Jersey Joe Walcott his mother and 11 younger brothers and sisters. He also began training as a boxer. He took the name of his boxing idol, Joe Walcott, a welterweight champion from Barbados. He added "Jersey" to distinguish himself and show where he was from. He debuted as a professional boxer on September 9, 1930, fighting Cowboy Wallace and winning by a knockout in round one. After five straight knockout wins, in 1933, he lost for the first time, beaten on points by Henry Wilson in Philadelphia. He built a record of 45 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw before challenging for the
Sport in Jersey a boules sport. The Jersey Petanque Association is the governing body. There are several rugby union clubs in the island including a rugby academy for under 18s and Les Quennevais Rugby Club. The island's main side, Jersey Reds, enjoyed a meteoric rise through the English pyramid beginning in 2005 and culminating in promotion to England's second level, the RFU Championship, for 2012–13. The team survived relegation scares in both of its first two seasons in the Championship, finishing in the final safe spot of 11th in both seasons. Colin Mallett won Jersey's sole Commonwealth Games gold medal in Auckland in