Four months after his debut, Beau boasted a 6–3–1 record with four knockouts. With his exciting leather throwing style and improving record, Beau was moved to the top of the fight card. Starring in his first main event on the Valley’s October 14 fight card, Beau faced Abe Cohen of New York in a six-round lightweight contest. Cohen had five years of professional experience, a 9–4–2 record, but had lost his last three matches.
The Valley was electrified. Graciously greeting Beau was an overflow crowd. More than 2,100 passionate fight fans crammed into the 1,800-seat Valley Arena to see Beau in his first feature event. Cohen and Jack weighed in at almost identical weights. Jack weighed 129¾ pounds to Cohen’s 130 pounds.
From the opening bell, Beau captivated the crowd with his dynamic flurries, hurling punches from all conceivable directions. As the rowdy Valley fans stomped their feet, Beau swarmed Cohen. Jack took to Cohen like bees to honey. It seemed like the louder the fans cheered, the more punches Beau threw. Fifty seconds into the third round, Beau connected a hard right to Cohen’s chest, driving him dejectedly to the canvass for the fatal count. Beau scored his fourth consecutive knockout. Everyone likes an exciting boxer, especially a knockout artist. Sportswriters took notice, raising Beau’s status to an “up and coming” Springfield lightweight.
A week later, on a clear cool Monday night, Beau Jack met Ritchie Jones, an inexperienced fighter from Saratoga, New York. Jones had yet to win in four previous outings. Beau had no sympathy for him. Ritchie’s losing streak was quickly extended to five, as Beau knocked him out in the third round. Admirers were now turning out in droves to witness Beau Jack’s furiously exciting style of boxing.
An even larger overflow crowd of 2,300 fans crammed into the Valley to witness Jack’s next headline fight on November 4. Beau was matched with Joey Stack of Philadelphia in a six-round bout. The Philadelphian had a record of 22–25–9 and a ferocious reputation for a featherweight but had lost four of his last 10 fights. Irrespective, Stack was esteemed by his supporters. Even though he lost his previous contest against Johnny Compo by a slim margin, his fans cheered him after the final round, showing appreciation for their warrior. Jack balanced the scales at 128 pounds to Stack’s 125 pounds.
The four-year veteran came to fight, providing a stiff test for Beau. Joey fought tough, punching and countering Beau the whole six rounds. When Stack boxed in tight, he created problems for Beau. On the other hand, once Beau distanced himself, he made Stack pay, blistering the Philadelphian with his rabid attack and stamina. After six rounds of action, Beau gained a unanimous decision. Beau had now won seven bouts in a row and his record was beginning to look much more imposing at 9–3–1. Stack, on the other hand, retired after losing 27 of his next 30 matches.
Twins
Following his bout with Joey Stack, Beau was in a hurry to get back home to Augusta and join his wife Josephine Jones Walker (1923–1994), who was expecting their first child. Much to their surprise, Josephine had twin boys. Donald Joseph Walker (1940–2004) and Ronald Sidney Walker (1940–1998) were born at University Hospital on November 7, 1940. The proud new father spent a couple of weeks with his wife and twins before returning to Springfield.
Beau and Irish Jimmy Fox squared off in the main event at Valley Arena on Monday, December 2, 1940. Fox, an 11-year veteran, possessed a 40–25–13 record. Experience must have aided him. Beau threw his whole repertoire of punches at the boxer from Nashville, Tennessee, but Fox didn’t go down. To Jimmy’s credit, he made Beau go the full six rounds in their featherweight bout, but in the end, Beau earned a unanimous decision.
Fourteen days later, Beau appeared on the December 16 fight card paired against featherweight Young Johnny Buff, “Newark’s latest ring sensation,” in a six-round bout. Who knows why Buff was touted as a “ring sensation.” In his last 22 bouts, he was 2–19–1. Beau didn’t waste any time with Young Johnny, knocking him out 2:20 minutes in the first round.
On December 30, 1940, Beau belted his way to another TKO victory at the Valley. His inexperienced opponent, Mel Neary of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was undefeated with a 3–0 record since debuting earlier in the month. Beau ruined Mel’s perfect record. The referee called a halt to the fight 2:04 minutes into the fifth round. Neary was in no shape to continue.
With his victory over Mel Neary, Jack closed out the year with 10 consecutive victories, improving his record to 12–3–1. Within eight months of his first contest at the Valley, Beau had emerged as the top boxer and a fan-favorite featured event. Moreover, Beau had knocked out eight of his sixteen opponents, earning him a “KO artist” tag.
Learning from Henry Armstrong
In early January 1941, Beau spent a couple weeks in Florida, fishing, relaxing, and visiting family. He had fought 16 bouts in the last seven months and needed a break from Springfield and Holyoke. While Beau was vacationing, Bowman Milligan visited with his brother Lawson Bowman, Jr., in New York. Lawson had moved to New York in 1935, where he quickly worked his way up from bartender to a successful restaurant/bar entrepreneur in Harlem. Located at 92 St. Nicholas Avenue, Lawson’s Melody Room and Cocktail Lounge provided swanky entertainment during the late 40s and early 50s. With his charming demeanor, Bowman built an exceptionally strong clientele. There was no telling who you might see at his place, but you were almost guaranteed to see a local celebrity. One day you might see Jackie Robinson or Ella Fitzgerald. Another day you might run into Henry Armstrong, Joe Louis, or Jersey Joe Walcott.
While in New York, Milligan and Lawson caught up with an old acquaintance, the legendary boxer Henry Armstrong (1912–1988). Born in Columbus, Mississippi, Armstrong’s father was a mixed-race sharecropper, and his mother was a full-blooded Indian. “Homicide Hank,” as he was often called, began his boxing career in 1931 and had previously won simultaneous world titles in three different weight classes—featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. A couple of months earlier, however, Henry lost his welterweight title in a bloody ring war with Pittsburg boxer Fritzie Zivic and was currently training hard for his title rematch on January 17. Having finished his preliminary conditioning at Hot Springs, Arkansas, Armstrong was entering final preparations at Stillman’s Gym in New York. His professional record at the time was 112–13–7.
Henry Armstrong, c. 1937 (Library of Congress).
Bragging about his young boxer to Armstrong, Bowman asked Henry if he could impart some of his ring wisdom on Beau Jack and help him tighten up his boxing skills. The apprenticeship was a natural fit. Armstrong, “perpetual motion machine of boxing,”1 came at his opponents like a relentless buzz saw with a persistent windmill style, similar to the style that Beau employed. In need of another sparring partner, Armstrong agreed. When Beau learned of his new temporary boxing coach, he was ecstatic. Henry Armstrong was his idol. He was even more surprised when Armstrong invited him to stay in his apartment while he taught him the ropes.
As Armstrong and Beau sparred, young Jack eagerly soaked up his advice, as well as his bobbing and weaving style. Henry instructed Beau to shorten up his punches and taught him how to defend himself from being crowded in close. Coaching by example, Henry made it look easy by coming in close and putting his shoulder into Beau’s chest, jamming him. He taught Beau rhythm and style. Following his tutelage of Jack, Henry exclaimed to Milligan, “The kid’s strong as a bull, and if he ever learns to box, he can be a champion.”2
Beau had another stellar year in 1941, improving his overall record to 29–6–1. Nonetheless, the year did not start off or end well for him. He opened the year with a loss and finished with two losses. In between those losses, however, Jack scored 17 commanding victories.
Beau’s first bout of 1941 was on January 27 at the Valley. His opponent scheduled in the six-round main event was Paul “Tennessee” Lee. However, on the day of the fight, Joey Silva was substituted for Lee.
Silva had an enthralling background. His father was a prosperous silver mine operator working outside of Mexico City, Mexico. One day, when Joey was still a young boy, the notorious Mexican bandit, Pancho Villa, and his gang descended upon the home of Joey and his 44-year-old father. They kidnapped both of them and demanded a vast ransom for their return. Desperately, Silva’s family and acquaintances raised the ransom for their return. They were then directed to a specific site to retrieve Joey and his father. When they arrived, Joey was tied to a tree with a note pinned to his clothing leading them to another location where Mr. Silva could be found. When the Silvas reached the next spot, they were greeted by the ghastly sight of Mr. Silva’s dead body dangling from a tree with a noose around his neck. Following this horrific experience, Joey’s mother hastily moved the family to Los Angeles, where Joey spent the rest of his childhood.
In his early career, Silva was a featherweight title contender but was now largely an experienced journeyman boxer with a record of 11–26–6. With his slightly cross-eyed stare, he looked quite threatening in the ring. An aggressive fighter similar in style to Beau, he loved to heave windmill punches. Silva weighed in at 131 pounds to Beau’s 130½ pounds.
Silva and Beau came out of the starting gate swinging, both men trying to knock out the other. Unexpectedly, Silva weathered Beau’s perpetual storm and landed ample punches of his own to notch the victory. When the scorecards came in, Silva was victorious, winning by a close split decision. It was Beau’s fourth loss in 17 bouts.
Having lost to Silva, Beau needed to dish out some therapeutic punishment. Mexican Joe Rivers made a good target. The two met at the Valley on February 10, the 15-year anniversary of Valley Arena. A frustrated Beau came out steaming. Striking Rivers repeatedly with leather, Jack knocked Rivers down twice in the second round and twice in the third, before finishing him off 2:45 minutes into the fourth round. Lenny “Lefty” Isrow, Beau’s next opponent on February 24, didn’t last that long. Beau knocked Isrow out 2:40 minutes into the third round. He did the same to Nicky Jerome in their March 10 bout, knocking Jerome out in the third round. Beau was on fire, producing TKOs over Mexican Joe Rivers, Lenny Isrow, and Nicky Jerome.
Securing three straight victories, Beau procured a chance to redeem himself against Joey Silva. Beau had only suffered two defeats to the same opponent once in his young career. Jackie Parker pulled off that feat. Beau’s only other losses had come at the hands of Joe Polowitzer and Joey Silva.
The rematch was billed as the main event at Valley Arena on March 24, 1941. Beau came in weighing 135 pounds, four-and-a-half pounds heavier than their earlier fight. Silva weighed 133 pounds. Since they last met, Silva had only won one of his four contests; whereas Jack had won four in a row. Zealous Holyoke fight fans came out in throngs for the highly anticipated rematch. More than 3,300 frenzied fans crammed into the Valley Arena, making it the largest Valley crowd to witness Beau in combat.
Contrary to the oddsmakers who had Silva a 6 to 5 favorite, many of the loyal fans predicted Beau to emerge the victor. The fans were right. Jack avenged his loss to Silva, prevailing with a six-round unanimous decision.
Jack was rapidly adding to his win column. By March 1941, Beau had amassed a 16–4–1 record, with 11 victories coming by knockout. The Ring magazine featured a picture of Jack and hyped him as one of the most popular fighters in New England. In his syndicated column “Breezy Sports Briefs,” sportswriter Eddie Brietz began to depict Beau as an up-and-coming 135-pound contender for the lightweight title that hits like a middleweight.
With his improving record, Beau was sought after, not only by enthusiastic supporters enthralled by his swarming style but also by other fighters wanting to burst his bubble. Future Hall of Famer Willie Pep, an undefeated featherweight, announced to the world that he was gunning for a match with Beau. Pep had appeared on the same card with Jack at the Valley a month earlier and watched Beau knock out Joe Rivers. Pep would never get the opportunity he desired. Seeking to take advantage of Beau’s popularity, matchmaker Joe DeMaria prematurely announced a four-man elimination tournament to determine which fighter might get a shot at the sky-rocketing Beau Jack. DeMaria, however, did not have the needed endorsement from Jack’s camp.
Two weeks later, six days after celebrating his 20th birthday, Beau was ready for his next battle at the Valley. It was a mild night with temperatures in the low 50s. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Henry LaBarba, fighting under the name Tony Iacovacci, was Beau’s next adversary. It was Tony’s 12th fight of his fledgling career. To date, his record was 5–4–2. Beau evened out Iacovacci’s won-loss column, ending the bout via knockout in the final round. Iacovacci’s boxing career only lasted four more months before he bowed to working in the war effort as a checker in a tank production plant. His final record was 6–10–4.
Although Beau had fought two contests in Connecticut, he had not yet made it to the capital city of Hartford. Hartford boxing fans were itching to witness Jack in action and he was ready for a formal introduction. The Hartford Daily Courant touted Beau as sensational. “Sensational is an overworked adjective as applied to fighters, but it can be attached to Beau Jack without fear of being extravagant. The Holyoke colored boy, a terrific puncher, has been flattening one opponent after another.”3
Beau’s Hartford debut came on April 22, 1941, at historic Foot Guard Hall. Constructed in 1888 as an armory and drill hall, the red brick building served as the home of Connecticut’s Foot Guard First Company, the United States’ oldest continuous military organization. Founded in 1771, the Foot Guard’s First Company was charged with escorting the newly elected Colonial governors on election days. The red-coated Foot Guard still occupies the Hall which is protected under historical certification.
Not much was known about Beau’s opponent, Bob Reilly. Reilly, an Irish boxer from Cliffside, New Jersey, had 14 professional fights but had never fought an eight-round battle; much less a fighter like Beau Jack. To make matters more interesting, it was also Jack’s first eight-round bout.
The night’s fight card featured an electrifying twin headliner. Italian-American boxer Guglielmo Papaleo, aka Willie Pep, who had just recently called out Beau, faced Mexican Joey Silva in the first contest of the twin bill. Pep dominated Silva, continuing his winning streak by earning a unanimous decision. Pep would maintain his unbeaten streak for 62 fights before suffering his first defeat. Twice Pep would hold the world’s featherweight crown before finishing his 26-year career with an astonishing 241 contests and a record of 229–11–1. He earned The Ring’s 1945 Fighter of the Year award and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Willie Pep is considered by many to have been the number one featherweight of the 20th century.
The final ring-war of the evening was between Beau and Bob Reilly. Roaring with fervor, the crowd acknowledged Beau’s unofficial trainer and tutor, Henry Armstrong, who was spotted along with his trainer Pee Wee Beale, giving Beau some pre-fight instructions. One couldn’t ask for a better mentor.
As the opening bell rang, Jack rushed out looking to land punches rapidly on the Irish boxer. Reilly, as Beau soon discovered, was not a push-over. Dancing around in the ring, the clowning Reilly made Beau look foolish at times as Jack threw punches in the air, failing to connect with the cunning Reilly. It seemed like the jester from Cliffside was going to go the distance in their eight-round bout until Beau floored him in the seventh round for a nine count. Although Reilly raised himself off the canvas, Beau quickly dropped him again with a flurry of punches. Having seen enough, referee Frankie Portelle stopped the fight, awarding Beau a TKO victory.
Another fight, however, was only just beginning. A group of Hartford gamblers mistakenly placed bets on Reilly going the distance with Beau. When Portelle halted the fight in the seventh round, they became irate and nonsensical. As Portelle stepped out of the ring to make his way to the dressing room, one of the upset gamblers punched him. Immediately, a ringside ruckus erupted with more spectators jumping into the fray. Portelle suffered several blows before police could escort him to the dressing room. Police soon subdued the instigators, ending the last fight of the night.
Ben “Evil Eye” Finkle
After the fight, W. J. Lee, the sports editor for the Hartford Daily Courant, received a steamy letter from Lew Diamond, Justice of the Peace of Fairview, New Jersey, a self-proclaimed fistic authority and boxing manager. Diamond, who dubbed himself as the “honest brakeman,” felt the need to respond to Lee’s prefight assertions that Reilly was virtually unknown as a boxer. Diamond’s letter was quite amusing.
In order to bring peace to the House of Reilly, the fighting son of the family, Bob, would like another shot at the supposed killer from Holyoke, Beau Jack. I would appreciate the same referee, Frank Portelle. I will bring Ben (Evil Eye) Finkle with me to demonstrate the power of his eye and he will hit Beau Jack and the referee with Slodobka Stare, the Whammy, the Zaza and the Zinger all at one and the same time.4
Reilly would never get a second chance at Beau Jack. Who knows if a rematch would have ended differently for Reilly with the presence of the “Evil Eye” and his curses?
Brooklyn native Benjamin David “Evil Eye” Finkle (1899–1978) was a legendary figure in boxing. He boxed for a short period before managing Patsy Flanagan. As a manager, Finkle discovered a new trick. He began giving Flanagan’s opponents the “Evil Eye” hex with his somewhat bloodshot left eye. Many fighters became troubled by it and refused to look at Finkle in fear of the impending spell.
Telling sportswriters that his eyes had “evil” powers, Finkle quickly grew his “Evil Eye” legend. The effectiveness of the hex was so powerful, many well-known managers and boxers would call on his services to hex their adversaries with his “Evil Eye.” Depending on the price, Finkle would put spells on opponents such as the “Slobodka Stare” or the “Warsaw Wink.” Joey Archibald, a featherweight from Providence, Rhode Island, discovered the power of Finkle’s “Evil Eye” the hard way. After Finkle assisted Archibald in notching victories for several years, including the world featherweight title, Joey failed to retain his services when he battled Petey Scalzo. Spitefully, Finkle went to Scalzo’s team. With the “Evil Eye” in his corner, Scalzo knocked Archibald out in the second round. It was Archibald’s first loss in 16 contests.
There are numerous other examples of Finkle’s “Evil Eye” hexing opponents. In 1938, Finkle put the “Slobodka Stare” on Lew Jenkins when he lost in a huge upset to Chino Alvarez. Finkle also put his hex on Billy Conn, a future light heavyweight champion and an 8 to 1 favorite, when he lost in an upset to Solly Krieger. Astonishingly, he had a notable list of clients including Doc Kearns, Angelo Dundee, Honest Bill Daly, Sugar Ray Robinson, Carmen Basilio, Gus Lesnevich, Floyd Patterson, and Rocky Marciano.
“Evil Eye” Finkle, however, didn’t limit himself to prize-fighters. He would use his “Evil Eye” to hex racehorses, baseball and football teams, and even Adolf Hitler. In the famous 1938 horse race between War Admiral and Sea Biscuit, Finkle cast a spell on War Admiral, resulting in Sea Biscuit’s victory. In 1949, he hexed the University of Georgia football team, which subsequently lost in a huge upset to the Miami Hurricanes. During World War II, two weeks after Finkle started casting his hex toward Germany, Hitler killed himself.
Less than a week after defeating Reilly, Beau was back at the Valley to confront a veteran boxer from Hartford, Connecticut, Harry Gentile (1916–1997). Gentile was a “club-fighting Hartford lightweight” with six years of ring experience, despite a bleak record of 13–47–3. “Handsome Harry,” as Gentile was often called, came into the bout desperate for a win, having lost his last five matches, two of which were by knockout.
A full house was on hand as Beau entered the ring, hoping for another knockout. Beau had knocked out seven of his last nine opponents and was primed to add another KO to his list. The match was scheduled for six rounds, but like five of Beau’s last six fights, it did not go the distance. It didn’t even make it to the second round. At the opening bell Beau came out of his corner and quickly closed in on Gentile, attacking his head with power punches. Gentile tried to clinch, but as he did, the two pugilists got tangled up inside and bumped heads, opening a severe gash on Gentile’s head. With blood flowing down Gentile’s face, Referee Billy Lieberman called the fight 1:44 minutes into the first round.
According to the State Physician Dr. Edward D. Warren, Gentile received a deep laceration over his left eye measuring one and one-quarter inches long from a head-butt. Beau notched up yet another easy TKO victory. In awe of his featured attraction, Homer Rainault, the owner of the Valley Arena and long-time fight promoter, ecstatically exclaimed Beau Jack to be “the greatest fighter for his experience that I’ve ever seen.”5
Beau was rolling. Eight of his last ten adversaries tasted defeat via knockout. With his overall record improving to 19–4–1, Beau was eager to add more wins to his win column, but he hit a minor bump in the road. On May 5, 1941, Beau faced a hungry 5'8" tall New York fighter from Puerto Rico, Chester Rico (1917–1981). The dark-haired, 24-year-old Puerto Rican welterweight carried his respectable record of 21 victories, three losses, and one draw into the ring. Rico also brought renowned power into the battle. He had knocked out his last opponent, Marty Shapiro, 2:24 minutes into the second round. Moreover, Rico brought his fervent determination. Both fighters weighed in at 136 pounds. Eagerly awaiting the impending slugfest was another full-capacity crowd filling the seats at the Valley.
At the opening bell, Rico came out tough, giving Beau a boxing lesson for the first half of the fight utilizing his speed and skills. Then Rico thumped Beau around the ring for the second half, mixing in two-fisted body punches with jabs and hooks. It looked like Rico would snag the victory, but Beau did just enough to save himself from defeat. The fight ended in a draw. It was Jack’s second draw.
Notwithstanding Beau’s second draw, his stock was still rising. Jack was fighting at a blistering pace. In one year, he had fought an astonishing 26 bouts, averaging over two contests a month. That pace doesn’t provide much time for bruises and wounds to heal.
Two weeks later, on May 19, Jack was back in the Holyoke ring for his 13th main event appearance. He faced Boston boxer George Salamone. Salamone had a respectful record of 27–8–4, had never been knocked out, and recently had been hailed as an up-and-coming young lightweight. Beau wasted no time asserting his control early in the bout. He battered the Bostonian so hard with a vicious fifth round attack, most fans didn’t think Salamone would survive till the bell. But Salamone, with gritty fortitude, weathered the storm. Tenacity, however, would not save Salamone in the end. In the final minute of the eighth and final round, Beau persistently bombarded punches off Salamone’s head until he dropped to the canvas. For the first time in Salamone’s 48-bout career, he fell victim to a knockout.
The Stork Club Adopts Beau
As Beau continued progressing toward a possible shot at the lightweight title, news stories began appearing regarding Beau’s financial backers and prefight routines. Two respected journalists in particular, Jack Cuddy and Bob Considine, began writing about the up-and-coming Beau Jack in their sports columns.
Jack Cuddy (1898–1975) was the dean of boxing writers during the ’30s through the early ’60s. Writing for United Press International and its successor, UPI, Cuddy covered nearly every major fight. The UPI boxing editor for 24 years, Cuddy’s knowledge of boxing was legendary, as was his consideration for others and his willingness to help his colleagues in need. In 1965, Cuddy was honored as the recipient of the James J. Walker Award from the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the Boxing Writers’ Association for long and meritorious service to boxing.
Robert “Bob” Considine (1906–1975), grew up in Washington, D.C. In 1930, he began work at the Washington Herald, a newspaper owned by William Randolph Hearst. A correspondent for the International News Service, his syndicated column, “On the Line,” was extremely popular. A prolific writer, Considine wrote numerous books in addition to his news stories. It is said that he often used two typewriters at one time, writing his “On the Line” column on one and a book on the other. Considine also served as a war correspondent during World War II and travelled all over the world.
Jack Cuddy described Beau as a “syndicate” fighter backed by more money and publicity than anybody in the game. “He has a manager, trainer, rubber, cook and a lot of people making sure he gets the choicest steaks for his meals.”6 Moreover, before each fight, Clifford Roberts, CEO of the Augusta National Golf Club, would write the Syndicate stockholders a letter touting their rising stock in Beau and his climb toward the top.
On fight night, many of Beau’s millionaire Syndicate supporters gathered at the swanky Park Lane Hotel or Stork Club in Manhattan for food, drink, and fellowship. Then they would saunter over to Madison Square Garden to witness the battle and cheer for their little muscle-bound “Georgia Bootblack.” Following the fight, they would often retire to the Chatham Hotel to engage in a few rounds of bridge.
They were anxious to furnish Beau the opportunity to show the world his boxing ability. Bob Considine explained. “Under the terms of their contract with Beau Jack,” wrote Considine, “all they’ll get back is their grand, plus the fun of giving an orphaned bootblack a chance to show that the talents he was wasting shining shoes and participating in battle royals at the club functions, would be appreciated by the most sophisticated boxing audience in the country.”7 Financial gain didn’t motivate the Syndicate members. They just wanted their “Georgia Bootblack” to rise to the top of the lightweight ranks.
The famed Stork Club, where many of the Syndicate members patronized, also adopted Beau as its prizefighter. The epitome of American charm, intricacy, and elegance, the Stork Club operated in Manhattan from 1929 until 1965. Originally located on West 58th Street, the club moved to 3 East 53rd Street after it was raided by Prohibition agents in 1931. The best and brightest of American personalities frequented Sherman Billingsley’s Stork Club, from the wealthy elite and movie stars to showgirls. You would always see celebrities at the Stork Club. Frequent guests included such prominent people as J. Edgar Hoover, Ernest Hemingway, John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, Irving Berlin, Carl Sandberg, Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and Frank Sinatra. An iconic symbol of 20th century American culture, the Stork Club has been featured in numerous films, such as The Stork Club (1945), All About Eve (1950), and Executive Suite (1954).
More Peonage
The week before Jack’s next bout, more horrific news of racial discord came out of the state of Georgia. On Thursday, May 29, 1941, William T. Cunningham, an Oglethorpe County plantation owner, and Hamilton McWhorter of Lexington, Georgia, a lawyer and former president of the Georgia Senate, were named in federal indictments in Chicago and charged with conspiracy to enslave six “Negroes in a condition of peonage and slavery”8 contrary to their civil rights under the 13th Amendment guaranteeing freedom from slavery. The maximum penalty for the crimes was 14 years’ imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.
For many years, Cunningham had induced scores of black men to work on his plantations by promising wages or getting them out of jail or off chain gangs. When they came, he enslaved them, making them work 14- to 17-hour days for no pay. Cunningham restrained them by instilling fear through lashings with straps and imprisonment if they attempted to run away. A federal judge in Georgia, however, refused to extradite Cunningham and McWhorter to Chicago for trial. Progress was sluggish in the South.
Crossroads
Beau’s biggest fight to date came on June 2, 1941, when he faced 27-year-old Tommy Speigal (1913–1945). The media hyped the event as a critical test for Jack and his future. “Up to the cross-roads of boxing moves Beau Jack … next Monday night when he meets 10th ranking lightweight Tommy Speigal.”9 Holyoke boxing fans were also restless to see if Beau could stand up to one of the superior lightweights. Hailing from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Speigal was a veteran boxer, having lost only 33 of 117 contests and enjoying a top ten ranking among lightweights. As an amateur, he had won titles in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. Tommy may have been a little weathered, but his record and victories over Sammy Angott, NBA world lightweight champ; Bob Montgomery, Pennsylvania State lightweight champion; and Dave Castilloux, made him a significant threat.
Speigal also possessed remarkable character and grit. In high school, Tommy suffered an injury playing sandlot football, leaving him with a stiff right knee. Despite suffering a handicap, Tommy hit hard, had a formidable looping right punch and an exceptional inside game. Due to his inability to back up quickly, he was forced to bore in on his opponent. Instead of viewing it as a disability, Tommy used his stiff knee to his advantage as he bored in on his adversaries.
Tommy Speigal, c. early 1940s (courtesy Philly Boxing History Collection).
Both fighters weighed in at 136½ pounds, but Speigal had a significant height advantage at 5'8". The oddsmakers also listed Speigal as their favorite. With the Syndicate on hand for the bout, Beau was bent on beating the odds, and he did just that. Beau won every round of the contest, earning a unanimous decision over the Uniontown fighter. The next day’s sports headline stated, “Beau Jack Wins in Fistic Upset.”10
In his twelfth bout of the year, Beau met George Zengaras, the Greek Adonis, in an eight-rounder at the Valley on Monday night, June 16, 1941. Zengaras, at 25 years of age, was a nationally recognized lightweight with a record of 55–20–7. The muscular, dark-haired Zengaras won his previous fight, knocking out Tony Saraullo in the seventh round. He was clever and ingenious. George was also known for boring his way into his opponent as he threw punches. Beau was not daunted. In a tough, well-fought battle, Beau emerged with a unanimous decision over George Zengaras.
Roosevelt Seeks to End Discrimination in Defense Industry
Earlier in the day on June 16, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) made emphatic statements to the American public and the Office of Production Management to end discrimination in the defense industry plants throughout the United States. Acknowledging nationwide discrimination against black people in the defense industry, President Roosevelt declared that it was of utmost importance “for us to strengthen our unity and morale by refuting at home the very theories which we are fighting abroad.”11 The president emphasized,
Our government cannot countenance continued discrimination against American citizens in defense production. Industry must take the initiative in opening the doors of employment to all loyal and qualified workers regardless of race, national origin, religion or color. American workers, both organized and unorganized, must be prepared to welcome the general and much-needed employment of fellow workers of all racial and nationality origins in defense industries.12
Too many qualified workers were being sent away because of their race or color. Especially in light of the ongoing world conflict, there was a needed effort to alleviate discrimination.
1. Regis M. Welsh, “Zivic Rips Armstrong to Shreds in Winning Title,” Pittsburg Press, October 5, 1940, 9.
2. Harold Parrott, “Both Sides,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 31, 1943, 17.
3. “Twin Headliners Mark Fight Card at Foot Guard Armory Tonight,” Hartford Courant, April 22, 1941, 7.
4. W.J. Lee, “With Malice Toward None,” Hartford Courant, April 26, 1941, 11.
5. “Twin Headliners Mark Fight Card at Foot Guard Armory Tonight,” Hartford Courant, April 22, 1941, 17.
6. Jack Cuddy, “Beau Jack Latest Sensation Along Cauliflower Row,” Danville Morning News, August 20, 1941, 7.
7. Bob Considine, “Old Hauts Are to See Beau Jack,” Cincinnati Enquirer, November 4, 1941, 14.
8. “2 Georgians Indicted on Slave Charge,” Des Moines Register, May 30, 1941, 1.
9. “Jack to Fight Spiegel Monday at Valley Arena,” Hartford Courant, June 1, 1941, 45.
10. “Beau Jack Wins in Fistic Upset,” Arizona Republic, June 3, 1941, 53.
11. “FDR Orders Negro Jobs in Defense,” Democrat and Chronicle, June 16, 1941, 1.
12. Ibid.