Beau Jack, (April 1, 1921 – February 9, 2000), was an American lightweight boxer, he was a world champion twice. One of the most popular fighters during the war years, he headlined at Madison Square Garden on 21 occasions, a record that still stands.
Beau Jack made his pro debut in May 1940 and fought most of his early bouts in Holyoke, Mass., while managed by Chick Wergeles, a New York City publicity man, who would take him to the Garden.
He captured the vacant lightweight title in December 1942 when he knocked out Tippy Larkin in three rounds at the Garden, the site of all his title bouts. He lost the title to Bob Montgomery in May 1943, won it back the following November, then lost it in March 1944, all three bouts with Montgomery going 15 rounds.
Beau Jack fought in bouts drawing the five largest crowds of 1943 at the Garden, among them victories over the former champions Henry Armstrong, who had once tutored him, and Fritzie Zivic.
On Aug. 4, 1944, two days after Beau Jack and Montgomery were inducted into the Army, they fought at the Garden — without purses — to raise money for the war effort. The admission fee was the purchase of War Bonds from $25 to $100,000, bringing the record receipts, as Beau Jack won a nontitle decision.
