# Bert Lytell (boxer)

Calvin Coolidge Lytle (January 24, 1924 – January 26, 1990), better known by his professional names Bert Lytell and Chocolate Kid, was an American boxer and middleweight contender in the 1940s and early 1950s. Recognized as a member of the famous Murderers' Row, the 5'8" Lytell fought (and often won) against other top black middleweights of his time, including Charley Burley, Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Lewis Hardwick, Holman Williams, and Charley Doc Williams, as well as other notable fighters including Archie Moore and Sam Baroudi.
Like many of his contemporaries, Bert Lytell was denied a chance to fight for a world title largely due to his race.
Lytell was born in Victoria, Texas. He enlisted in the Naval reserves in 1942 in San Antonio, Texas, and was discharged in 1944. He resided in New York City for most of his career, later moving to Oakland, California to be closer to his family, including brother Loyal Lytle. During his career, he was known as The Beast of Stillman's Gym. He was one of the members of the famous Black Murderers' Row, a group of world-class African American welterweights and middleweights who were avoided by most top white fighters of their era and never got the chance to fight for a world title, despite being well-regarded by the boxing community.
The "Chocolate Kid" died on January 26, 1990, 2 days after his 66th birthday.

## Professional boxing record

| 102 fights | 71 wins | 23 losses |
| By knockout | 24 | 1 |
| By decision | 46 | 22 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 7 | 7 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 102 | Loss | 71–23–7 (1) | Clinton Bacon | PTS | 10 | Apr 16, 1951 | Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 101 | Win | 71–22–7 (1) | Lajuin Burks | KO | 2 (?) | Apr 6, 1951 | Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 100 | Win | 70–22–7 (1) | Clinton Bacon | UD | 10 | Feb 19, 1951 | Carlsbad, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 99 | ND | 69–22–7 (1) | Oakland Billy Smith | NC | 10 (10) | Nov 15, 1950 | County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S. | |
| 98 | Loss | 69–22–7 | Artie Towne | SD | 10 | Aug 15, 1950 | Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 97 | Loss | 69–21–7 | Jimmy Slade | SD | 10 | Jul 31, 1950 | Gannon College Auditorium, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 96 | Win | 69–20–7 | Bob Amos | UD | 10 | May 26, 1950 | Outdoor Sports Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 95 | Loss | 68–20–7 | Archie Moore | UD | 10 | Jan 31, 1950 | Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 94 | Win | 68–19–7 | Billy Davis | PTS | 10 | Jan 11, 1950 | Topeka, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 93 | Win | 67–19–7 | Alvin Williams | PTS | 10 | Jan 4, 1950 | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 92 | Loss | 66–19–7 | Harold Johnson | MD | 10 | Dec 7, 1949 | Memorial Hall, Dayton, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 91 | Win | 66–18–7 | Charley Williams | KO | 8 (10) | Nov 14, 1949 | Memorial Hall, Dayton, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 90 | Win | 65–18–7 | Jerome Frazier | UD | 10 | Oct 25, 1949 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 89 | Win | 64–18–7 | Bob Amos | UD | 10 | Aug 18, 1949 | Collins Sports Acre, Dayton, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 88 | Loss | 63–18–7 | Charley Williams | UD | 10 | Aug 1, 1949 | Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 87 | Loss | 63–17–7 | Jimmy Hooper | UD | 10 | Jun 30, 1949 | Meadowbrook Arena, North Adams, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 86 | Win | 63–16–7 | Chubby Wright | PTS | 10 | Jun 22, 1949 | Scranton-Dunmore Stadium, Dunmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 85 | Draw | 62–16–7 | Gentle Daniel | PTS | 10 | Apr 30, 1949 | Mucurapo Stadium, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 84 | Win | 62–16–6 | Gentle Daniel | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 1, 1949 | Mucurapo Stadium, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 83 | Loss | 61–16–6 | Henry Hall | PTS | 8 | Mar 18, 1949 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 82 | Loss | 61–15–6 | Henry Hall | UD | 10 | Mar 2, 1949 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 81 | Win | 61–14–6 | Al Johnson | KO | 7 (10) | Feb 16, 1949 | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 80 | Draw | 60–14–6 | Henry Hall | PTS | 10 | Feb 7, 1949 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 79 | Win | 60–14–5 | Jerome Frazier | KO | 5 (10) | Jan 1, 1949 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 78 | Win | 59–14–5 | Sylvester Perkins | UD | 10 | Dec 14, 1948 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 77 | Win | 58–14–5 | Gentle Daniel | PTS | 10 | Oct 30, 1948 | Mucurapo Stadium, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad And Tobago | |
| 76 | Win | 57–14–5 | José Basora | UD | 10 | Oct 20, 1948 | Sixto Escobar Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 75 | Win | 56–14–5 | Cyril Francis | PTS | 10 | Oct 1, 1948 | Mucurapo Stadium, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad And Tobago | |
| 74 | Loss | 55–14–5 | Charley Williams | UD | 10 | Sep 16, 1948 | Meadowbrook Arena, North Adams, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 73 | Win | 55–13–5 | Roy Williams | UD | 10 | Aug 16, 1948 | Queensboro Arena,New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 72 | Win | 54–13–5 | Oakland Billy Smith | UD | 10 | Jul 14, 1948 | Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 71 | Win | 53–13–5 | Roy Miller | UD | 10 | Jun 22, 1948 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 52–13–5 | Jackie Darthard | RTD | 6 (10) | Apr 21, 1948 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | Darthard died of injuries sustained in the fight |
| 69 | Win | 51–13–5 | Major Jones | UD | 10 | Apr 5, 1948 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 50–13–5 | Watson Jones | TKO | 5 (10) | Mar 24, 1948 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 67 | Draw | 49–13–5 | Jackie Darthard | PTS | 10 | Feb 16, 1948 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 66 | Loss | 49–13–4 | Leonard Morrow | SD | 10 | Feb 11, 1948 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 49–12–4 | Oakland Billy Smith | PTS | 10 | Jan 21, 1948 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 48–12–4 | Joe Blackwood | PTS | 8 | Jan 9, 1948 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 47–12–4 | Major Jones | SD | 10 | Nov 25, 1947 | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 62 | Loss | 46–12–4 | Archie Moore | UD | 10 | Jul 14, 1947 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 46–11–4 | Holman Williams | UD | 12 | Jul 4, 1947 | Pelican Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 45–11–4 | Bobby Lakin | TKO | 5 (10) | Jun 21, 1947 | Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 44–11–4 | Herbert Lewis Hardwick | RTD | 6 (10) | May 18, 1947 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 43–11–4 | Juan José Fernández | KO | 6 (10) | Apr 21, 1947 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 42–11–4 | Sam Baroudi | UD | 10 | Apr 7, 1947 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 41–11–4 | Eddie O'Neill | UD | 10 | Mar 18, 1947 | Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 40–11–4 | Anthony Jones | TKO | 9 (10) | Mar 3, 1947 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 39–11–4 | Charley Burley | UD | 10 | Feb 17, 1947 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 38–11–4 | George Smith | TKO | 3 (8) | Jan 21, 1947 | Watres Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 37–11–4 | Henry Hall | PTS | 10 | Jan 13, 1947 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 36–11–4 | Deacon Johnny Brown | PTS | 8 | Nov 8, 1946 | Fayette Street Garden, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 35–11–4 | Johnny Taylor | KO | 3 (10) | Oct 28, 1946 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 34–11–4 | Johnny Eagles | UD | 10 | Oct 17, 1946 | Crystal Palace Rink, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 48 | Loss | 33–11–4 | Deacon Johnny Brown | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 2, 1946 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 33–10–4 | Saint Paul | UD | 10 | Aug 30, 1946 | Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 32–10–4 | Charley Burley | UD | 10 | Aug 5, 1946 | Zivic Arena, Millvale, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 32–9–4 | Herbert Lewis Hardwick | PTS | 10 | Jul 30, 1946 | Sixto Escobar Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 44 | Win | 31–9–4 | Roy Miller | PTS | 10 | Jun 28, 1946 | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 30–9–4 | Holman Williams | UD | 10 | Apr 15, 1946 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 42 | Draw | 29–9–4 | Jackie Cooper | PTS | 10 | Apr 5, 1946 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 29–9–3 | Johnny Lawer | PTS | 10 | Apr 2, 1946 | Rayen-Wood Auditorium, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 28–9–3 | Herbert Lewis Hardwick | PTS | 10 | Mar 25, 1946 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 27–9–3 | Walter Woods | PTS | 10 | Feb 4, 1946 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 27–8–3 | Cyril Gittens | KO | 2 (10) | Jan 21, 1946 | New Britain, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 26–8–3 | Douglas Rhone | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 7, 1946 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 25–8–3 | Aaron Wade | SD | 10 | Oct 1, 1945 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 25–7–3 | Mario Raul Ochoa | UD | 10 | Sep 24, 1945 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 24–7–3 | Holman Williams | PTS | 12 | Aug 31, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 33 | Draw | 24–6–3 | Holman Williams | PTS | 10 | Aug 17, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 24–6–2 | Ellis Stewart | KO | 9 (10) | Aug 6, 1945 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 23–6–2 | Deacon Logan | TKO | 10 (10) | Jul 9, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 22–6–2 | Anthony Jones | PTS | 10 | Jul 2, 1945 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 21–6–2 | Joe Reddick | PTS | 10 | Jun 25, 1945 | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 28 | Loss | 20–6–2 | Walter Woods | PTS | 10 | Jun 8, 1945 | Boston Garden, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 20–5–2 | Lige Drew | UD | 10 | May 28, 1945 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 19–5–2 | Mayhew Smith | TKO | 4 (10) | May 21, 1945 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 25 | Loss | 18–5–2 | Jake LaMotta | SD | 10 | Apr 27, 1945 | Boston Garden, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 18–4–2 | Joe Reddick | PTS | 10 | Apr 20, 1945 | Elk's Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 17–4–2 | Johnny Ryan | KO | 3 (10) | Apr 12, 1945 | Mechanics Building, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 16–4–2 | Jimmy Hayden | TKO | 3 (10) | Apr 4, 1945 | Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 15–4–2 | Johnny Finazzo | UD | 10 | Mar 1, 1945 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 14–4–2 | Charley Jones | DQ | 9 (10) | Feb 26, 1945 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 13–4–2 | Coolidge Miller | PTS | 10 | Feb 19, 1945 | Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 18 | Loss | 12–4–2 | Henryk Chmielewski | SD | 10 | Feb 5, 1945 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 12–3–2 | Van McNutt | UD | 10 | Jan 12, 1945 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 11–3–2 | Henry Jordan | RTD | 3 (8) | Jan 6, 1945 | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Loss | 10–3–2 | Henryk Chmielewski | UD | 10 | Jan 4, 1945 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 10–2–2 | Johnny Brown | RTD | 7 (10) | Dec 11, 1944 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 13 | Loss | 9–2–2 | Johnny Finazzo | SD | 10 | Nov 17, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 9–1–2 | Ossie Stewart | PTS | 8 | Nov 13, 1944 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 11 | Draw | 8–1–2 | Berlie Lanier | PTS | 10 | Nov 3, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | George Brown | PTS | 8 | Oct 30, 1944 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Rudy Giscombe | PTS | 8 | Oct 16, 1944 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Coolidge Miller | PTS | 10 | Sep 29, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 7 | Draw | 5–1–1 | Coolidge Miller | PTS | 10 | Sep 15, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Bob Wade | UD | 10 | Sep 1, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Bob Wade | PTS | 10 | Aug 18, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Verne Patterson | TKO | 5 (10) | Aug 4, 1944 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Lew Perez | KO | 4 (6) | Jul 31, 1944 | Meadowbrook Bowl, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 1–1 | Joe Curcio | PTS | 6 | Jul 24, 1944 | Meadowbrook Bowl, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Artie Towne | PTS | 6 | Jul 17, 1944 | Meadowbrook Bowl, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |