Hilton Edward Booker (November 5, 1917 – January 26, 1975) was an American boxer who was active during the 1930s and 1940s.

Booker was one of the famous "Murderers Row" group of black boxers, along with the likes of Charley Burley, Holman Williams and Jack Chase, avoided by other elite fighters of the era because of their ability and their skin colour. Booker compiled a record of 66-5-8, which included a (1-1-1) record vs. Holman Williams, (0-1) record vs. Jack Chase, (1-0) vs. Lloyd Marshall, (0-1) Cocoa Kid. Other Notable Booker fights include a (1-0-2) record vs. Archie Moore (being the first to knock him out) a win over Harry Matthews, a loss to Fritzie Zivic and a (2-1-1) record vs Shorty Hogue. Like all black murderer's row fighters, he never got an opportunity to fight for a world title. Booker was forced to retire prematurely due to an eye injury. He was a 2017 inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

World Champion Archie Moore thought the world of Booker saying, “I’ve had some rough fights in my time,” Moore said, “but all things being equal, when I was in my prime, one of my toughest had to have been against Eddie Booker, a fighting machine … who shot out punches with deft precision … [Booker] was one of the great fighters of my time. He had me fighting for dear life.”[1]

Booker was blind later in life due to eye injuries suffered from an illegally doctored glove.[2] He died in San Francisco on January 26, 1975 at 57 years old.

Professional boxing record edit

79 fights 66 wins 5 losses
By knockout 33 0
By decision 33 5
Draws 8
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
79 Win 66–5–8 Holman Williams PTS 10 Mar 6, 1944 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
78 Win 65–5–8 Frankie Nelson PTS 10 Feb 23, 1944 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
77 Win 64–5–8 Archie Moore TKO 8 (10) Jan 21, 1944 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
76 Win 63–5–8 Paul Hartnek TKO 6 (10) Jan 5, 1944 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
75 Loss 62–5–8 Holman Williams PTS 12 Nov 19, 1943 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
74 Win 62–4–8 Van McNutt TKO 5 (10) Oct 18, 1943 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
73 Win 61–4–8 Harry Matthews TKO 5 (10) Aug 9, 1943 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
72 Loss 60–4–8 Jack Chase PTS 15 Jan 11, 1943 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. Lost USA California State middleweight title
71 Draw 60–3–8 Archie Moore PTS 12 Dec 11, 1942 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
70 Win 60–3–7 Lloyd Marshall PTS 10 Sep 28, 1942 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
69 Win 59–3–7 Big Boy Hogue TKO 4 (12) Sep 18, 1942 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
68 Win 58–3–7 Bobby Birch UD 12 Sep 4, 1942 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
67 Win 57–3–7 Izzy Jannazzo PTS 10 Aug 24, 1942 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
66 Win 56–3–7 Shorty Hogue RTD 8 (10) Aug 14, 1942 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Won USA California State middleweight title
65 Win 55–3–7 Costello Cruz PTS 10 Jul 15, 1942 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
64 Draw 54–3–7 Johnny 'Bandit' Romero PTS 10 May 1, 1942 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
63 Win 54–3–6 Billy Connerty TKO 3 (10) Dec 1, 1941 Billings, California, U.S.
62 Loss 53–3–6 Shorty Hogue PTS 10 Aug 22, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Lost USA California State middleweight title
61 Win 53–2–6 Jimmy McDaniels PTS 10 Aug 19, 1941 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
60 Win 52–2–6 Henryk Chmielewski TKO 9 (10) Aug 11, 1941 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
59 Win 51–2–6 Charley Harris KO 6 (10) Jul 18, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
58 Win 50–2–6 Charley Simpson PTS 10 Jul 10, 1941 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
57 Win 49–2–6 Jimmy McDaniels PTS 10 Jul 8, 1941 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Retained USA California State middleweight title
56 Win 48–2–6 Johnny Dias TKO 8 (10) Jun 16, 1941 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
55 Win 47–2–6 Shorty Hogue PTS 10 May 2, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Won vacant USA California State middleweight title
54 Win 46–2–6 Leon Zorrita PTS 10 Apr 25, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
53 Win 45–2–6 Freddie Dixon PTS 10 Apr 4, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
52 Draw 44–2–6 Shorty Hogue PTS 10 Mar 14, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
51 Draw 44–2–5 Archie Moore PTS 10 Feb 21, 1941 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
50 Win 44–2–4 Milo Theodorescu PTS 10 Feb 12, 1941 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
49 Win 43–2–4 Chester Parks KO 1 (8) Feb 4, 1941 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
48 Win 42–2–4 Bobby Pacho PTS 10 Apr 9, 1940 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
47 Win 41–2–4 Bobby Pacho PTS 10 Dec 18, 1939 National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S.
46 Win 40–2–4 Ray Vargas KO 2 (10) Nov 29, 1939 National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S.
45 Win 39–2–4 Henry Majcher TKO 7 (10) Nov 13, 1939 National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S.
44 Win 38–2–4 Carlos Garcia KO 3 (10) Oct 3, 1939 San Jose, California, U.S.
43 Loss 37–2–4 Herbert Lewis Hardwick PTS 10 Mar 9, 1939 Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
42 Loss 37–1–4 Fritzie Zivic PTS 8 Feb 10, 1939 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
41 Draw 37–0–4 Holman Williams PTS 6 Jan 25, 1939 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
40 Win 37–0–3 Oscar Suggs TKO 3 (6) Jan 9, 1939 Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
39 Win 36–0–3 Unknown Morgan KO 3 (6) Dec 20, 1938 Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
38 Win 35–0–3 Lew Raymond PTS 6 Dec 9, 1938 Hippodrome, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
37 Win 34–0–3 Demosthenes Wakerlis PTS 6 Nov 18, 1938 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
36 Win 33–0–3 Carlos Miranda TKO 3 (10) Jul 1, 1938 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
35 Win 32–0–3 George Salvadore TKO 7 (10) Jun 24, 1938 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
34 Win 31–0–3 Al Manfredo PTS 10 Jun 10, 1938 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
33 Win 30–0–3 Andy Callahan PTS 10 Mar 3, 1938 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
32 Draw 29–0–3 Mickey Duris PTS 10 Jan 14, 1938 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
31 Draw 29–0–2 Jackie Burke PTS 10 Oct 8, 1937 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
30 Win 29–0–1 Gaston LeCadre TKO 9 (10) Aug 27, 1937 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
29 Win 28–0–1 Johnny Bassanelli TKO 9 (10) Jul 30, 1937 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
28 Win 27–0–1 Johnny Foster PTS 6 May 5, 1937 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
27 Win 26–0–1 Remo Fernandez PTS 6 Mar 12, 1937 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
26 Win 25–0–1 Remo Fernandez PTS 10 Jan 26, 1937 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
25 Win 24–0–1 Gale Harrington PTS 10 Nov 24, 1936 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
24 Win 23–0–1 Jimmy Wakefield PTS 10 Sep 29, 1936 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
23 Win 22–0–1 Billy Azevedo PTS 10 Sep 1, 1936 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
22 Draw 21–0–1 Jimmy Wakefield PTS 10 Aug 4, 1936 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Billy Azevedo TKO 5 (6) Jul 21, 1936 Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Johnny Foster TKO 4 (6) Jul 10, 1936 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Billy Azevedo TKO 3 (6) Jun 5, 1936 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Johnny Foster TKO 1 (6) May 1, 1936 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Mickey Barker TKO 4 (6) Apr 13, 1936 Sports Palace, San Francisco, California, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Tony O'Dell TKO 1 (6) Dec 30, 1935 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Johnny Foster PTS 4 Dec 18, 1935 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Frankie Marino TKO 1 (6) Nov 27, 1935 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Johnny Natalie TKO 3 (?) Oct 22, 1935 Vallejo, California, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Al Rossi TKO 3 (4) Oct 16, 1935 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Johnny Foster PTS 4 Sep 4, 1935 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Mickey Gibbons PTS 4 Aug 7, 1935 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Al Evans TKO 3 (4) Jul 16, 1935 San Jose, California, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Joe Aguilar PTS 4 Jul 2, 1935 San Jose, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Al LaBoa PTS 4 May 28, 1935 San Jose, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Joe Aguilar PTS 4 Apr 3, 1935 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Johnny Natalie PTS 4 Mar 20, 1935 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Johnny Bassanellif PTS 4 Mar 6, 1935 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Joe Pablo KO 1 (4) Feb 27, 1935 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Johnny Mateo KO 2 (4) Jan 22, 1935 Forman's Arena, San Jose, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Ray Lewis KO 1 (4) Jan 15, 1935 Forman's Arena, San Jose, California, U.S.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Hall of Fame Class of 2017: Eddie Booker". The Ring. June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Cyber Boxing Zone". www.cyberboxingzone.com. Retrieved March 13, 2020.

External links edit