Chalky Wright
Encyclopedia
Albert "Chalky" Wright (February 10, 1912 – August 12, 1957) was a black
American
featherweight
boxer
who fought from 1928 to 1948. His career record was 160 wins (with 81 knockouts), 43 losses and 18 draws. In 2003, Wright made The Ring
magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.
. Wright's family were migrant farm workers, during the depression era. Wright was the Trainer of Lightweight contender Tommy Campbell in 1950.
Wright served as a chauffeur and bodyguard for actress Mae West
. Wright helped West deal with a series of extortion threats in 1935 while in her employ. West, a boxing fan and one of Hollywood's wealthiest women, backed Wright's career. There were rumors that West and Wright were intimate, but both denied the rumors. Hollywood Confidential ran a story entitled "Mae West's Open Door Policy" alleging her relationship with Wright. West's ex-husband Frank Wallace also claimed Wright was among those having an affair with West in his divorce filing.
Wright could speak three languages.
Wright died in Los Angeles
on August 12, 1957, after slipping in his bathtub.
.
Wright began fighting on the East Coast of the United States in 1938. The five-foot, 7½-inch Wright was unusually tall for his 126-pound weight, giving him a long reach. By 1941, he was among the world's top featherweight boxers. He beat Sal Bartolo
to get a chance at the New York State Athletic Commission featherweight championship then held by Joey Archibald
. On September 11, 1941, Wright dethroned Archibald by scoring a TKO in the eleventh round. Wright successfully defended the title against former champion Harry Jeffra
(TKO 10) on June 19, 1942, but lost his title on a decision to Willie Pep
on November 20, 1942. In 1938, Wright also met the great Henry Armstrong
, but was knocked out in three rounds.
Wright's pre-match regimen was described as "unorthodox" by the Baltimore Afro-American:
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought from 1928 to 1948. His career record was 160 wins (with 81 knockouts), 43 losses and 18 draws. In 2003, Wright made The Ring
The Ring
- Film :* The Ring , a film by Alfred Hitchcock* The Ring , a film by Kurt Neumann* The Ring , a film by Armand Mastroianni...
magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.
Biography
Wright was born in Durango, MexicoDurango, Mexico
Durango, Mexico, may refer to:*The state of Durango, one of the 32 component federal entities of the United Mexican States*Durango, Durango, capital city of the State of Durango...
. Wright's family were migrant farm workers, during the depression era. Wright was the Trainer of Lightweight contender Tommy Campbell in 1950.
Wright served as a chauffeur and bodyguard for actress Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
. Wright helped West deal with a series of extortion threats in 1935 while in her employ. West, a boxing fan and one of Hollywood's wealthiest women, backed Wright's career. There were rumors that West and Wright were intimate, but both denied the rumors. Hollywood Confidential ran a story entitled "Mae West's Open Door Policy" alleging her relationship with Wright. West's ex-husband Frank Wallace also claimed Wright was among those having an affair with West in his divorce filing.
Wright could speak three languages.
Wright died in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on August 12, 1957, after slipping in his bathtub.
Professional career
Wright turned professional at the age of 16, winning a fight with Nilo Balles after four rounds. His early career was spent in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Wright began fighting on the East Coast of the United States in 1938. The five-foot, 7½-inch Wright was unusually tall for his 126-pound weight, giving him a long reach. By 1941, he was among the world's top featherweight boxers. He beat Sal Bartolo
Sal Bartolo
Salvatore Interbartolo, better known as Sal Bartolo was the former NBA world boxing featherweight champion.-Amateur career:...
to get a chance at the New York State Athletic Commission featherweight championship then held by Joey Archibald
Joey Archibald
Joey Archibald was the former world boxing featherweight champion. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island....
. On September 11, 1941, Wright dethroned Archibald by scoring a TKO in the eleventh round. Wright successfully defended the title against former champion Harry Jeffra
Harry Jeffra
Harry Jeffra was an American boxer. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was a former world bantamweight and NYSAC featherweight boxing champion...
(TKO 10) on June 19, 1942, but lost his title on a decision to Willie Pep
Willie Pep
Guglielmo Papaleo was an American boxer who was better known as Willie Pep. Pep boxed a total of 1956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26 year career, a considerable number of rounds and fights even for a fighter of his era. His final record was 229-11-1 with 65 knockouts...
on November 20, 1942. In 1938, Wright also met the great Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
, but was knocked out in three rounds.
Wright's pre-match regimen was described as "unorthodox" by the Baltimore Afro-American:
For example, before the Terranova fight Chalky was in and out of the Hotel Theresa bar night in and day out for four days. He smoked evil smelling, twisted cigars. He drank freely of whatever his palate called for. He went where he wanted as late as 2 and 3 a.m., and then climbed into the ring at the Garden to put on a master exhibition of boxing and hitting power.