Billy Fox (boxer)

William McKinley Fox (born January 29,[2] February 1,[3] or April 20,[4] 1926), better known as "Blackjack" Billy Fox, is an American retired light heavyweight boxer who is best known for having won a controversial fight against future middleweight champion Jake LaMotta.

For other people named Billy Fox, see Billy Fox (disambiguation).
Billy Fox
Statistics
Real nameWilliam McKinley Fox[1]
Weight(s)Light Heavyweight
NationalityAmerican
Born(1926-01-29)January 29, 1926
Tatums, Oklahoma, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights59
Wins49
Wins by KO48
Losses9
Draws1
No contests0

Boxing career

Billy Fox, known as "Blackjack", started off his career by winning 37 consecutive fights, all by knockout, before he was knocked out by Gus Lesnevich in ten rounds for the world light heavyweight title-Fox had the champion hurt in round three.[5] He would rack up 7 more wins, including a win in a bout thrown by Jake LaMotta.[6] That fight was fixed by the notorious Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a member of the Philadelphia crime family, who owned Fox under the table.[7] Fox then lost two fights in a row against Red Willis Applegate and Gus Lesnevich, to whom he lost in the first round by a knockout in 1:58 seconds, in a rematch that was also for the world light heavyweight title.[8]

He would fight 12 more fights, and amass a record of 49 wins (48 by knockout), 9 losses, and 1 draw. His knockout ratio is 83 percent.

Billy Fox was portrayed in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

References
  1. Professional Boxing: Hearings Before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly, Eighty-Sixth Congress, Second Session, Eighty-Seventh Congress, First Session, Eighty-Eighth Congress, Second Session, Parts 1-4
  2. BILLY FOX: 'JUST RIDING INTO EVENING'
  3. William Mckinley Fox in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
  4. PHILLY BOXING HISTORY: Billy Fox
  5. https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Gus_Lesnevich_vs._Billy_Fox_(1st_meeting)
  6. Jeff Merton, ESPN.com. Page 2 - "Reel Life: 'Raging Bull'" Accessed 7 January 2008.
  7. "BLINKY PALERMO, MOBSTER WHO RAN BOXING DIES!". Ring Talk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  8. https://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:46680
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