Jimmy Carter (boxer)

James Walter Carter (December 15, 1923, in Aiken, SC – September 21, 1994) was a three-time Undisputed World Lightweight Champion between 1951 and 1955. His managers included Jimmy Roche and Willie Ketchum. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year. His professional record was 80-31-9 with 32 knockouts.<ref name=BR>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=BRB>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=TMS>"Carter Ready for Anybody, Anytime", The Minneapolis Star, Minneapolis, Minnesota, pg. 49, 15 November 1951</ref><ref name=CBZ>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

James Walter Carter was born on December 15, 1923, in Aiken, South Carolina, but his family moved to New York when he was nine. Carter began to use his fists defending himself on the streets of Harlem, but later received training at a Catholic Boys Club, making his amateur debut at the age of fourteen.<ref name=BRB/> Beginning as a professional fighter in New York in 1946, he won 22 of his first 26 fights.<ref name=BR/>

First taking the World Lightweight Championship, May 1951

On May 25, 1951, Carter took the World Lightweight Championship from reigning champion Ike Williams in a fourteenth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden. Williams was down in the fifth, tenth, and fourteenth rounds.<ref name=BR/> Carter knocked Williams to the mat a total of four times, and was leading the scorecards of all three officials before the bout was stopped. In the fifth round, Williams was dropped to the canvas for a five count, and never was the same. Surprisingly, Carter was not at all well known at the time of the bout, and his victory was considered an upset.<ref>Rose, Murray, "Ike Williams is Defeated By Unknown", The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, pg. 6, 25 May 1851</ref>

In his first title defense before 7,251 fans on November 14, 1951, he went up against Art Aragon at the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles, winning in a fifteen-round unanimous decision. Aragon was down in both the sixth and fifteenth rounds, but claimed after the fight that a left to his jaw in the twelfth is what finally did him in.<ref name=BR/> It was an easy win for Carter, as Aragon lacked the skills to take down the world champion. Aragon took a severe beating in the last four rounds that sealed the victory for Carter.<ref name=TMS/> Carter had oddly lost to Aragon on August 28 of that year in a fifteen-round split decision at the same location. Some boxing writers speculated he may have thrown the fight on purpose. Some even believed Carter was controlled by mafia kingpin Frankie Carbo.<ref name=CBZ/>

He lost the title on May 14, 1952, against Lauro Salas at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles in a fifteen-round split decision that was a jarring upset for many.<ref name=BR/> The decision was a controversial one, and many boxing writers disagreed with the official' final ruling for Sales.<ref>"Mexico's Lauro Sales Pounds Out Upset Win Over Champion" Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, pg. 9, 15 May 1952</ref>

Taking the World Lightweight Championship for the second time, October 1952

Carter took the World Lightweight Championship for a second time on October 15, 1952, against Mexican national Lauro Salas in a fifteen around unanimous decision at the Chicago Stadium before a small crowd of 5,283.<ref name=BR/> In a sweeping victory, which saw far more damage to Salas, the officials gave all but two of the rounds to Carter and his terrific left hook.<ref>Chamberland, Charles, "Carter Wins Back Crown From Salas", The Decatur Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois, pg. 38, 16 October 1952</ref>

On April 24, 1953, he staged a title defense against Tommy Collins before a substantial crowd of 12,477 at Boston Garden, winning in a fourth-round TKO. Collins' corner men ended the fight after their boxer had been knocked to the canvas ten times in the final two rounds. Both the TV audience and the crowd, who were largely fans of Collins, protested the continuation of such a brutal, and one sided bout.<ref>King Bill, "Jimmy Carter Scores TKO Over Tommy Collins in the 4th", The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 23, 25 April 1953</ref> He next fought George Araujo on June 12, 1953, in a lightweight world title bout at Madison Square Garden, winning in a thirteenth-round TKO.<ref name=BR/>

On March 5, 1954, Carter lost his second World Lightweight Championship against Paddy DeMarco in a fifteen-round unanimous decision at New York's Madison Square Garden.<ref name=BR/> DeMarco, a 4–1, underdog won the decision with ease rocking the crowd of 5,730 with a remarkable upset. Carter tried for a knockout throughout the bout, but DeMarco scored continuously with fleet footwork and a punishing left. Both judges gave DeMarco nine rounds, with the referee giving him seven.<ref>Rose, Murray, "Carter Loses Title to Unsung DeMarco", Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, pg. 10, 06 March 1954</ref>

Taking the World Lightweight Championship for third and final time, November 1954

On November 17, 1954, Carter took the lightweight championship back from Paddy DeMarco in a fifteen-round TKO at the Cow Palace, in Daily City, California. DeMarco was down in the ninth and fourteenth rounds. Carter had lost his title to DeMarco only seven months earlier.<ref name=BR/>

Carter lost the title for the last time to Wallace "Bud" Smith at Boston Garden in a fifteen-round split decision on June 29, 1955.<ref name=BR/> Though the bout was close, Carter took one of the worst beatings of his career from Smith requiring fifteen stitches over his eyes. Smith himself needed three stitches to fix a cut over his own eye. The crowd of only 1,983 saw a razor close, hotly contested title match. Two of the officials gave a margin of only one point between the two boxers.<ref>Hoobing, Bob, "Smith Wins Lightweight Title From Carter", The Bridgeport Telegram, Bridgeport, Connecticut, pg. 80, 30 June 1955</ref>

Carter died of a heart attack on September 21, 1994, at the age of 70.<ref name=BRB/>

Professional boxing record

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
125	Template:No2Loss	85–31–9	Luis Garduno	PTS	10	Apr 1, 1960	Template:Small
124	Template:No2Loss	85–30–9	Jimmy Grow	UD	10	Feb 25, 1960	Template:Small
123	Template:No2Loss	85–29–9	Art Ramponi	PTS	10	Nov 24, 1959	Template:Small
122	Template:Yes2Win	85–28–9	Kildo Nunez	KO	4 (10)	Nov 10, 1959	Template:Small
121	Template:Yes2Win	84–28–9	Jimmy Smith	KO	3 (10)	Oct 13, 1959	Template:Small
120	Template:Yes2Win	83–28–9	Kildo Nunez	PTS	10	Aug 11, 1959	Template:Small
119	Template:No2Loss	82–28–9	Rudy Jordan	TKO	6 (10)	Sep 23, 1958	Template:Small
118	Template:No2Loss	82–27–9	Al Nevarez	UD	10	Sep 9, 1958	Template:Small
117	Template:Yes2Win	82–26–9	Jimmy Grow	TKO	7 (10)	Jul 19, 1958	Template:Small
116	Template:No2Loss	81–26–9	Joey Lopes	SD	10	Mar 11, 1958	Template:Small
115	Template:No2Loss	81–25–9	Joey Lopes	UD	10	Jan 14, 1958	Template:Small
114	Template:No2Loss	81–24–9	Willie Toweel	PTS	10	Oct 8, 1957	Template:Small
113	Template:Yes2Win	81–23–9	Mickey Northrup	UD	10	Sep 7, 1957	Template:Small
112	Template:Yes2Win	80–23–9	Buddy McDonald	UD	10	May 23, 1957	Template:Small
111	Template:No2Loss	79–23–9	Larry Boardman	TKO	8 (10)	Sep 11, 1956	Template:Small
110	Template:Yes2Win	79–22–9	Lauro Salas	UD	10	Jun 21, 1956	Template:Small
109	Template:No2Loss	78–22–9	Art Aragon	UD	10	May 3, 1956	Template:Small
108	Template:Yes2Win	78–21–9	Don Jordan	UD	10	Mar 29, 1956	Template:Small
107	Template:Yes2Win	77–21–9	Phil Burton	PTS	10	Mar 5, 1956	Template:Small
106	Template:No2Loss	76–21–9	Cisco Andrade	SD	10	Feb 1, 1956	Template:Small
105	Template:No2Loss	76–20–9	Wallace Bud Smith	UD	15	Oct 19, 1955	Template:Small	Template:Small
104	Template:No2Loss	76–19–9	Wallace Bud Smith	SD	15	Jun 29, 1955	Template:Small	Template:Small
103	Template:No2Loss	76–18–9	Orlando Zulueta	SD	10	Apr 20, 1955	Template:Small
102	Template:DrawDraw	76–17–9	Tony DeMarco	PTS	10	Feb 11, 1955	Template:Small
101	Template:Yes2Win	76–17–8	Bobby Woods	UD	10	Jan 26, 1955	Template:Small
100	Template:Yes2Win	75–17–8	Paddy DeMarco	TKO	15 (15)	Nov 17, 1954	Template:Small	Template:Small
99	Template:Yes2Win	74–17–8	Freddie Herman	UD	10	Sep 22, 1954	Template:Small
98	Template:Yes2Win	73–17–8	Glen Flanagan	UD	10	Aug 4, 1954	Template:Small
97	Template:Yes2Win	72–17–8	Charley Riley	KO	2 (10)	Jun 2, 1954	Template:Small
96	Template:No2Loss	71–17–8	Paddy DeMarco	UD	15	Mar 5, 1954	Template:Small	Template:Small
95	Template:Yes2Win	71–16–8	Billy Lauderdale	UD	10	Feb 8, 1954	Template:Small
94	Template:Yes2Win	70–16–8	Armand Savoie	KO	5 (15)	Nov 11, 1953	Template:Small	Template:Small
93	Template:Yes2Win	69–16–8	Carlos Chavez	TKO	6 (10)	Oct 15, 1953	Template:Small
92	Template:Yes2Win	68–16–8	Abdelkader Ben Miloud	TKO	8 (10)	Sep 28, 1953	Template:Small
91	Template:No2Loss	67–16–8	Johnny Cunningham	SD	10	Sep 12, 1953	Template:Small
90	Template:Yes2Win	67–15–8	George Araujo	TKO	13 (15)	Jun 12, 1953	Template:Small	Template:Small
89	Template:Yes2Win	66–15–8	Tommy Collins	TKO	4 (15)	Feb 24, 1953	Template:Small	Template:Small
88	Template:No2Loss	65–15–8	Armand Savoie	SD	10	Feb 16, 1953	Template:Small
87	Template:No2Loss	65–14–8	Eddie Chavez	SD	10	Jan 12, 1953	Template:Small
86	Template:DrawDraw	65–13–8	Freddie Herman	MD	10	Dec 16, 1952	Template:Small
85	Template:Yes2Win	65–13–7	Archie Whitewater	UD	10	Dec 9, 1952	Template:Small
84	Template:Yes2Win	64–13–7	Lauro Salas	UD	15	Oct 15, 1952	Template:Small	Template:Small
83	Template:Yes2Win	63–13–7	Basil Marie	UD	10	Sep 1, 1952	Template:Small
82	Template:No2Loss	62–13–7	Lauro Salas	SD	15	May 14, 1952	Template:Small	Template:Small
81	Template:Yes2Win	62–12–7	Lauro Salas	UD	15	Apr 1, 1952	Template:Small	Template:Small
80	Template:Yes2Win	61–12–7	Luther Rawlings	SD	10	Mar 12, 1952	Template:Small
79	Template:Yes2Win	60–12–7	Allan McFater	UD	9	Feb 5, 1952	Template:Small
78	Template:Yes2Win	59–12–7	Mario Trigo	MD	10	Jan 21, 1952	Template:Small
77	Template:Yes2Win	58–12–7	Art Aragon	UD	15	Nov 14, 1951	Template:Small	Template:Small
76	Template:No2Loss	57–12–7	Art Aragon	SD	10	Aug 28, 1951	Template:Small
75	Template:Yes2Win	57–11–7	Mario Trigo	UD	10	Aug 14, 1951	Template:Small
74	Template:Yes2Win	56–11–7	Del Flanagan	RTD	6 (10)	Aug 2, 1951	Template:Small
73	Template:Yes2Win	55–11–7	Enrique Bolanos	TKO	7 (10)	Jul 10, 1951	Template:Small
72	Template:Yes2Win	54–11–7	Ronnie Harper	KO	5 (10)	Jul 2, 1951	Template:Small
71	Template:Yes2Win	53–11–7	Chick Boucher	KO	4 (10)	Jun 18, 1951	Template:Small
70	Template:Yes2Win	52–11–7	Ike Williams	TKO	14 (15)	May 25, 1951	Template:Small	Template:Small
69	Template:No2Loss	51–11–7	Percy Bassett	UD	10	Mar 5, 1951	Template:Small
68	Template:Yes2Win	51–10–7	Percy Bassett	UD	10	Feb 7, 1951	Template:Small
67	Template:No2Loss	50–10–7	Calvin Smith	SD	10	Jan 30, 1951	Template:Small
66	Template:DrawDraw	50–9–7	Tommy Campbell	UD	10	Oct 6, 1950	Template:Small
65	Template:Yes2Win	50–9–6	Jesse Underwood	UD	10	Jul 25, 1950	Template:Small
64	Template:Yes2Win	49–9–6	Wallace Bud Smith	UD	10	Mar 28, 1950	Template:Small
63	Template:No2Loss	48–9–6	Rudy Cruz	MD	10	Nov 29, 1949	Template:Small
62	Template:Yes2Win	48–8–6	Bernie Hall	PTS	12	Oct 28, 1949	Template:Small
61	Template:Yes2Win	47–8–6	Charlie Ashenden	KO	4 (12)	Oct 4, 1949	Template:Small
60	Template:No2Loss	46–8–6	Norm Gent	PTS	12	Sep 16, 1949	Template:Small
59	Template:Yes2Win	46–7–6	Mario Trigo	KO	6 (10)	May 23, 1949	Template:Small
58	Template:Yes2Win	45–7–6	Archie Whitewater	KO	6 (10)	Apr 22, 1949	Template:Small
57	Template:Yes2Win	44–7–6	Nick Diaz	TKO	6 (10)	Apr 4, 1949	Template:Small
56	Template:Yes2Win	43–7–6	Talmadge Bussey	PTS	10	Jan 31, 1949	Template:Small
55	Template:Yes2Win	42–7–6	Harold Jones	SD	10	Jan 17, 1949	Template:Small
54	Template:Yes2Win	41–7–6	Louis Joyce	UD	10	Dec 6, 1948	Template:Small
53	Template:No2Loss	40–7–6	Sonny Boy West	UD	10	Nov 1, 1948	Template:Small
52	Template:Yes2Win	40–6–6	Issac Jenkins	PTS	8 (10)	Sep 27, 1948	Template:Small
51	Template:Yes2Win	39–6–6	Joey Angelo	UD	10	Aug 30, 1948	Template:Small
50	Template:Yes2Win	38–6–6	George Bradford Smith	UD	10	Aug 9, 1948	Template:Small
49	Template:Yes2Win	37–6–6	Julie Kogon	RTD	7 (10)	Jul 26, 1948	Template:Small
48	Template:DrawDraw	36–6–6	Woody Winslow	PTS	10	Jul 20, 1948	Template:Small
47	Template:Yes2Win	36–6–5	Wilfredo Miro	PTS	10	Jul 12, 1948	Template:Small
46	Template:Yes2Win	35–6–5	Phil Burton	PTS	10	Jun 29, 1948	Template:Small
45	Template:No2Loss	34–6–5	Bobby McQuillar	PTS	10	May 21, 1948	Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	34–5–5	Willie Russell	PTS	10	Apr 17, 1948	Template:Small
43	Template:Yes2Win	33–5–5	Calvin Smith	PTS	8	Mar 29, 1948	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	32–5–5	Charley Cabby Lewis	PTS	10	Mar 9, 1948	Template:Small
41	Template:Yes2Win	31–5–5	Thompson Harmon	PTS	8	Jan 27, 1948	Template:Small
40	Template:DrawDraw	30–5–5	Al Pennino	PTS	8	Dec 9, 1947	Template:Small
39	Template:No2Loss	30–5–4	Charley Cabey Lewis	TKO	7 (10)	Nov 18, 1947	Template:Small
38	Template:DrawDraw	30–4–4	Danny Williams	PTS	8	Oct 27, 1947	Template:Small
37	Template:DrawDraw	30–4–3	Danny Williams	PTS	8	Sep 29, 1947	Template:Small
36	Template:Yes2Win	30–4–2	Patsy Spataro	RTD	7 (8)	Sep 16, 1947	Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	29–4–2	Henry Polowitzer	PTS	8	Sep 8, 1947	Template:Small
34	Template:Yes2Win	28–4–2	Matt Parker	TKO	8 (8)	Aug 11, 1947	Template:Small
33	Template:Yes2Win	27–4–2	Thompson Harmon	TKO	5 (6)	Jul 22, 1947	Template:Small
32	Template:DrawDraw	26–4–2	Sandy Saddler	MD	10	Jun 3, 1947	Template:Small
31	Template:Yes2Win	26–4–1	Mario Chico Morales	KO	7 (8)	May 27, 1947	Template:Small
30	Template:Yes2Win	25–4–1	Johnny Johnson	PTS	8	May 12, 1947	Template:Small
29	Template:No2Loss	24–4–1	Joe Brown	PTS	10	Apr 18, 1947	Template:Small
28	Template:Yes2Win	24–3–1	Walter Stevens	PTS	6	Mar 28, 1947	Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	23–3–1	Eddie White	RTD	3 (8)	Mar 18, 1947	Template:Small
26	Template:Yes2Win	22–3–1	Walter Cabey Lewis	PTS	6	Feb 24, 1947	Template:Small
25	Template:Yes2Win	21–3–1	Leo Methot	PTS	6	Jan 20, 1947	Template:Small
24	Template:Yes2Win	20–3–1	Walter Keene	PTS	8	Jan 7, 1947	Template:Small
23	Template:Yes2Win	19–3–1	Ruby Garcia	TKO	3 (8)	Dec 17, 1946	Template:Small
22	Template:Yes2Win	18–3–1	Eddie Smith	PTS	8	Dec 2, 1946	Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	17–3–1	Billy Williams	TKO	7 (8)	Nov 5, 1946	Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	16–3–1	Charley Noel	PTS	8	Oct 19, 1946	Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	15–3–1	Paul Midiri	UD	8	Oct 2, 1946	Template:Small
18	Template:No2Loss	14–3–1	Danny Carabella	SD	8	Sep 16, 1946	Template:Small
17	Template:Yes2Win	14–2–1	Johnny Johnson	KO	4 (6)	Sep 5, 1946	Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	13–2–1	Al Turner	KO	5 (6)	Aug 26, 1946	Template:Small
15	Template:No2Loss	12–2–1	Ray Lewis	PTS	6	Aug 12, 1946	Template:Small
14	Template:DrawDraw	12–1–1	Paul Midiri	PTS	6	Jul 29, 1946	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	12–1	Joey Monteiro	PTS	6	Jul 9, 1946	Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	11–1	Lou Langley	KO	1 (6)	Jun 12, 1946	Template:Small
11	Template:No2Loss	10–1	Johnny LaRusso	PTS	4	May 31, 1946	Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	10–0	Leo LeBrun	PTS	6	May 28, 1946	Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	9–0	Lou Daniels	KO	3 (?)	May 7, 1946	Template:Small
8	Template:Yes2Win	8–0	Johnny LaRusso	PTS	6	May 1, 1946	Template:Small
7	Template:Yes2Win	7–0	George Wright	PTS	6	Apr 19, 1946	Template:Small
6	Template:Yes2Win	6–0	Clifton Bordies	KO	1 (4)	Apr 16, 1946	Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	5–0	Ray Morris	KO	4 (6)	Apr 8, 1946	Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	4–0	Joe Krikis	PTS	4	Apr 5, 1946	Template:Small
3	Template:Yes2Win	3–0	Harry Diduck	PTS	6	Mar 28, 1946	Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Richard Bohri	TKO	4 (6)	Mar 21, 1946	Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Clifton Bordies	PTS	4	Mar 14, 1946	Template:Small

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

• NYSAC lightweight champion (135 lbs) (3×)
• NBA (WBA) lightweight champion (135 lbs) (3×)

The Ring magazine titles

• The Ring lightweight champion (135 lbs) (3×)

Undisputed titles

• Undisputed lightweight champion (3×)

See also

• Lineal championship
• List of lightweight boxing champions

References

• Cyber Boxing Zone's Carter page

External links

• Template:Boxrec
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1951
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1952
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1953
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1954
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1955
• https://titlehistories.com/boxing/na/usa/ny/nysac-l.html