Eddie Booker
# Eddie Booker

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.”

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

## Professional boxing record

| 79 fights | 66 wins | 5 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 33 | 0 |
| By decision | 33 | 5 |
| Draws | 8 | 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. | |
