Chalky Wright
| Chalky Wright | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Albert Wright |
| Nickname(s) | Chalky |
| Rated at | Featherweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
February 1, 1912 Willcox, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | August 12, 1957 (aged 45) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 226 |
| Wins | 161 |
| Wins by KO | 83 |
| Losses | 44 |
| Draws | 19 |
Albert "Chalky" Wright (February 1, 1912 – August 12, 1957) was an American featherweight boxer who fought from 1928 to 1948. His career record was 161 wins (with 83 knockouts), 44 losses and 19 draws. In 2003, Wright ranked #95 on The Ring magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time.
Wright was born in Willcox, Arizona (some sources erroneously give Wright's place of birth as Durango, Colorado or Durango, Mexico), the youngest of seven children born to James ("Jim") and Clara Wright (née Martin). Wright’s maternal grandfather, Caleb Baines Martin, was a runaway slave from Natchez, Mississippi who fled to the Arizona Territory shortly before the Civil War. After serving in the Union Army as a Buffalo Soldier, he homesteaded 160 acres in Graham County, Arizona. He bought cattle from Colonel Henry Hooker and established a dairy ranch on the property (which eventually grew to 640 acres), making him the first African American ranch owner in Southwest Arizona. He supplied dairy produce to Fort Grant and surrounding settlers.
Wright's father was born in Mexico and also raised cattle. Wright's mother worked as a housekeeper. Shortly after Wright's birth, his father left the family. Around 1918, Clara Wright moved her children to Colton, California. It was there that Wright developed a love for boxing.
Wright began his professional boxing career at the age of 16. The five-foot, 7½-inch Wright was unusually tall for his 126-pound weight, giving him a long reach. His debut fight took place on February 23, 1928. He fought Nilo Balle who he defeated in four rounds. Wright began fighting on the East Coast of the United States in 1938. In 1938, Wright fought Henry Armstrong, but was knocked out in three rounds. 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.
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