Known to the old timers as one of the hardest punchers of the featherweight division, former world champion Albert “Chalky” Wright had an amazing ring career. And he sure lived a fascinating life, while his sad death at the age of just 45 makes for very curious reading.
Chalky Wright’s Boxing Career
Wright – who was ranked in 2003 by Ring Magazine as the #95 Greatest Puncher of All-Time – was born in Willcox, Arizona, on February 1st, 1912, and he was one of seven children. Wright’s grandfather, Caleb Baines Martin, was a runaway slave from Mississippi who escaped his ghastly existence ahead of the Civil War, with Martin going on to establish a ranch in Arizona, thus becoming the first African American ranch owner in Southwest Arizona.
Wright’s father was born in Mexico, while his mother, who was deserted by her husband shortly after Wright was born, moved the family to California around 1918. It was there that “Chalky” discovered and fell in love with boxing. Tall for his weight, Wright began boxing at the age of 16, and he had his pro debut in February of 1928. Wright boxed most of his early fights in Bernardino, California, and it proved to be a bumpy ride.
By February of 1931, after a mere three years as a pro fighter, Wright had an astonishing 35-12-9 record (how the sport has changed ever so drastically over the years). Wright, though, was full of heart, spirit, and sheer enthusiasm. In 1938, by which time Wright had fought top names such as Baby Arizmendi (twice) and Freddie Miller (losing all three fights), he was KO’d by the great Henry Armstrong. However, Armstrong was impressed with Wright’s ability, and he took him on as a sparring partner. Later, Armstrong’s manager, Eddie Walker, signed Wright up, and his career began to blossom.
Soon enough, Wright, who would register 87 knockouts in total, was moving up the ranks. By the summer of 1941, Wright, now aged 29, was 127-29-17, and he had picked up excellent wins over the likes of Sal Bartolo and Jackie Wilson. And then, finally, after having fought for over 13 years, Wright got his first crack at the world title (not ‘a world title, ‘the’ world title, remember). Challenging Joey Archibald in September of that year, Wright scored an 11th-round KO win in Washington, D.C.
Wright would actually lose his very next fight, this a non-title bout with Joey Peralta, who decisioned him. In total, Wright would register just two title retentions, with him losing other non-title fights as well. Wright defeated Harry Jeffra (KO10) and Lulu Constantino (W15), before he lost the title to the great Willie Pep. Pep won a unanimous decision over Wright in November of 1942, at Madison Square Garden, and the two would box four times in total, with Pep winning each time.
Wright attempted to win back the crown against Pep in their September 1944 rematch, but he was again beaten on points. In their fourth and final fight, in November of 1946, Pep KO’d Wright in three rounds, showing how faded Wright had become. By this time, Wright, aged 35 and sporting a hard-earned 171-44(18) record, had been in plenty of tough fights. Among the other big names Wright faced during his later career were Jackie Wilson (again) and Johnny Bratton.
In March of 1948, after a stoppage loss against Ernie Hunick, Wright retired. He was now 36 years old, and he exited with a 171-46-19(87) ledger.
Wright undertook plenty of different projects after he quit the ring. Chalky worked as a trainer for lightweight contender Tommy Campbell, while somewhat mysteriously (and a big element of mystery is certainly there when it comes to the end of the former champion’s life), Wright claimed he had written his autobiography, but under the pen name Jay Caldwell. To this day, the book has never surfaced.
Tragic Death of Chalky Wright
Wright, who had unfortunately lost almost all of his ring earnings whilst gambling, also worked in a bar (where he claimed each and every barman was a former fighter), and at the end, he worked in a bakery. Wright was married twice, and he had one son, who passed away some time ago. The manner in which Wright died is both sad and mysterious. In the 1930, Wright became friendly with star actress Mae West. West was actually a boxing fan, and she reportedly helped finance Wright’s early ring career. It is said the two became more than friends, but this was never proven.
In actuality, the subject became something of a scandal and may have led to Wright’s death, even his murder. Years later, in 1955, when Wright had long since retired from boxing, a tabloid magazine called ‘Confidential’ ran an exposé story that stated how West and Wright had been lovers and that West had given Wright a good deal of money with which to gamble. The article described how West and a ‘bronze boxer” became romantic. West denied the claim, while she also sued for libel. West won, but later, in 1957, the case went to court as the writers for ‘Confidential’ were ordered to testify regarding the underhanded tactics they would use when it came to putting out stories.
Before he was called to testify, Wright suddenly died, at the age of just 45. Wright, who had been diagnosed with a heart condition and had been hospitalised that July, was found dead in his mother’s bathtub, this on August 12, just before he was due in court. Wright’s head was under the water, and the tap was still running. Immediately, there were suggestions of foul play, the motive being to silence Wright before his day in court.
These claims were bolstered by the fact that Wright’s first wife, who was also set to testify in court, stated how she had received a threatening phone call during which an unknown person with a “gruff voice” told her to keep her mouth shut, “if you know what’s good for you.”
So, was Wright murdered? Though we will never know for sure, there is some evidence that suggests the former fighter, in ill health, merely slipped and hit his head; with there reportedly being proof, by way of a dislodged towel rack that Wright had grabbed in order to try and stop himself from falling at the time of his unfortunate death. Officially, Wright’s death is in the books as accidental.
In any case, this was a most unfitting end to a great fighter’s life. Wright, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997, was some fighter. He was some person. And for a man who lived just 45 years, Albert “Chalky” Wright sure had himself an eventful life.