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Chalky Wright

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Boxer

The Resume

    (February 1, 1912-August 12, 1957)
    Born in Willcox, Arizona
    Birth name was Albert Martin
    171 wins (83 by knockout), 44 losses, 19 draws
    World featherweight champion (September 11, 1941-November 20, 1942)
    Died when he drowned in the bathtub in his mother's apartment
    Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1997)

Why he might be annoying:

    Early editions of the Ring Record Book listed his birthplace as Durango, Mexico.
    He was one of many fighters who stayed in the ring longer than he should have, winning only two of eleven fights between 1946 and his 1948 retirement.
    He lost the fortune he made as a boxer to gambling.
    His death prompted rumors of foul play because he was scheduled to testify in a libel suit Mae West had filed against 'Confidential' magazine over a story claiming she and Wright were lovers.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His maternal grandfather was a runaway slave who became the first black ranch owner in southern Arizona.
    At 5'7, he was unusually tall for a featherweight, giving him a reach advantage over most opponents.
    His loss of the featherweight title to Willie Pep was named Fight of the Year by Ring magazine (1942).
    The eulogy at his funeral was delivered by boxer turned minister (and one of Wright's early ring opponents) Henry Armstrong.

Credit: C. Fishel


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