JOE ERSKINE
by Ralph Oates
From left to right, Don Cockell, Joe Erskine, Henry Cooper, Len Harvey, Jack Petersen, Johnny Williams, Tommy Farr and centre sitting on the chair Rocky Marciano. Image by permission of Derek Rowe.
There is no doubt that Joe Erskine’s name belongs with the best boxers that Wales have produced over the years. During his career he fought many top flight fighters winning the British and Commonwealth titles along the way.
Erskine had a great deal of potential. In his third fight after the Cooper victory he met fellow Welshman Dick Richardson on the 7th May 1956 at the Maindy Stadium, Cardiff and boxed his way to a 10 round points decision.
Erskine, who was born in Cardiff on the 26th January 1934, proved to be a good amateur winning the Amateur Boxing Association heavyweight title in 1953. The Welshman started his professional career on the 9th March 1954 at the Victoria Hall, Staffordshire. The contest was scheduled for 6 rounds, but was brought to a finish in the 2nd session when Erskine knocked out his opponent Alf Price. That year Erskine proved to be extremely busy with him fighting a further 14 times, winning on 13 occasions with 1 draw. That was impressive.
The big moment came for Erskine on the 27th August 1956 when he met yet another fellow Welshman in the shape of Johnny Williams a former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion for the vacant British heavyweight title. The crown had been relinquished by Don Cockell. T he venue for the Erskine-Williams bout being the Maindy Stadium, Cardiff. Erskine pleased his many fans when he fought his way to a 15 round points decision to claim the title. Everything was going great for Erskine he was now undefeated in 30 bouts which included 1 draw. Then on the 19th February 1957 disaster struck; the disaster came courtesy of Cuban born Nino Valdes who had a reputation for being a dangerous opponent. The man was a wrecking ball who took no prisoners. Erskine crashed to defeat when Valdes knocked him out in the opening session in a scheduled 10 at Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London.
1955 proved to be another year where upon Erskine entered the ring frequently. He fought 11 times notching up win after win. His success was awarded when he was matched with Henry Cooper in an eliminator for the British heavyweight crown. This was the first of five meetings which Erskine would have with Cooper over the years. The fight took place on the 15th November 1955 at the Harringay Arena in London where upon Erskine won a 10 round points decision. It was more than apparent that 34 CARDIFF TIMES
Erskine had to put this defeat behind him and put the broken pieces of his career back together again.
