Willie Joyce was an American boxer from Chicago. He was the 1936 National AAU Bantamweight champion, and the 1937 (126 lb) Chicago & Intercity Golden Gloves Champion.

Joyce was 24-1-4 in 1937 to 1939 only losing to Frankie Covelli

Frankie Covelli

Frankie Covelli is an American boxer from Brooklyn New York.Covelli began boxing in 1929. Among other notable fighters, he fought Freddie Miller two times, losing both bouts by decision, and also lost to Henry Armstrong. He held Baby Arizmendi to a draw. Covelli fought Willie Joyce twice. The first...

. He fought Lew Jenkins at the White City Arena in Chicago three times in 1939, battling to a draw in their first bout and winning the next two by split decision.

He fought Henry Armstrong

Henry Armstrong

Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...

 four times in 1943 and 1944. In the first match he beat Armstrong at the Olympic Auditoriumin Los Angeles. The second fight he lost to Armstrong at the Gilmore Stadium

Gilmore Stadium

Gilmore Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Los Angeles, California. It was opened in May 1934 and demolished in 1952, when the land was used to build CBS Television City. The stadium held 18,000. It was located next to Gilmore Field...

, also in Los Angeles. The third fight he beat Armstrong at Chicago Stadium

Chicago Stadium

The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....

. In their final meeting Armstrong was the victor beating Joyce at the Civic Auditorium

Civic Auditorium

-Canada:*Oshawa Civic Auditorium in Oshawa, Ontario*Estevan Civic Auditorium in Estevan, Saskatchewan-United States:*Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California...

 in San Francisco.

Joyce also fought Willie Pep

Willie Pep

Guglielmo Papaleo was an American boxer who was better known as Willie Pep. Pep boxed a total of 1956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26 year career, a considerable number of rounds and fights even for a fighter of his era. His final record was 229-11-1 with 65 knockouts...

. Pep beat Joyce at Comiskey Park

Comiskey Park

Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...

 in Chicago in 1944. In 1944 and 1945, Joyce went 3-1 against Ike Williams

Ike Williams (boxer)

Ike Williams was a former lightweight world boxing champion. Williams was known for his great right hand, and was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time as well as Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year for 1948.-Professional Career:During his career, Williams faced and...

 and in 1945, split two bouts with Chalky Wright

Chalky Wright

Albert "Chalky" Wright was a black American featherweight boxer who fought from 1928 to 1948. His career record was 160 wins , 43 losses and 18 draws. In 2003, Wright made The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.-Biography:Wright was born in Durango, Mexico...

.

Joyce would go onto face Tippy Larkin

Tippy Larkin

Tippy Larkin was a boxer from New Jersey who appeared on the cover of The Ring magazine in July 1944. From 1935 to 1946, Larkin's record was 114-9.-External links:* http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9619&cat=boxer&pageID=1...

 in three fights, losing all three by decision. In their second fight, Larkin beat Joyce for the vacant World Jr. Welterweight Title at the Boston Garden

Boston Garden

The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...

. In their third fight, Joyce lost to Larkin for the World Jr. Welterweight Title at Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

 in New York.

Joyce also fought Johnny Bratton

Johnny Bratton

Johnny Bratton, also known as Honey Boy Bratton, , was a professional boxer in the welterweight division...

 at the Chicago Stadium

Chicago Stadium

The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....

in 1946, losing in both fights.

External links

• http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9618&cat=boxer&pageID=1
• http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Human:9618