To celebrate the announcement of the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joe Parker, we take a look at 10 other Joes who became world champions
1 Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow, as good a technician as there has ever been, reigned as heavyweight champion from 1937 until 1949 and accumulated 25 consecutive defences. He won the title against James J. Braddock, then defended it against the likes of Tommy Farr, Max Schmeling, Billy Conn and “Jersey” Joe Walcott.
2 Joe Frazier
“Smokin’” Joe became world heavyweight champion in 1968 when knocking out Buster Mathis in 11 rounds before going on to defeat Muhammad Ali in ’71. He would remain champion for a total of five years until running into George Foreman, after which he battled two more times with Ali.
3 Joe Gans
Known as the “Old Master”, Gans is considered by some to be the greatest lightweight of all time, having become the first African-American world champion of the 20th century and having reigned continuously as lightweight champion from 1902 to 1908.
4 Joe Walcott
Though known as “Jersey” Joe, Walcott was born Arnold Raymond Cream. He would, following a tough career, finally win the world heavyweight title in 1951 when knocking out Ezzard Charles inside seven rounds.
5 Joe Calzaghe
Never beaten in 46 pro fights, Calzaghe made 20 defences of the WBO super-middleweight title, including career-best wins against Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler, before moving to light-heavyweight to defeat Bernard Hopkins.
6 Joey Maxim
Real name Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, this jab-happy fighter from Cleveland, Ohio knocked out Freddie Mills in 10 rounds to become world light-heavyweight champion in 1950. That was a belt he would retain against “Sugar” Ray Robinson before eventually losing it to Archie Moore.
7 Joey Giardello
Born Carmine Orlando Tilelli, the Brooklyn fighter better known as Joey Giardello reigned as world middleweight champion from 1963 to 1965, scoring victories against the likes of Dick Tiger, Rubin Carter and “Sugar” Ray Robinson.
8 Joe Brown
“Old Bones” Joe Brown won the world lightweight title in 1956, besting Wallace “Bud” Smith over 15 rounds. He then made 11 successful defences of the belt before losing against Carlos Ortiz in ’62.
9 Joe Choynski
“Chrysanthemum” Joe won the inaugural world light-heavyweight title in 1899 when outpointing Jim Ryan over 20 rounds in Iowa. He also both knocked out Jack Johnson (in 1901) and taught him plenty of his tricks during their time together in jail.
10 Joey Gamache
Infamous for being stopped by Arturo Gatti in a mismatch, Gamache had long before that defeated Jerry Ngobeni to lift the WBA super-featherweight title in 1991 and the following year beat Chil Sung Jun to win the WBA lightweight belt.
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