Skip to main content

Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)








Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigation
Jump to search




For Joe Erskine, the American welterweight boxer and long distance runner, see Joe Erskine.

Joseph "Joe" Erskine (26 January 1934 – 18 February 1990[1]) was a heavyweight boxer from the Butetown district of Cardiff, Wales. He was an Amateur Boxing Association Champion, Inter-Services Champion, and British Army Champion in 1953. He began fighting as a professional in 1954 and was trained by Freddie Elvin. He held the British heavyweight title from August 1956 to June 1958. In all, he won 45 of his 54 professional bouts, losing 8, with one drawn. His best wins were against George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Dick Richardson, Uli Ritter, Jack Bodell, Johnny Williams, Joe Bygraves and Willie Pastrano.


Erskine was a small heavyweight who outmaneuvered rather than overpowered his opponents. Angelo Dundee who saw his prospect Pastrano defeated by Erskine said he was surprised by his skill – further remarking that if Erskine had been just a bit bigger he could have been a world beater.[2]




Contents





  • 1 Career


  • 2 Professional boxing record


  • 3 Genealogical information


  • 4 See also


  • 5 References


  • 6 External links




Career[edit]


On 15 December 1955, Erskine had his first fight against Henry Cooper, at Harringay Arena, in an eliminator for the British heavyweight title, and won the ten-round fight on points.


On 27 August 1956, Erskine won the British heavyweight title, which had been vacated by the retirement of Don Cockell. He beat fellow Welshman, Johnny Williams on points in a fifteen-round fight at the Maindy Stadium, Cardiff.


On 17 September 1957, he added the British Empire (Commonwealth) heavyweight title, when he beat Henry Cooper for the second time. The fight was at Harringay Arena over fifteen rounds, and was won on points.


He successfully defended his British Empire (Commonwealth) against Jamaican-born heavyweight Joe Bygraves on 25 November 1957, again winning over fifteen rounds on points.


On 21 February 1958, he unsuccessfully fought for the European heavyweight title against Ingemar Johansson, in Gothenburg, Sweden, losing on a technical knockout in the thirteenth round.


On 3 June 1958, he defended both his titles against Brian London, of Blackpool in a bout at the White City Stadium, London. Erskine was knocked out in the eighth round.


On 24 February 1959, Erskine fought and defeated the talented American boxer Willie Pastrano, who was later (in 1964) to become World light-heavyweight champion. The fight was at the Wembley Stadium over ten rounds and Erskine won on points.


On 24 June 1959, he fought another Welsh boxer, Dick Richardson in a ten-round bout at Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, and won on points.


In the meantime Henry Cooper had defeated Brian London to take the British and Commonwealth titles from him. On 17 November 1959, Erskine fought Cooper for both titles, having beaten him on their two previous meetings. The bout was held at the Earls Court Arena, London. Cooper won the fight on a technical knockout. Cooper, who was renowned for the power of his left hook, floored Erskine twice with terrific left hooks and Erskine was hanging almost unconscious over the lower rope when the referee stopped the bout.


On 21 March 1961, Erskine fought Cooper again for the two titles, this time at the Empire Pool, Wembley, and again lost on a technical knockout, this time in the fifth round.


Erskine went to Toronto, Ontario, Canada to fight George Chuvalo, who was hoping to show that he had the talent to fight for the world title against Floyd Patterson. Unfortunately for Chuvalo the fight, on 2 October 1961, was stopped in the fifth round and Chuvalo was disqualified for persistent head butting. Erskine claimed that he was butted eight times during the five rounds, while Chuvalo claimed he was retaliating for getting thumbed in the eye by Joe.


On 2 April 1962, he fought Cooper for the fifth and last time, this time at the Ice Rink, Nottingham. Cooper retained his titles by winning on a technical knockout in the ninth round.


On 13 October 1963, he fought the famous German, southpaw, Karl Mildenberger, in Dortmund, Germany, and lost the ten-round bout on points.


On 3 March 1964, Erskine fought Jack Bodell, a British champion of the future, and defeated him on points over ten rounds.


His last fight was against Billy Walker on 27 October 1964 at the Empire Pool, Wembley. He lost the ten-round bout on points.


In his 54 professional bouts, he won 45 (13 on knock-outs), and lost 8 (6 on knock-outs). One of his bouts was drawn.



Professional boxing record[edit]



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































45 Wins (13 knockouts, 32 decisions), 8 Losses (6 knockouts, 2 decisions), 1 Draw [1]

Result

Record

Opponent

Type

Round

Date

Location

Notes
Loss

12–3–1

United Kingdom Billy "Golden Boy" Walker
PTS
10
27 October 1964

United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Win

24–3–2

United Kingdom Johnny Prescott
PTS
10
21 April 1964

United Kingdom Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands

Win

15–3

United Kingdom Jack Bodell
PTS
10
3 March 1964

United Kingdom Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Loss

37–2–1

Germany Karl Mildenberger
PTS
10
13 October 1963

Germany Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia

Win

19–15–2

United States Freddie Mack
PTS
10
10 August 1963

Wales Pavilion, Newtown, Powys

Win

3–3

Luxembourg Ray Cillien
TKO
4
29 July 1963

Wales Cardiff Drill Hall, Cardiff

Win

10–11

Nigeria Alex Barrow
KO
7
12 December 1962

United Kingdom Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire

Win

18–18–4

Spain Jose Mariano Moracia Ibanes
PTS
10
20 November 1962

United Kingdom Leicester, Leicestershire

Loss

25–8–1

United Kingdom Henry Cooper
TKO
9
2 April 1962

United Kingdom Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Commonwealth/BBBofC Heavyweight Titles.
Win

20–6–1

Canada George Chuvalo
DQ
5
2 October 1961

Canada Toronto, Ontario

Chuvalo disqualified at 1:27 of the fifth round for headbutting.
Loss

22–7–1

United Kingdom Henry Cooper
TKO
5
21 March 1961

United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Commonwealth/BBBofC Heavyweight Titles.
Win

20–4–6

Germany Ulli Ritter
PTS
10
24 January 1961

United Kingdom Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Win

30–21–6

Spain José González Sales
TKO
5
22 September 1960

Wales Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Loss

19–7–1

United Kingdom Henry Cooper
TKO
12
17 November 1959

United Kingdom Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London

BBBofC/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles.
Win

24–1–1

Italy Bruno Scarabellin
PTS
10
26 August 1959

Wales Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Porthcawl

Win

27–8–2

Wales Dick Richardson
PTS
10
24 June 1959

Wales Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Porthcawl

Win

47–6–5

United States Willie Pastrano
PTS
10
24 February 1959

United Kingdom Empire Exhibition Stadium, Wembley, London

Win

9–3–1

France Max Brianto
PTS
10
12 November 1958

Wales Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

Loss

20–3

United Kingdom Brian London
KO
8
3 June 1958

United Kingdom White City Stadium, White City, London

BBBofC/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles.
Loss

18–0

Sweden Ingemar Johansson
TKO
13
21 February 1958

Sweden , Gothenburg

EBU Heavyweight Title.
Win

36–10–1

Jamaica Joe Bygraves
PTS
15
25 November 1957

United Kingdom Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Commonwealth Heavyweight Title.
Win

14–5

United Kingdom Henry Cooper
PTS
15
17 September 1957

United Kingdom Harringay Arena, Harringay, London

Commonwealth/BBBofC Heavyweight Titles.
Win

23–7–1

United Kingdom Peter Bates
PTS
12
28 May 1957

United Kingdom Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster, Yorkshire

Loss

37–14–3

Cuba Nino Valdes
KO
1
19 February 1957

United Kingdom Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London

Erskine knocked out at 2:03 of the first round.
Win

60–9–4

Wales Johnny Williams
PTS
15
27 August 1956

Wales Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

BBBofC Heavyweight Title.
Win

17–2–1

Wales Dick Richardson
PTS
10
7 May 1956

Wales Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

Win

17–13–8

Germany Guenter Nurnberg
PTS
10
19 March 1956

Wales Carmarthen Market Hall, Carmarthen

Win

33–7–1

Belgium Marcel Limage
PTS
10
16 January 1956

Wales Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

Win

11–1

United Kingdom Henry Cooper
PTS
10
15 November 1955

United Kingdom Harringay Arena, Harringay, London

BBBofC Heavyweight Title Eliminator.
Win

8–11–2

Belgium Bernard Verdoolaeghe
TKO
2
10 October 1955

Wales Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Win

9–1

Italy Antonio Crosia
KO
8
13 September 1955

United Kingdom White City Stadium, White City, London

Win

17–9–6

Italy Uber Bacilieri
PTS
10
29 August 1955

Wales Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

Win

10–3

Netherlands Henk de Voogd
KO
1
18 July 1955

Wales Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

Win

16–19–2

Trinidad and Tobago Ansell Adams
PTS
10
9 May 1955

United Kingdom Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Win

21–22–3

Jamaica Simon Templar
TKO
8
26 April 1955

United Kingdom Harringay Arena, Harringay, London

Win

16–2

United Kingdom Peter Bates
PTS
10
15 March 1955

United Kingdom Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands

Win

8–7

United Kingdom Joe Crickmar
PTS
8
28 February 1955

United Kingdom Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Win

14–11–1

United Kingdom Cliff Purnell
PTS
8
15 February 1955

United Kingdom Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands

Win

4–14–3

Scotland Hugh McDonald
TKO
6
1 February 1955

United Kingdom Willenhall Drill Hall, Willenhall, West Midlands

Win

13–8–1

United Kingdom Cliff Purnell
PTS
8
7 December 1954

United Kingdom Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands

Win

1–2

United Kingdom Jack Walker
KO
1
8 November 1954

United Kingdom Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Win

12–9

United Kingdom Morrie Bush
PTS
8
11 October 1954

Wales Haverfordwest Market Hall, Haverfordwest

Win

4–7

United Kingdom Dennis Lockton
PTS
6
28 September 1954

United Kingdom Olympia Skating Rink, Hanley, Staffordshire

Win

18–4

United Kingdom Jimmy Moran
PTS
6
14 September 1954

United Kingdom Sheffield, Yorkshire

Win

3–2

United Kingdom Denny Ball
PTS
6
19 July 1954

Wales Ninian Park, Cardiff

Win

--

Joe Farley
KO
2
1 June 1954

United Kingdom White City Stadium, White City, London

Novice Tournament.
Win

1–0

United Kingdom Eddie Keith
KO
2
1 June 1954

United Kingdom White City Stadium, White City, London

Novice Tournament.
Win

2–1

United Kingdom Denny Ball
PTS
3
1 June 1954

United Kingdom White City Stadium, White City, London

Novice Tournament.
Win

3–3

United Kingdom Mick Cowan
PTS
6
11 May 1954

United Kingdom Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London

Win

7–6–4

United Kingdom Frank Walshaw
PTS
6
1 May 1954

Wales Newtown Drill Hall, Newtown, Powys

Draw

5–12–1

United Kingdom Dinny Powell
PTS
6
12 April 1954

United Kingdom Maindy Stadium, Cardiff

Win

5–5

United Kingdom Frank Walker
DQ
5
22 March 1954

United Kingdom Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands

Win

1–0

Northern Ireland Tommy Rogers
KO
2
16 March 1954

United Kingdom Willenhall Drill Hall, Willenhall, West Midlands

Win

15–8–1

United Kingdom Alf Price
KO
2
9 March 1954

United Kingdom Olympia Skating Rink, Hanley, Staffordshire


Genealogical information[edit]


Joe Erskine was the cousin of the rugby union, and rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 1960s for Cardiff IAC (RU), Wales (RL), and Halifax; Johnny Freeman.
Joe later lived in Newport and frequently visited the Riverview club in Pillgwenlly.
Joe stayed involved in boxing as he was a big fan of David Pearce.



See also[edit]


  • List of British heavyweight boxing champions


References[edit]




  1. ^ "Joe Erskine (1934–1990) – Find A Grave Photos". 


  2. ^ I only talk winning; Angelo Dundee




External links[edit]



  • Professional boxing record for Joe Erskine from BoxRec







Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_Erskine_(Welsh_boxer)&oldid=858246830"





Navigation menu

























(window.RLQ=window.RLQ||).push(function()mw.config.set("wgPageParseReport":"limitreport":"cputime":"0.408","walltime":"0.558","ppvisitednodes":"value":8468,"limit":1000000,"ppgeneratednodes":"value":0,"limit":1500000,"postexpandincludesize":"value":68846,"limit":2097152,"templateargumentsize":"value":12667,"limit":2097152,"expansiondepth":"value":12,"limit":40,"expensivefunctioncount":"value":2,"limit":500,"unstrip-depth":"value":0,"limit":20,"unstrip-size":"value":1203,"limit":5000000,"entityaccesscount":"value":1,"limit":400,"timingprofile":["100.00% 266.780 1 -total"," 37.30% 99.514 107 Template:Flagicon"," 18.45% 49.213 1 Template:Reflist"," 17.90% 47.754 1 Template:Boxrec"," 14.74% 39.327 1 Template:Cite_web"," 13.41% 35.774 107 Template:Flagicon/core"," 13.14% 35.064 61 Template:Country_data_UK"," 9.98% 26.614 1 Template:EngvarB"," 5.28% 14.081 2 Template:DMCA"," 4.83% 12.888 1 Template:EditAtWikidata"],"scribunto":"limitreport-timeusage":"value":"0.031","limit":"10.000","limitreport-memusage":"value":1929517,"limit":52428800,"cachereport":"origin":"mw1228","timestamp":"20180905223314","ttl":1900800,"transientcontent":false);mw.config.set("wgBackendResponseTime":80,"wgHostname":"mw1250"););

Popular posts from this blog

The Dalles, Oregon

眉山市

清晰法令