Statue To Honor NJ Boxing Legend Jersey Joe Walcott

An eight-foot tall statue honoring South Jersey native and boxing legend Arnold “Jersey Joe Walcott” Cream will soon stand in Wiggins Park along the Camden Waterfront, officials announced on Tuesday.

The Camden County Freeholder Board has approved $185,000 in funding for the Camden County Historical Society to begin work on the statue. The historical society will repay the funding with a fundraising campaign that will begin with an amateur boxing event on the Battleship New Jersey in September.

“Jersey Joe’s legacy as a professional boxer and world-class athlete is of historical significance, but it’s his iconography in the region that really motivates this project,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. said. “Jersey Joe was born and raised in Camden City, and he was a hero and an inspiration to people throughout our area.”

Joe Walcott won the heavyweight championship of the world from 1951-52. At the time, he was the oldest man to hold the title, at the age of 37. George Foreman broke that record when he won the title at the age of 45 in 1994. Walcott’s career spanned 23 years, from 1930-53.

After retiring from boxing, Walcott went into acting. He played small parts in a few movies and television shows. After that, he turned to politics. He became the first African American elected Sheriff of Camden County, a post he held from 1971-74. From 1975 to 1984, he was the chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.

“Both in his athletic career and as a public servant, he spent his life breaking barriers and redefining success,” Cappelli said. “We think it’s important not only to honor him for his contributions to this community, but to ensure that his legacy continues to inspire others for a very long time.”

Local sculptor Carl LeVotch will create the statue. His design includes an eight-foot bronze figure sculpture with two bronze high relief sculptures, and a bronze replica of The Champion’s ring belt. These works of art will be affixed to a pedestal/base, and the entire monument will be placed permanently on the promenade at Wiggins Park. Work is expected to begin on the artwork by mid-to-late September, with a timeline for completion around fall 2021.

For more information, visit https://www.camdencounty.com/jerseyjoe.