Jack Carroll Aussie Welter of the 20's & 30's

Jack Carroll had a rather unorthodox fighting style, but it seemed to be very effective.

- Chuck Johnston

 

He reminds me of Famechon with his movements. Australian? It may be more than coincidence. Maybe ambrose Palmer liked what he saw?

 

I remember there were plans for him to fight Barney Ross for a short while. I can't remember the exact dates or further details off the top of my head but I remember that being a big talking point in his career, would have been an interesting fight had it came off.

He was an interesting fighter. Totally unique and awkward in the true sense of those words, and he really made it work for himself. I remember describing him as an awkward Michael Nunn mixed with some (most likely) Greb tendencies. He was all over that ring though and was a really good tough fighter.

A highlight I made with all the available footage I could scrape up at the time.

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He was a huge draw in Australia during the depression era which is strange because he couldn't punch (most of his stoppage wins were caused by cuts from his gloves laces from his slaps), wasn't good looking and his fights weren't reputed to be very exciting. But he was a winner and people could perhaps relate to his every man persona.

Ross was apparently warned by Maxie Rosenbloom (who campaigned in Australia at the same time as Carroll) not to venture to Australia to fight Carroll as he would likely lose his title and get cut to ribbons in the process. This could be an apocryphal story as Barney Ross was an absolute all-time legend and I doubt he'd have ever avoided anyone considering the names he did meet. Carroll did build a solid resume fighting in Australia though and was probably the country's best fighter of that period which says a bit with fighters like Fred Henneberry, Ron Richards, Jack Haines and Ambrose Palmer competing in that era