BILLY JOINER
MAY 6, 1938 – JUNE 8, 2019
by Steve Canton
Former amateur standout and pro heavyweight contender Billy Joiner passed away on June 8, 2019. The slick boxer from Cincinnati who faced a who’s who of big names in the 1960s and 1970s was 81 years old. One of the last remaining fighters of a golden age, Joiner was a gifted boxer, both fast, clever and brave.
Joiner faced many big names and he could always be relied upon to give the other guy a tough and tricky night. Not many men could lay claim to facing both Muhammad Ali AND Sonny Liston – twice.
Joiner was an excellent light-heavyweight at the amateur level, compiling a fine 86-6 record during which he won both The National AAU title and the Golden Gloves in 1962. It was as an amateur that Joiner twice faced Cassius Clay, soon of course to become Muhammad Ali.
Turning pro in August of 1962, Joiner, then aged 24, defeated Julius Dickens via KO at Madison Square Garden in New York. Joiner would win six more before being controversially outpointed by Amos Johnson (who had beaten the young Clay in an amateur bout) in a fight that contested the Ohio State heavyweight title.
It was in May of 1968 when Joiner first faced the fearsome Liston. The former heavyweight king was on the comeback trail following his 1965 KO loss to Ali, yet Sonny was still bad; he could still punch. Joiner was retired after seven rounds. Then, in his very next fight, ten months later, Joiner found himself in the ring with Liston again. This time, using his full bag of defensive tricks, Billy was able to extend the aging Liston all ten-rounds, dropping a decision. Liston would fight just four more times.
In his next outing, in July of 1969, Joiner made the trip to Montreal, Canada to take on the highly ranked Bob Cleroux. Joiner walked away with a deserved split decision victory. Cleroux never boxed again.
Unfortunately, Joiner was unable to capitalize on his big win; dropping decisions to Zora Folley, Al “Blue” Lewis, and Juergen Blin, whilst being stopped by Mac Foster and Larry Holmes after that. A disputed decision defeat to the heavy hands of Oscar Bonavena in February of 1976 was the last big fight Joiner fought. Joiner returned to go out a winner in 1981 when he boxed his way to a decision victory over Young Louis. Rest in peace.