Billy Walker (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Billy Walker is a retired English Heavyweight boxer and actor. He was born in London in 1939 and turned professional in 1961 after 39 amateur bouts. His nickname was “Golden Boy”. His professional record was 21 wins (16 by knockout), 8 losses and 2 draws. During 1967, he fought for both the British and European titles, losing to Henry Cooper
(Great Britain
) and Karl Mildenberger
(West Germany
) respectively. After he retired from the ring in 1969 he appeared in several English movies and TV shows. His autobiography "When The Gloves Came Off" ISBN 978-1-86-105970-3 was published in 2007.
, in the East End of London
on March 3, 1939.
He is the youngest of four brothers. During World War II
, his father served in the Royal Air Force
and the boys lived with their mother in Bedfordshire
, and later in Ilford
, Essex
.
He left school at 16 and started working in the printing business.
Later a friend introduced him to a more highly paid job as a porter
in London’s historic
Billingsgate Fish Market
. He was also a bouncer
and part time DJ at the
Ilford
Palais dance hall which was managed by Jimmy Savile
at the time.
He joined a West Ham
boxing club to keep fit, and was eventually persuaded to
spar with other members and found that he had the talent to box competitively.
had been a successful light heavyweight boxer and persuaded him
to enter the sport, with the ambition eventually to turn professional.
With his natural ability, and George’s guidance, within three years he had won the
British (ABA) Amateur Heavyweight title. Soon after a spectacular first round
knockout of 6’4” (1.93m) American Cornelius Perry in an international tournament
broadcast on national TV, promoters were competing to sign Walker to lucrative contracts.
About this time the media started calling him “The Golden Boy” and “The Blond Bomber”.
Billy Walker had two other brothers, one named Ernest Walker, also a boxer, and Charlie.
six years would see him challenging for both the British and European titles.
With his curly blond hair, boyish good looks and all action style the public flocked
to see his fights. George invested the purses in a string of night clubs and restaurants and
soon the brothers were rich. Billy Walker moved to London’s West End
and mixed with
society’s elite. On one occasion he was presented to Her Majesty the Queen, who told him
that she enjoyed watching his fights. This was during London’s “swinging sixties” and
Walker took full advantage of his wealth, fame and good looks to have fun with a series
of beautiful women. Nevertheless, Walker stayed focused on his boxing career and the fans
continued to love him. Although he never fought in the USA, during his career he stopped
rated American heavyweights Charlie Powell
, Bowie Adams, Ray Patterson
and Thad Spencer
inside the distance. In spite of a few weeks' coaching at Harry’s Gym in Harlem
, Walker’s
defensive skills remained marginal, and some of his later fights against world class opponents
had to be stopped owing to cuts and excessive bleeding from his nose.
In 1969 at the age of 30 he retired from the ring, a very wealthy young man.
it were his alone. This soon led to disputes and eventually they parted company.
Billy Walker retained enough assets to live very comfortably, with various business interests of his own, including Billy's Baked Potato, a chain of fast food outlets. Changing financial conditions
a few years later forced him to look for other income. He moved to Jersey
, a tax haven
in the English Channel and became a successful property developer. George Walker went on
to became a tycoon in the UK gambling and movie industries with his Brent Walker
Group but he too suffered a reversal of fortune, but later developing new business interests in Russia
before dying of a heart attack in the South of France in March 2011.
They divorced in 1977. In September 1979 his girlfriend Chrissie gave birth to a son, Warren,
but she opted to raise him on her own. They are still on good terms. He married Jackie in 1981. They also had two children, Kelly and Tom, but divorced in the 1990s. In 1997 he married Patricia but she died of cancer in 2003. Walker is now happily married to his fourth wife, Susan, whom he had known from his time in Jersey about thirty years previously. They live in Essex. He has been active on the speaking circuit and is an honorary steward for the British Boxing
Board of Control. He recently collaborated with the Kray Twins
’ confidant and writer Robin McGibbon on
his autobiography “When The Gloves Came Off”, which was published in 2007.
Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper may refer to:*Sir Henry Cooper , British Heavyweight boxer*Henry Cooper from Tennessee*Henry Cooper , English recipient of the Victoria Cross...
(Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
) and Karl Mildenberger
Karl Mildenberger
Karl Mildenberger is a retired German heavyweight boxer. He was the European Heavyweight Champion from 1964 to 1968...
(West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
) respectively. After he retired from the ring in 1969 he appeared in several English movies and TV shows. His autobiography "When The Gloves Came Off" ISBN 978-1-86-105970-3 was published in 2007.
Early life
William Walker was born in StepneyStepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
on March 3, 1939.
He is the youngest of four brothers. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his father served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and the boys lived with their mother in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, and later in Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
He left school at 16 and started working in the printing business.
Later a friend introduced him to a more highly paid job as a porter
Porter (carrier)
A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who shifts objects for others.-Historical meaning:Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for shifting gear...
in London’s historic
Billingsgate Fish Market
Billingsgate Fish Market
Situated in East London, Billingsgate Fish Market is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established...
. He was also a bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
and part time DJ at the
Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
Palais dance hall which was managed by Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
at the time.
He joined a West Ham
West Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
boxing club to keep fit, and was eventually persuaded to
spar with other members and found that he had the talent to box competitively.
Amateur career
Walker’s older brother GeorgeGeorge Alfred Walker
George Alfred Walker was a British businessman. He was the founder of Brent WalkerWalker was born in Stepney, London the son of a brewery worker. He attended the Jubilee School in Bedford, Essex, leaving at 14 to work in an aircraft factory. He later worked as a salesman in Billingsgate Fish...
had been a successful light heavyweight boxer and persuaded him
to enter the sport, with the ambition eventually to turn professional.
With his natural ability, and George’s guidance, within three years he had won the
British (ABA) Amateur Heavyweight title. Soon after a spectacular first round
knockout of 6’4” (1.93m) American Cornelius Perry in an international tournament
broadcast on national TV, promoters were competing to sign Walker to lucrative contracts.
About this time the media started calling him “The Golden Boy” and “The Blond Bomber”.
Billy Walker had two other brothers, one named Ernest Walker, also a boxer, and Charlie.
Professional career
With brother George as his manager, Walker embarked on a professional career that insix years would see him challenging for both the British and European titles.
With his curly blond hair, boyish good looks and all action style the public flocked
to see his fights. George invested the purses in a string of night clubs and restaurants and
soon the brothers were rich. Billy Walker moved to London’s West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
and mixed with
society’s elite. On one occasion he was presented to Her Majesty the Queen, who told him
that she enjoyed watching his fights. This was during London’s “swinging sixties” and
Walker took full advantage of his wealth, fame and good looks to have fun with a series
of beautiful women. Nevertheless, Walker stayed focused on his boxing career and the fans
continued to love him. Although he never fought in the USA, during his career he stopped
rated American heavyweights Charlie Powell
Charlie Powell
Charlie Powell is a former American professional football player.Powell was born in Texas. He and his younger brother Art Powell, a great NFL wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders in the 1960s, grew up in the Logan Heights area of San Diego, California. Charlie starred in football, basketball,...
, Bowie Adams, Ray Patterson
Ray Patterson
Ray Patterson may refer to:*Ray Patterson *Ray Patterson *Lyman Ray Patterson, copyright scholar...
and Thad Spencer
Thad Spencer
Thad Spencer is a retired American heavyweight boxer.A native of Portland, Oregon, Spencer made his professional boxing debut in May 1960...
inside the distance. In spite of a few weeks' coaching at Harry’s Gym in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, Walker’s
defensive skills remained marginal, and some of his later fights against world class opponents
had to be stopped owing to cuts and excessive bleeding from his nose.
In 1969 at the age of 30 he retired from the ring, a very wealthy young man.
Business Life
When Billy Walker retired from boxing, George Walker continued to run their business empire as thoughit were his alone. This soon led to disputes and eventually they parted company.
Billy Walker retained enough assets to live very comfortably, with various business interests of his own, including Billy's Baked Potato, a chain of fast food outlets. Changing financial conditions
a few years later forced him to look for other income. He moved to Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, a tax haven
in the English Channel and became a successful property developer. George Walker went on
to became a tycoon in the UK gambling and movie industries with his Brent Walker
Brent Walker
Brent Walker was a UK company which owns various businesses including property, gambling and pubs. It was founded by George Walker, the brother of the boxer, Billy Walker.-George Walker:...
Group but he too suffered a reversal of fortune, but later developing new business interests in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
before dying of a heart attack in the South of France in March 2011.
Personal life
In 1968, Billy Walker married Susan Coleopy and they had two children, Daniel and Clare.They divorced in 1977. In September 1979 his girlfriend Chrissie gave birth to a son, Warren,
but she opted to raise him on her own. They are still on good terms. He married Jackie in 1981. They also had two children, Kelly and Tom, but divorced in the 1990s. In 1997 he married Patricia but she died of cancer in 2003. Walker is now happily married to his fourth wife, Susan, whom he had known from his time in Jersey about thirty years previously. They live in Essex. He has been active on the speaking circuit and is an honorary steward for the British Boxing
Board of Control. He recently collaborated with the Kray Twins
Kray twins
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
’ confidant and writer Robin McGibbon on
his autobiography “When The Gloves Came Off”, which was published in 2007.
External links
- Professional Record at BoxRec.com http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=21293&cat=boxer
- International Movie Data Base http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0907562
- Book reviews-http://astore.amazon.co.uk/webelements01/detail/1861059701