Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)

Joseph 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.

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

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]

Career

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
45 Wins (13 knockouts, 32 decisions), 8 Losses (6 knockouts, 2 decisions), 1 Draw
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 12–3–1 Billy Walker PTS 10 27 October 1964 Empire Pool, Wembley, London
Win 24–3–2 Johnny Prescott PTS 10 21 April 1964 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands
Win 15–3 Jack Bodell PTS 10 3 March 1964 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
Loss 37–2–1 Karl Mildenberger PTS 10 13 October 1963 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
Win 19–15–2 Freddie Mack PTS 10 10 August 1963 Pavilion, Newtown, Powys
Win 3–3 Ray Cillien TKO 4 29 July 1963 Cardiff Drill Hall, Cardiff
Win 10–11 Alex Barrow KO 7 12 December 1962 Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire
Win 18–18–4 Jose Mariano Moracia Ibanes PTS 10 20 November 1962 Leicester, Leicestershire
Loss 25–8–1 Henry Cooper TKO 9 2 April 1962 Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Commonwealth/BBBofC Heavyweight Titles.
Win 20–6–1 George Chuvalo DQ 5 2 October 1961 Toronto, Ontario Chuvalo disqualified at 1:27 of the fifth round for headbutting.
Loss 22–7–1 Henry Cooper TKO 5 21 March 1961 Empire Pool, Wembley, London Commonwealth/BBBofC Heavyweight Titles.
Win 20–4–6 Ulli Ritter PTS 10 24 January 1961 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
Win 30–21–6 José González Sales TKO 5 22 September 1960 Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Loss 19–7–1 Henry Cooper TKO 12 17 November 1959 Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London BBBofC/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles.
Win 24–1–1 Bruno Scarabellin PTS 10 26 August 1959 Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Porthcawl
Win 27–8–2 Dick Richardson PTS 10 24 June 1959 Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Porthcawl
Win 47–6–5 Willie Pastrano PTS 10 24 February 1959 Empire Exhibition Stadium, Wembley, London
Win 9–3–1 Max Brianto PTS 10 12 November 1958 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Loss 20–3 Brian London KO 8 3 June 1958 White City Stadium, White City, London BBBofC/Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles.
Loss 18–0 Ingemar Johansson TKO 13 21 February 1958 , Gothenburg EBU Heavyweight Title.
Win 36–10–1 Joe Bygraves PTS 15 25 November 1957 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire Commonwealth Heavyweight Title.
Win 14–5 Henry Cooper PTS 15 17 September 1957 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London Commonwealth/BBBofC Heavyweight Titles.
Win 23–7–1 Peter Bates PTS 12 28 May 1957 Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster, Yorkshire
Loss 37–14–3 Nino Valdes KO 1 19 February 1957 Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London Erskine knocked out at 2:03 of the first round.
Win 60–9–4 Johnny Williams PTS 15 27 August 1956 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff BBBofC Heavyweight Title.
Win 17–2–1 Dick Richardson PTS 10 7 May 1956 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 17–13–8 Guenter Nurnberg PTS 10 19 March 1956 Carmarthen Market Hall, Carmarthen
Win 33–7–1 Marcel Limage PTS 10 16 January 1956 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 11–1 Henry Cooper PTS 10 15 November 1955 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London BBBofC Heavyweight Title Eliminator.
Win 8–11–2 Bernard Verdoolaeghe TKO 2 10 October 1955 Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Win 9–1 Antonio Crosia KO 8 13 September 1955 White City Stadium, White City, London
Win 17–9–6 Uber Bacilieri PTS 10 29 August 1955 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 10–3 Henk de Voogd KO 1 18 July 1955 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 16–19–2 Ansell Adams PTS 10 9 May 1955 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
Win 21–22–3 Simon Templar TKO 8 26 April 1955 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London
Win 16–2 Peter Bates PTS 10 15 March 1955 Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands
Win 8–7 Joe Crickmar PTS 8 28 February 1955 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
Win 14–11–1 Cliff Purnell PTS 8 15 February 1955 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands
Win 4–14–3 Hugh McDonald TKO 6 1 February 1955 Willenhall Drill Hall, Willenhall, West Midlands
Win 13–8–1 Cliff Purnell PTS 8 7 December 1954 Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands
Win 1–2 Jack Walker KO 1 8 November 1954 Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
Win 12–9 Morrie Bush PTS 8 11 October 1954 Haverfordwest Market Hall, Haverfordwest
Win 4–7 Dennis Lockton PTS 6 28 September 1954 Olympia Skating Rink, Hanley, Staffordshire
Win 18–4 Jimmy Moran PTS 6 14 September 1954 Sheffield, Yorkshire
Win 3–2 Denny Ball PTS 6 19 July 1954 Ninian Park, Cardiff
Win -- Joe Farley KO 2 1 June 1954 White City Stadium, White City, London Novice Tournament.
Win 1–0 Eddie Keith KO 2 1 June 1954 White City Stadium, White City, London Novice Tournament.
Win 2–1 Denny Ball PTS 3 1 June 1954 White City Stadium, White City, London Novice Tournament.
Win 3–3 Mick Cowan PTS 6 11 May 1954 Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London
Win 7–6–4 Frank Walshaw PTS 6 1 May 1954 Newtown Drill Hall, Newtown, Powys
Draw 5–12–1 Dinny Powell PTS 6 12 April 1954 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 5–5 Frank Walker DQ 5 22 March 1954 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands
Win 1–0 Tommy Rogers KO 2 16 March 1954 Willenhall Drill Hall, Willenhall, West Midlands
Win 15–8–1 Alf Price KO 2 9 March 1954 Olympia Skating Rink, Hanley, Staffordshire

Genealogical and personal information

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.

He was one of many signatories in a letter to The Times on 17 July 1958 opposing 'the policy of apartheid' in international sport and defending 'the principle of racial equality which is embodied in the Declaration of the Olympic Games'.[3]

See also


References
  1. "Joe Erskine (1934–1990) – Find A Grave Photos". Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  2. I only talk winning; Angelo Dundee
  3. Brown and Hogsbjerg, Apartheid is not a game, 16
  • Brown, Geoff and Hogsbjerg, Christian. Apartheid is not a Game: Remembering the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign. London: Redwords, 2020. ISBN 9781912926589.
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