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Sidney Walker, better known as Beau Jack, (April 1
1921 – February 9 2000), was an United
States|American lightweight boxing|boxer, he was a
world champion twice.  One of the most popular
fighters during the World War II|war years, he
headlined at Madison Square Garden on 21
occasions, a record that still stands.

==Early years==

He was born in Augusta, Georgia and was raised by
his maternal grandmother, who gave him the
nickname "Beau Jack", following the death of his
mother.  From an early age Jack worked as a
shoe-shine boy in Augusta, when he was 15 he look
to supplement his income by participating in the
brutal Battle Royal|battles royal.  These fights
featured six black men fighting blindfolded until
one remained, these fights were funded by rich
white men for their own entertainment, the winner
received a relatively meagre purse.  Despite his
small stature Jack was often victorious.

Following his first battle royal at the Augusta
National Golf Club Jack beame a caddie at the
club.  He quickly befriended some of the club's
members, including the golfing legend Bobby Jones
(golf)|Bobby Jones, who helped fund his boxing
training.

==Boxing career==

Jack turned professional in 1940, he bagan his
career fighting in Massachusetts where he quickly
established an impressive record of 27-4-2.  It
was also during these early fights that Jack
earned his reputation for being a relentless and
powerful fighter, two traits which endeared him to
audiences.  

To further his career Jack moved to New York in
August 1941, where he continued to impress.  By
November 1942 Jack found himself in a fight
against Allie Stolz to decide who would challenge
for the New York version of the world title. 
Going into the fight Stolz was the clear
favourite, he was 3-1 to win, however Jack pulled
off a massive shock by knocking out Stolz in the
seventh round.  In the title fight, against Tippy
Larkin, jack pulled off a similar surprise by
knocking out the champion in the third round.

Jack only held the title for six months before
dropping it to fellow hall-of-famer Bob Montgomery
on an unanimous points decision.  Jack did go on
to regain the title from Montgomery, before losing
it to him once again in March 1944.

The most famous fight of Jack's career was his
fourth battle with Montgomery on August 4 1944,
the so-called "War Bonds Fight" for which tickets
were only available to those who purchased war
bonds.  Although Montgomery's title was not on the
line, the gate was a record $36m with 15,822 war
bonds being sold.  Many people who purchased bonds
left their tickets at the box office for US
servicemen, indeed Montgomery and Jack, who were
both serving as privates in the US army, refused
to take purses for the fight.  Jack took the fight
on points after 10 rounds, however the highlight
of the evening was when the lights dimmed and a
spotlight picked out Joe Louis, who was standing
in the front row, to the reception of a standing
ovation.

Jack would not challenge for the title again until
July 12 1948 when he fought another hall-of-famer:
Ike Williams.  This challenge proved to be
unsuccessful as Jack was knocked out in the sixth
round.  This defeat marked the start of a rivalry
between the pair who would go on to fight on three
more occasions.  However, with Jack's skills
clearly waning, Williams managed to take the first
match by a split decision, the second match was
drawn, and Williams won the third as Jack was
unable to answer the bell for the ninth round. 
This third fight, on August 12 1958, also marked
the end of Jack's career.

==Life after boxing==

Immediately after his career Jack operated a
drive-in barbecue stand, ran a small farm, and
refereed wrestling matches.  However, when his
earnings ran out he returned to shining shoes at a
hotel in Miami, Florida.  Jack also campaigned
heavily for a pension scheme for boxers, he felt
that no fighter should be reduced to the
impoverished fate he was.  He also trained
fighters at Miami's infamous Fifth Street Gym.

In his later years Jack suffered from Pugilistic
Parkinson's syndrome|pugilistic Parkinson's
syndrome (which also affected Muhammad Ali and Joe
Louis), complications from which ultimately killed
him.

Beau Jack was the 1944 Ring Magazine fighters of
the year|Ring Magazine fighter of the year and was
inducted into the International Boxing Hall of
Fame in 1991.