 'Fighter of the Year' for 1961. Brown was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.[1] [2]

Early life and career

Born into poverty in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, on May 18, 1926, Brown started work as a grocery assistant, moved into carpentry and then embarked on his professional boxing career at the age of seventeen. He made his professional debut on January 15, 1943, at Victory Arena in New Orleans against Ringer Thompson, winning the four-round bout on points.[2] Brown had another six fights, one of which was winning a four-round decision against Leonard Caesar on September 3, 1943, before he was drafted into the United States Navy during World War II.[2] While in the Navy, Brown captured the All-Service Lightweight Championship before being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1945.[2]

The resumption of Brown's career was initially disappointing and he frequently fought in undercard matches at Coliseum Arena or Pelican Stadium.[2] One fight saw Brown suffering a third-round knock-out by Melvin Bartholomew in July 1945. After this fight, Brown did not fight again until January 1946, when he lost on a decision over five rounds to Leonard Caesar. Some reward came a mere seven days later when Brown out-pointed Johnny Monroe, but his career over the following three years was, at best, checkered.

The impetus for Brown's ultimate success seems to have been provided by a crushing defeat at the hands of the future National Boxing Association Welterweight Champion, Johnny Bratton, late in 1948, immediately followed by a short spell away from the ring. In 1949, Brown actually went unbeaten and, over the next seven years, he steadily climbed the Lightweight rankings, defeating along the way such notable boxers as Virgil Akins, Isaac Logart and Teddy 'Redtop' Davis.

These fruitful times were not, however, without their difficulties. The skilful Brown, standing a lanky 5 feet 7½ inches, with a long reach and solid left hand, came to be viewed as dangerous – too dangerous by some astute managers who frequently appeared to steer their charges away from meeting him. Several times, Brown quit in despair during his thirteen-year wait for a shot at the title.

World Champion

Brown earned his chance for the Lightweight Championship of the World by out-pointing the reigning champion, Wallace 'Bud' Smith in a non-title bout held in Houston, Texas, in May 1956. Four months later, on August 24 and in front of his home crowd at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Brown defeated Smith by way of a split decision over fifteen hard-fought rounds.[2] Confirmation of Brown's superiority came early in the following year when, defending the Championship for the first time, he knocked Smith out in eleven rounds.[1] [3]

Once Champion, Brown hoped that his newly acquired status would confer the riches and popular recognition denied to him for so long. Yet, as George Gainford (manager of the charismatic and handsome Sugar Ray Robinson) noted, the name 'Joe Brown' was hardly inspirational. Realising this, Brown attempted to solve his problems by billing himself as Joe 'Old Bones' Brown. The gimmick worked and he became something of a draw for the remainder of his Championship career.

In all, Brown made eleven successful defences of his title against ten boxers, and remained Champion for almost six years.[4] After demolishing Smith, Brown beat Orlando Zulueta, Joey Lopes, Ralph Dupas, Kenny Lane, Johnny Busso, Paolo Rosi, Cisco Andrade, Bert Somodio and Dave Charnley (twice). Brown's re-match with Charnley, was named The Rings Fight of the Year for 1961.

Nemesis came in the form of the great Carlos Ortiz from Puerto Rico. Ortiz – intelligent, agile and ten years Brown's junior – stepped down from the Junior Welterweight division where he had been king until out-pointed by Duilio Loi, to focus on the richer pickings to be had amongst the world's top Lightweights. He met Brown in Las Vegas on April 21, 1962, and took the ageing Champion's title after fifteen lackluster rounds to begin his own lengthy domination of the division.

Beyond glory

Brown fought on for another eight years, before retiring in 1970, at the age of 44 with a record of 121 wins, 47 losses and 14 draws with 56 KOs.[1] In reflecting on the close of Brown's career, Henry Cooper has written that there came to be "little pride left in his performances" as he tried to compensate "for all the hungry years when he had been forced to fight for peanuts" (Cooper, 1990).[5] Joe Brown later became a trainer in New Orleans, Louisiana, and led some fighters to become professionals, such as Gregory E. Haines, of Slidell, Louisiana.

Joe Brown died in New Orleans, USA, on December 4, 1997.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
185Loss122–47–14 Dave OropezaUD10Aug 24, 1970
184Win122–46–14 Ramon FloresUD10Apr 24, 1970
183Draw121–46–14 Steve FreemanPTS10Aug 12, 1969
182Loss121–46–13 Chucho GarciaTKO9 (10)Nov 6, 1968
181Loss121–45–13 Ricardo MedranoUD10Sep 10, 1968
180Loss121–44–13 Chango CarmonaTKO4 (10)Jun 8, 1968
179Win121–43–13 Vic GraffioTKO8 (10)Apr 23, 1968
178Win120–43–13 Nat JacksonTKO6 (10)Dec 13, 1967
177Win119–43–13 Benito JuarezUD10Sep 11, 1967
176Loss118–43–13 Percy PughUD10Aug 1, 1967
175Win118–42–13 Joe BarrientesMD10Jun 26, 1967
174Win117–42–13 Blackie ZamoraTKO8 (10)Jun 16, 1967
173Win116–42–13 Rodwell LeKayPTS10Aug 27, 1966
172Loss115–42–13 Joe N'GidiPTS10Jul 30, 1966
171Loss115–41–13 Joe N'GidiPTS10Jun 25, 1966
170Win115–40–13 Enoch NhlapoPTS10Jun 4, 1966
169Win114–40–13 Josiah NakediKO9 (10)May 14, 1966
168Draw113–40–13 Jarmo BerglöfMD10Apr 15, 1966
167Loss113–40–12 Bruno ArcariPTS10Mar 11, 1966
166Loss113–39–12 Frankie NarvaezUD10Nov 13, 1965
165Loss113–38–12 Mario RossitoPTS10Oct 2, 1965
164Loss113–37–12 Antonio HerreraUD10Aug 26, 1965
163Win113–36–12 Blackie ZamoraUD10Jun 30, 1965
162Loss112–36–12 Joey OlguinUD10May 18, 1965
161Loss112–35–12 Vic AndreettiTKO5 (10)Mar 9, 1965
160Loss112–34–12 Joe N'GidiPTS10Feb 27, 1965
159Win112–33–12 Levi MadiPTS10Feb 9, 1965
158Win111–33–12 Joas Kangaroo MaotoKO6 (10)Dec 19, 1964
157Win110–33–12 Levi MadiPTS10Nov 21, 1964
156Loss109–33–12 Percy HaylesPTS10Oct 3, 1964
155Win109–32–12 Hector DiazKO8 (10)Sep 14, 1964
154Loss108–32–12 Ricardo MedranoDQ10 (10)Aug 25, 1964
153Win108–31–12 Esteban SantamariaSD10Jun 21, 1964
152Loss107–31–12 Paul ArmsteadUD10May 25, 1964
151Win107–30–12 Tony PerezPTS10May 5, 1964
150Loss106–30–12 Paul ArmsteadSD10Apr 28, 1964
149Loss106–29–12 Manuel GonzalezUD10Apr 2, 1964
148Loss106–28–12 Carlos Morocho HernándezKO3 (10)Nov 11, 1963
147Win106–27–12 Pedro GalassoTKO5 (10)Sep 14, 1963
146Loss105–27–12 Nicolino LoccheUD10Aug 10, 1963
145Loss105–26–12 Alfredo UrbinaUD10Jun 22, 1963
144Win105–25–12 Joey LopesRTD7 (10)May 21, 1963
143Win104–25–12 Manuel AlvarezKO8 (10)Apr 20, 1963
142Loss103–25–12 Dave CharnleyKO6 (10)Feb 25, 1963
141Win103–24–12 Tony NoriegaKO6 (10)Jan 22, 1963
140Loss102–24–12 Luis MolinaUD10Aug 24, 1962
139Loss102–23–12 Carlos OrtizUD15Apr 21, 1962
138Win102–22–12 Bert SomodioUD15Oct 28, 1961
137Win101–22–12 Dave CharnleyPTS15Apr 18, 1961
136Win100–22–12 Joey ParksUD10Mar 7, 1961
135Loss99–22–12 Giordano CampariPTS10Dec 7, 1960
134Win99–21–12 Cisco AndradeUD15Oct 28, 1960
133Win98–21–12 Raymundo TorresKO4 (10)Oct 4, 1960
132Win97–21–12 Harlow IrwinTKO5 (10)Aug 25, 1960
131Loss96–21–12 Ray PortillaTKO6 (10)Mar 21, 1960
130Win96–20–12 Joey ParksUD10Dec 14, 1959
129Win95–20–12 Dave CharnleyTKO6 (15)Dec 2, 1959
128Draw94–20–12 Joey ParksPTS10Sep 25, 1959
127Win94–20–11 Gale KerwinTKO4 (10)Sep 9, 1959
126Win93–20–11 Santiago RamirezKO8 (10)Aug 27, 1959
125Win92–20–11 Paolo RosiTKO9 (15)Jun 3, 1959
124Win91–20–11 Johnny BussoUD15Feb 11, 1959
123Loss90–20–11 Johnny BussoUD10Nov 5, 1958
122Win90–19–11 Kenny LaneUD15Jul 23, 1958
121Win89–19–11 Ralph DupasTKO8 (15)May 7, 1958
120Win88–19–11 Orlando EchevarriaKO1 (10)Feb 26, 1958
119Win87–19–11 Ernie WilliamsTKO5 (10)Jan 24, 1958
118Win86–19–11 Joey LopesTKO11 (15)Dec 4, 1957
117Win85–19–11 Kid CentellaUD10Nov 12, 1957
116Draw84–19–11 Joey LopesMD10Aug 21, 1957
115Win84–19–10 Gilberto HolguinUD10Jul 30, 1957
114Win83–19–10 Orlando ZuluetaTKO15 (15)Jun 19, 1957
113Win82–19–10 Armand SavoieSD10Mar 12, 1957
112Win81–19–10 Wallace "Bud" SmithTKO11 (15)Feb 13, 1957
111Win80–19–10 Wallace "Bud" SmithSD15Aug 24, 1956
110Win79–19–10 Eddie BrantTKO3 (10)Jun 6, 1956
109Win78–19–10 Wallace "Bud" SmithUD10May 2, 1956
108Win77–19–10 Arthur PersleyKO9 (10)Feb 6, 1956
107Win76–19–10 Ray PortillaTKO5 (?)Dec 13, 1955
106Win75–19–10 Ray RiojasRTD7 (10)Nov 8, 1955
105Win74–19–10 Jimmy HackneyUD10Oct 1, 1955
104Loss73–19–10 Arthur PersleyUD12Aug 1, 1955
103Win73–18–10 Junius WestKO3 (10)Jun 16, 1955
102Win72–18–10 Tony ArmenterosPTS10Mar 20, 1955
101Win71–18–10 Bobby RosadoUD10Mar 6, 1955
100Win70–18–10 Tito DespaigneKO4 (10)Jan 30, 1955
99Win69–18–10 Tony ArmenterosTKO8 (10)Jan 18, 1955
98Loss68–18–10 Tony ArmenterosPTS6Dec 29, 1954
97Loss68–17–10 Carl CoatesSD10Sep 28, 1954
96Win68–16–10 Nat JacksonKO4 (10)Aug 31, 1954
95Win67–16–10 Wilfrdo BrownKO4 (10)Jul 25, 1954
94Win66–16–10 Federico PlummerTKO9 (10)Jun 20, 1954
93Win65–16–10 Elvis MatthewsTKO7 (10)May 18, 1954
92Win64–16–10 Little DavidTKO9 (10)Apr 13, 1954
91Win63–16–10 Jimmy LouisUD6Apr 5, 1954
90Win62–16–10 Isaac LogartUD10Mar 24, 1954
89Loss61–16–10 Charlie SmithDQ6 (10)Feb 8, 1954
88Win61–15–10 Cliff DyesTKO9 (10)Dec 29, 1953
87Win60–15–10 Ernie HallTKO3 (10)Nov 10, 1953
86Draw59–15–10 Luther RawlingsPTS10Jun 9, 1953
85Draw59–15–9 Orlando ZuluetaPTS10Apr 22, 1953
84Win59–15–8 Joey GreenwoodUD10Jan 7, 1953
83Win58–15–8 Don BowmanKO1 (10)Dec 10, 1952
82Loss57–15–8 George AraujoKO7 (10)Oct 10, 1952
81Win57–14–8 Jimmy TaylorSD10Aug 22, 1952
80Win56–14–8 Marshall ClaytonRTD8 (10)Jul 18, 1952
79Win55–14–8 Melvin BartholomewPTS10Jul 11, 1952
78Win54–14–8 Jerry TurnerTKO5 (10)Jun 10, 1952
77Win53–14–8 Calvin SmithTKO7 (10)Mar 28, 1952
76Win52–14–8 Walter HainesSD10Mar 14, 1952
75Draw51–14–8 Walter HainesPTS10Feb 15, 1952
74Draw51–14–7 Walter HainesPTS6Feb 4, 1952
73Loss51–14–6 Virgil AkinsUD10Dec 6, 1951
72Win51–13–6 Stonewall JacksonTKO5 (10)Sep 28, 1951
71Win50–13–6 Tommy CampbellKO1 (10)Aug 31, 1951
70Win49–13–6 Virgil AkinsPTS10Jul 6, 1951
69Win48–13–6 Virgil AkinsUD10May 25, 1951
68Win47–13–6 Honeychile JohnsonUD10May 11, 1951
67Win46–13–6 Lester FeltonSD10Apr 27, 1951
66Win45–13–6 Teddy DavisUD10Apr 13, 1951
65Win44–13–6 Baby Neff OrtizKO2 (10)Mar 19, 1951
64Loss43–13–6 Tommy CampbellMD10Feb 20, 1951
63Win43–12–6 Bernie HallKO11 (12)Dec 14, 1950
6242–12–6 Irvin SteenND10 (12)Nov 27, 1950
61Win42–12–6 Charley WilliamsKO1 (12)Oct 30, 1950
60Win41–12–6 Jack HassenKO8 (12)Sep 22, 1950
59Loss40–12–6 John L. DavisUD10Jun 16, 1950
58Win40–11–6 Dave MarshPTS4Feb 22, 1950
57Win39–11–6 Danny WomberUD8Feb 6, 1950
56Win38–11–6 Milton ScottTKO2 (4)Jan 20, 1950
55Win37–11–6 Isaac JenkinsPTS6Dec 5, 1949
54Win36–11–6 Charley MilanUD10Jul 1, 1949
53Win35–11–6 Willie RussellUD10Jun 6, 1949
52Win34–11–6 Leroy WillisPTS10May 27, 1949
51Draw33–11–6 John L.aBroiPTS10May 23, 1949
50Win33–11–5 Hugh SublettUD8May 10, 1949
49Win32–11–5 Joe SgroPTS8Apr 25, 1949
48Win31–11–5 Luther RawlingsPTS10Mar 28, 1949
47Win30–11–5 Booker T EllisPTS6Mar 22, 1949
46Win29–11–5 Loisel IsadoreKO2 (10)Jan 21, 1949
45Loss28–11–5 Johnny BrattonKO4 (10)Dec 3, 1948
44Win28–10–5 Arthur PersleyPTS8Oct 31, 1948
43Win27–10–5 Frankie CockrellKO5 (10)Oct 26, 1948
42Loss26–10–5 Freddie DawsonUD10Oct 1, 1948
41Draw26–9–5 Luther BurgessPTS10Jul 25, 1948
40Loss26–9–4 Bobby McQuillarPTS10May 7, 1948
39Draw26–8–4 Bobby McQuillarPTS10Feb 28, 1948
38Win26–8–3 Joey BagnatoKO1 (8)Dec 15, 1947
37Loss25–8–3 Arthur KingSD8Nov 10, 1947
36Win25–7–3 Arthur KingUD8Oct 21, 1947
35Win24–7–3 Ernie ButlerKO5 (10)Oct 6, 1947
34Win23–7–3 Danny RobinsonPTS10Sep 24, 1947
33Win22–7–3 Danny WebbPTS10Aug 6, 1947
32Win21–7–3 Freddie LatsonPTS6Jul 23, 1947
31Win20–7–3 Walter StevensPTS6Jul 14, 1947
30Win19–7–3 Melvin BartholomewUD10Jul 4, 1947
29Win18–7–3 Leonard CaesarDQ10 (10)May 18, 1947
28Loss17–7–3 Sandy SaddlerRTD2 (10)May 2, 1947
27Win17–6–3 Jimmy CarterPTS10Apr 18, 1947
26Loss16–6–3 Melvin BartholomewUD10Mar 28, 1947
25Draw16–5–3 Buster TylerPTS10Mar 7, 1947
24Win16–5–2 Janius WestPTS10Dec 20, 1946
23Win15–5–2 Bob WeatherlyPTS8Oct 18, 1946
22Loss14–5–2 Buster TylerPTS10Jul 26, 1946
21Win14–4–2 Midget JonesPTS8Jun 28, 1946
20Win13–4–2 Arthur RossKO2 (6)May 3, 1946
19Win12–4–2 Francis AdamsPTS6Apr 5, 1946
18Win11–4–2 Leonard CaesarPTS8Mar 29, 1946
17Draw10–4–2 Leonard CaesarPTS6Mar 22, 1946
16Win10–4–1 Johnny MonroePTS6Jan 20, 1946
15Loss9–4–1 Leonard CaesarPTS5Jan 13, 1946
14Loss9–3–1 Melvin BartholomewKO3 (6)Jul 9, 1945
13Win9–2–1 Leonard CaesarPTS4Sep 3, 1943
12Win8–2–1 Leonard CaesarPTS4Aug 1, 1943
11Win7–2–1 Charles WrightKO3 (4)Apr 19, 1943
10Win6–2–1 Richard GermaineTKO4 (4)Apr 2, 1943
9Loss5–2–1 Midget JonesPTS6Mar 26, 1943
8Win5–1–1 Kenneth HurstPTS6Feb 19, 1943
7Win4–1–1 Richard GermaineKO3 (4)Jan 24, 1943
6Win3–1–1 Ringer ThompsonPTS4Jan 15, 1943
5Win2–1–1 Ringer ThompsonPTS6Dec 13, 1942
4Win1–1–1 Kid AlphonseKO3 (6)Jul 27, 1942
3Loss0–1–1 John L. RobertsonKO1 (4)Dec 5, 1941
2Draw0–0–1 George BradfordPTS4Oct 6, 1941
10–0 Ringer ThompsonND? (6)Sep 12, 1941

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joe Brown. ibhof.com.
  2. Web site: Joe Brown. 64parishes.org. February 16, 2020.
  3. Details of Brown's ring record and Championship fights from: (i) The Ring Record Book & Boxing Encyclopedia 1959 (Nat Fleischer, The Ring Book Shop Inc., 1959), pages 5, 301 & 896. (ii) The Cyber Boxing Zone http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/joebrown.htm. (iii) The Boxing Records Archive http://www.boxrec.com/print.php?boxer_id=012672. Unusually, this source lists Brown's exhibitions dated October 17, 1952, and April 7, 1958, as being official bouts, while crediting him with a victory on October 10, 1952, that is recorded elsewhere as a seventh round defeat.
  4. Web site: Joe Brown ("Old Bones"), p. 352. The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book . . pdf . 26 May 2019.
  5. Biographical Information from: (i) Henry Cooper's 100 Greatest Boxers (Henry Cooper, Queen Anne Press, 1990). See page 32 for the 'Old Bones' anecdote and page 33 for Cooper's reflections on the twilight of Brown's career. (ii) The Ring Record Book & Boxing Encyclopedia 1959 (Nat Fleischer, The Ring Book Shop Inc., 1959). A cameo of Brown's life and career, including brief details of his military service may be found on page 5. (iii) The International Boxing Hall of Fame's online exhibit http://www.ibhof.com/ provides a very sketchy account indeed of Brown's career, but was used to confirm the date of Brown's induction into that body.

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