Billy Fox (boxer)
"Blackjack" Billy Fox (born January 29[1] or April 20[2], 1926) is an American retired light heavyweight boxer. He is best known for having won a controversial fight against future middleweight champion Jake LaMotta.
| Billy Fox | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Light Heavyweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 29, 1926 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 59 |
| Wins | 49 |
| Wins by KO | 48 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
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 for the world light heavyweight title. He would rack up 7 more wins, including a win in a bout thrown by Jake LaMotta.[3] That fight was fixed by the notorious Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a member of the Philadelphia crime family, who owned Fox under the table.[4] 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.
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.
Popular culture
Billy Fox was portrayed in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.
References
- BILLY FOX: 'JUST RIDING INTO EVENING'
- PHILLY BOXING HISTORY: Billy Fox
- Jeff Merton, ESPN.com. Page 2 - "Reel Life: 'Raging Bull'" Accessed 7 January 2008.
- "BLINKY PALERMO, MOBSTER WHO RAN BOXING DIES!". Ring Talk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.