Joe Knight (January 15, 1909 – July 1, 1976) was an American light-heavyweight boxer and former NBA world champion in the division. Knight had a very brief reign as world light-heavyweight champion that lasted just a few days, and without ever winning a world-title bout: the NBA had awarded Knight the title by February 26, 1933, and he lost the title in his first defense on March 1, 1933, to Bob Godwin. An extraordinarily formidable fighter for his day, Knight fought 164 bouts and was never stopped in any of his 19 losses.
Early life Knight was born on January 15, 1909, in Cairo, Georgia. He turned pro in 1927 and knocked out "Battleship Sword" in the fall of that year, slowly building his reputation as a boxer.
Early career On May 22, 1931, New York native Yale Okun became his fifth-round knockout victim in Miami. The final blow was a straight right to the jaw. Knight battered Okun with his left for four rounds before ending the bout in the fifth."Joe Knight Knocks Out Okun in Bout in Miami", The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Florida, pg. 15, 23 May 1931"Knight Gets Kayo", Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona, pg. 9, 23 May 1931
Knight gained revenge against Spike Webb in ten rounds in Miami on August 7, though knocked to the mat in the fourth. He had lost to Webb the previous month, taking a knockdown in the first."Knight Pounds Out Decision Over Webb", The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Florida, pg. 6, 8 August 1931
Knight won an unpopular decision over Tony Cancela on January 7, 1932, in Miami. Cancela drilled staggering rights to the head of a groggy Knight in the closing round. Many ringside believed Cancela, the bout's consistent aggressor, should have earned the decision with a comfortable margin."Joe Knight Defeats Cancella in Miami", The Tampa Times, Tampa, Florida, pg. 8, 8 January 1932
Don Petrin, who claimed a late foul, fell to Knight in a fourth-round knockout at Miami's Biscayne Arena on February 15, 1932. The bout had originally been scheduled for ten rounds."Joe Knight Wins Over Don Petrin in Miami", Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, Florida, pg. 2, 16 February 1932Fort Lauderdale News, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pg. 12, 16 February 1932
Charley Belanger lost to Knight on May 23, 1932, in a ten-round split decision in Boston. Knight had a considerable lead in the first four rounds, but experienced an assortment of blows to the body in the remaining six. He closed strong in the final rounds scoring several times with lefts to the head."Joe Knight Defeats Belanger in Boston", The Tampa Times, Tampa, Florida, pg. 8, 24 May 1932 The decision was unpopular with the crowd who felt Belanger had gained a winning margin on points in the last six rounds."Joe Knight is Winner Over Winnipeg Boxer", Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, Florida, pg. 2, 24 May 1932
On the first of July, 1932, Knight challenged Bob Godwin for the Southern light-heavyweight title at Daytona Beach, and received a ten-round draw decision. Godwin had formerly taken the title from Knight. Knight initially led, but slowed in the last two rounds before Godwin's relentless attack."Knight, Godwin Fight to Draw", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 7, 2 July 1932 The crowd appeared satisfied with the draw decision in the savage bout."Godwin And Knight Fight Savage Draw", Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, pg. 9, 2 July 1932
Knight faced George Courtney on September 19, 1932, winning at the end of the fifth from a technical knockout in Laurel, Maryland."Knight Scores Kayo", The Missoulian, Missoula, Montana, pg. 5, 20 September 1932
He decisively defeated reigning National Boxing Association (NBA) light-heavyweight champion George Nichols in a non-title bout before 3,000 people in Charleston, South Carolina on October 17, 1932, by a ten-round decision. Knight charged into his opponent from the opening bell, and Nichols failed to take a round."Nichols Loses to George Battler", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 16, 18 October 1932
Chick Raines fell to Knight in a ten-round points decision on November 23, 1932, in Savannah.
Natie Brown lost in a fifth-round technical knockout to Knight on November 29, 1932, in Jacksonville, Florida. Brown was reported to have suffered a broken jaw and was unable to continue."Joe Knight Scores Technical Victory", Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, Florida, pg. 6, 30 November 1932
Knight defeated Owen Phelps on December 6, 1932, in a ten-round bout for the Southern Light Heavyweight Title in Alexandria, Virginia. Knight was given every round, and knocked Phelps to the mat for a no count in the fourth. Phelps was required to clinch, hold, and back away to endure Knight's attack."Phelps Thumped", Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona, pg. 6, 7 December 1932
Battling Bozo lost on February 13, 1933, in a ten-round points decision at Daytona Beach. Knight may have taken every round, but his opponent avoided a knockout with an effective defense."Battling Bozo Drops Decision to Knight", The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama, pg. 8, 14 February 1933
Awarded the NBA Light-heavyweight Title By late February 1933, George Nichols had been stripped of his title by the NBA due to a lack of title defenses. Following a sixth-round stoppage over Eddie McCarthy on the 20th of February, the NBA had awarded Knight the vacant light-heavyweight title by the 26th.
Losing the Title to Bob Godwin His championship reign would be short-lived, as Knight immediately lost the title on March 1, dropping a ten-round decision to his old rival Bob Godwin. The two faced each other on March 1, 1933, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Throughout the fight, Godwin employed excellent blocking, and though he took many hard licks in the lengthy bout, he was the aggressor for the majority of the fight and dominated Knight in the infighting, particularly after Knight tired by mid-bout."Bob Godwin Gets Another Decision Over Joe Knight", The Tampa Times, Tampa, Florida, pg. 10, 2 March 1933 Godwin took two of the first five rounds, with three even. Drawing on remarkable stamina, the 21-year old Godwin won the next four rounds, leaving the tenth even. Nevertheless, Godwin took a beating in the bout, with both eyes badly swollen by the end. It was reported as a primitive match requiring limited boxing skill or ring generalship."Bob Godwin Beats Joe Knight to Win N.B.A. Fistic Crown", The Journal Times, Racine, Wisconsin, pg. 13, 2 March 1933 Knight won only two of the five meetings between him and Godwin."Knight Beaten by Bob Godwin", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 10, 2 March 1933 Thus ended Knight's brief reign as champion.
Max Marek, the tenth ranked heavyweight in the world, fell to Knight in a ten-round points decision at Miami Beach on April 13, 1936. Though giving up fifteen pounds, Knight used his speed and experience to his advantage. The bout one of Knight's best displays of skill. In the third, he nearly staggered Marek with a left to the chin, but Marek fought back harder, and remained the aggressor throughout much of the bout, delivering a variety of solid punches. In a brutal bout, Knight closed well in the last three rounds, clipping two lefts to the chin of Marek in the tenth.Bell, Jack, "Over the Sport Desk", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 16, 14 April 1936"Knight Gets Palm in Mill at Miami", The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida, pg. 8, 14 April 1936
Knight beat Lou Scozza at the Biscayne Arena in Miami on June 12, 1933, in a ten-round points decision. Knight shelled Scozza with hard lefts and right for most of ten rounds. Though Scozza rallied in the ninth, he was unable to overcome the lead that Knight had piled up. Four thousand spectators watched the judges rule unanimously for Knight."Joe Knight Wins Victory Over Lou Scozza at Miami", The Tampa Times, Tampa, Florida, pg. 8, 13 June 1933
Joe Banovic lost to Knight in a ten-round points decision on August 8, 1933, in Laurel, Maryland. Banovic was down for a count of nine in the fifth, and eight in the sixth. He opened up in the final round, cutting Knight's face, but it was too late to take the lead in points."Joe Knight Floors Joe Banovic Twice", Orlando Evening News, Orlando, Florida, pg. 5, 9 August 1933
Final attempt at the world title On February 5, 1934, Knight fought a fifteen-round draw before 20,000 in another world light-heavyweight title match against undisputed champion Maxie Rosenbloom. By that point, Rosenbloom was recognized by the NBA, the NYSAC, and The Ring. The referee and one judge scored the match as a dead heat, giving three rounds to both contestants, but Sam Roberts, the remaining judge gave the bout to Knight by the slimmest margin of one round. Rosenbloom employed his common but controversial habit of flicking and backhanding his opponent's face and body with an open glove. Whether this was a foul or fair determined whether the judges scored Knight or Rosenbloom the winner. Most ringside, however, felt Knight deserved the winning vote and the title.Godwin, Frank, "Champion Gains Huge Advantage With Slapping", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 14, 6 February 1934
Later career
Knight lost to Tony Shucco, New England Light Heavyweight Champion, on May 11, 1934, before 3,358, in a close ten-round unanimous decision at Boston Garden. Knight appeared to have the better of the early bout, but Shucco rallied in the closing rounds."Tony Shucco Beats Joe Knight in East", The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, pg. 8, 12 May 1934 Through much of the bout, Shucco stood off at long range and flicked jabs at Knight's head to avoid his withering blows."Joe Knight Loses Hairline Verdict to Shucco in Boston", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 8, 12 May 1934 One reporter gave Shucco only five rounds, Knight four, and one even."Tony Shucco Receives Nod Over Joe Knight", The Winnipeg Tribune, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, pg. 23, 12 May 1934
Knight defeated Carl Knowles on June 8, 1934, in a tenth-round technical knockout in a brutal bout in Savannah. Knight used repeated left hooks with great effect, and waged a masterful defense, either blocking or ducking Knowles's best blows. Knowles mounted an offensive only in the early rounds."Knight Stops Carl Knowles", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 8, 9 June 1934"Joe Knight Wins Technical K. O. in Meeting Knowles", The Daily Times-News, Burlington, North Carolina, pg. 1, 9 June 1934
Buck Everett fell to Knight in a ninth-round technical knockout in Miami on June 11, 1934. The referee stopped the hard fought battle to prevent further injury to Everett's badly cut left eye, and broken rib. Everett scored hard rights in the early rounds, and the final rounds featured fierce in-fighting with the boxers only inches apart."Knight Wins Over Buck Everett", Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, FLorida, pg. 10, 12 June 1934 Bob Riley, Everett's manager, was informed in confidence by a Doctor the rib was likely broken after the fourth round, but the bout continued until Riley demanded it end.Odwin, Rank, "First Guesses, Heres Some", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 10, 12 June 1934
Knight achieved a seventh-round technical knockout of Henry Firpo on June 28, 1934, in Washington. Firpo was down for a count of nine in the fourth, though he rallied in the fifth. The bout was stopped in the seventh when Knight had Firpo down twice."Firpo Stopped By Joe Knight", The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg. 11, 29 June 1934"Knight Defeats Firpo", Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, Florida, pg. 5, 28 June 1934