Joe Lucy

{{Short description|English boxer (1930–1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox boxer | name = Joe Lucy | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | realname = | nickname = | weight = Lightweight | height =  | reach =  | nationality = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1930|02|02}} | birth_place = Mile End, London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1991|07|21|1930|02|02}} | death_place = | style = Southpaw | total = 37 | wins = 27 | KO = 8 | losses = 10 | draws = | no contests = | website = | medaltemplates = | show-medals = }} '''Joe Lucy''' (2 February 1930 – 21 July 1991) was a British boxer who was British lightweight champion between 1953 and 1955 and again between 1956 and 1957.

==Career== Born in Mile End, London, Lucy made his professional debut in May 1950. He won 15 of his first 16 fights, his only defeat to South African Gerald Dreyer on points in April 1951. In February 1952 he suffered his second loss while challenging Tommy Barnham for the vacant BBBofC Southern Area lightweight title. He also lost his next fight, against Hocine Khalfi the following month.

He returned to winning ways and in January 1953 beat Tommy McGovern to win the Southern Area title, the fight also a final eliminator for the British title.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lucy a Lucky Winner |work=Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette |date=21 January 1953 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000640/19530121/111/0008| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He was due to meet Frank Johnson in June 1953 for the latter's British title, but Johnson failed to make the weight; The fight went ahead with Lucy winning on points and Johnson was stripped of the title.<ref>Yearsley, Lawrence (2013) ''Boxing Bonanza'', {{ISBN|978-1291532289}}, p. 39</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Lucy Will Have to Go All the Way |work=Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette |date=20 November 1953 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000640/19531120/254/0027| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In September Lucy faced McGovern again for the now vacant British title. Lucy won on points to become British champion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Lucy New Champion |work=Dundee Courier |date=30 September 1953 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19530930/107/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lightweight Title for Joe Lucy |work=Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail |date=30 September 1953 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000378/19530930/127/0009| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

He had three fights in 1954, beating Belgian champion Joseph Janssens but losing twice to Johnny Butterworth, the first due to a cut while comfortably ahead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cut Eye Robs Joe Lucy |work=Dundee Courier |date=27 January 1954 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19540127/084/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He started 1955 with an unsuccessful challenge for the vacant British Empire lightweight title against Johnny van Rensburg in Johannesburg in February, losing on a split decision,<ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Lucy Beaten |work=Dundee Courier |date=14 February 1955 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19550214/089/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and two months later lost his British title to Johnson in one of the earliest British title fights to be shown live on television, being admitted to hospital after the fight with abdominal pains.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lucy in Hospital |work=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=27 April 1955 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19550427/212/0018| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Title Fight for TV |work=Dundee Courier |date=22 April 1955 |accessdate=27 December 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19550422/119/0006| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He finished the year with another loss, to European champion Duilio Loi.

In 1956 Lucy's focus returned to the domestic title, and after knocking out Gordon Goodman in a final eliminator in February, challenged for Johnson's British title in April. Lucy avenged his earlier defeat, stopping Johnson in the eighth round to regain the title.<ref name="DMYB">''Daily Mail Yearbook, 1957'', Associated Newspapers Groups, Limited, p. 273</ref> He made a successful defence two months later, stopping Sammy McCarthy in the thirteenth round.<ref name="DMYB" /> He lost the title in April 1957 to Dave Charnley on points,<ref>"[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/9122439/Dave-Charnley.html Dave Charnley]", ''Daily Telegraph'', 4 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2015</ref> and subsequently retired from boxing.

He went on to run the Ruskin Arms Hotel in Manor Park, where he promoted rock concerts.<ref>Collen, Phil & Epting, Chris (2015) ''Adrenalized: Life, Def Leppard and Beyond'', Bantam Press, {{ISBN|978-0593073193}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://www.boxinghistory.org.uk/records/13589-Joe-Lucy-Mile-End.pdf Career record] at boxinghistory.org.uk *{{BoxRec|42236}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IRpChCEVhs Lucy v McCarthy], British lightweight title fight, British Movietone

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucy, Joe}} Category:1930 births Category:1991 deaths Category:English male boxers Category:Lightweight boxers Category:People from Mile End Category:Boxers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Category:20th-century English sportsmen