# Wally Carr

Wally Carr (11 August 1954 – 13 April 2019) was an Australian professional boxer. Carr held twelve titles across six different divisions across his 15-year career as a boxer. He was nicknamed "Wait-awhile-Wal".

## Early life

Wally Carr was born on 11 August 1954, two months after his father died by suicide by gunshot to the head. He was a Wiradjuri man who was born and raised in Wellington, New South Wales.

## Career

Carr held twelve titles across six different divisions across his 15-year career as a boxer, and was nicknamed "Wait-awhile-Wal".
Described by Boxing 1970–1980 as having "boxing ability to burn" and "outstanding skills", Wally Carr had 100 professional fights. His first fight was in South Sydney Leagues Club in 1971 at the age of 17 and his last fight was in 1986 at the age of 32 when he announced his retirement after fighting Doug Sam at the Bruce Stadium in Canberra.
With over twelve fights overseas in countries including, Zambia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji, Carr got his first crack at a world champion, his 96th fight, when he fought Korean Super-Middleweight, Chong-Pal Park, the then current IBF's world Super-Middleweight champion, in Seoul in 1984. Carr lost on points. Despite Pal Park being a world champion, this fight was not a world title bout but a ten-round non-title fight. Had Carr won, he may have received a rematch with the world title at stake then.
Wally's fighting career spanned Super-Bantamweight to Heavyweight. He fought in 13 divisions, starting out at 8 stone 10 lbs and finishing up at 14 stone 10 lbs. His titles include NSW Welterweight Champion, Australasian Light Middleweight Champion, Australian Junior Middleweight Champion, Australian Middleweight Champion, Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Champion, Australian Super-Middleweight Champion, Australian Light-Heavyweight Champion and Oriental Middleweight Champion.

## Recognition

Carr was selected as the inductee into the 2010 Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Moderns category in recognition of his achievements.

## Death and legacy

Wally Carr died on 13 April 2019 due to stomach cancer.
During the indigenous round of the 2020 NRL Season, Carr's name was included on the inside of the collar on the player jersey for the Melbourne Storm, for whom Carr's grandson, Josh Addo-Carr plays.

## Personal life

Carr had four children (three daughters and one son) and two grandchildren. He was the grandfather of NRL player Josh Addo-Carr.
In 2010 Gaele Sobott published the biography of Wally Carr titled My Longest Round, which details his life from his earliest memories in Wellington, his boxing career, his battle with alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness, and his final transition to sobriety and happiness. The book was written in close collaboration with Carr over the course of six years.

## Professional boxing titles

* Australia – New South Wales State welterweight title (1461⁄4 Ibs)
* Australasian Super Welterweight Title (154 Ibs)
* Australian super welterweight title (1541⁄4 Ibs)
* Australian middleweight title (160 Ibs)
* Australian light heavyweight title (172 Ibs)

## Professional boxing record

| 100 fights | 53 wins | 38 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 8 |
| By decision | 26 | 27 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 3 |
| Draws | 9 | 9 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Date | Location | Notes |
| 100 | Loss | 53–38–9 | Doug Sam | KO | 18 April 1986 | Bruce Stadium, Canberra | |
| 99 | Loss | 53–37–9 | Gary Hubble | DQ | 22 March 1986 | Campbelltown Rugby League Club, Leumeah | Lost Australian Light Heavyweight Title |
| 98 | Loss | 53–36–9 | Dave Russell | PTS | 26 April 1985 | Festival Hall, Melbourne | |
| 97 | Win | 53–35–9 | Alan Black | KO | 11 December 1984 | Entertainment Centre, Perth | Won Australian Light Heavyweight Title |
| 96 | Loss | 52–35–9 | Chong Pal Park | PTS | 7 October 1984 | Seoul | |
| 95 | Loss | 52–34–9 | Pat Hailwood | PTS | 31 August 1984 | Marrickville RSL Club, Marrickville, Sydney | |
| 94 | Loss | 52–33–9 | Kevin Wagstaff | UD | 1 June 1984 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | Lost vacant Australian Cruiserweight Title |
| 93 | Win | 52–32–9 | Tommy West | PTS | 27 April 1984 | Sydney | Won vacant Australian Light Heavyweight Title |
| 92 | Draw | 51–32–9 | Tommy West | PTS | 24 February 1984 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 91 | Win | 51–32–8 | Gary Hubble | TKO | 2 December 1983 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 90 | Win | 50–32–8 | Peter Hewitt | KO | 14 October 1983 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 89 | Loss | 49–32–8 | Terry Archer | DQ | 16 September 1983 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | Lost Australia – New South Wales State Heavyweight Title |
| 88 | Draw | 49–31–8 | Young Stone | PTS | 5 August 1983 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 87 | Loss | 49–31–7 | Young Haumona | PTS | 28 April 1983 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 86 | Loss | 49–30–7 | Stephane Ferrara | PTS | 10 October 1981 | Noumea | |
| 85 | Loss | 49–29–7 | Alex Sua | KO | 27 May 1981 | Auckland | |
| 84 | Win | 49–28–7 | Ken Eldridge | KO | 20 November 1980 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 83 | Loss | 48–28–7 | Phil Kating | PTS | 2 August 1980 | Laucala Bay Hanger, Suva | |
| 82 | Win | 48–27–7 | Terry Fox | TKO | 29 June 1980 | Balmain Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 81 | Win | 47–27–7 | Fossie Schmidt | TKO | 12 April 1980 | Laucala Bay Hanger, Suva | |
| 80 | Win | 46–27–7 | Terry Fox | PTS | 16 June 1979 | Victoria Park, Dubbo | |
| 79 | Win | 45–27–7 | John Krishna | KO | 18 February 1979 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney | Won Australian Middleweight Title |
| 78 | Loss | 44–27–7 | Monty Betham | PTS | 11 February 1979 | Auckland | Lost Australian National Boxing Federation Australasian Middleweight Title |
| 77 | Win | 44–26–7 | Torkano Marcos | KO | 16 December 1978 | Laucala Bay Hanger, Suva | |
| 76 | Win | 43–26–7 | Benny Holt | TKO | 7 December 1978 | Revesby Workers Club, Sydney | Won Australian Middleweight Title |
| 75 | Win | 42–26–7 | Al Korovou | TKO | 26 July 1978 | Bankstown RSL Club, Sydney | Won Australian Middleweight Title |
| 74 | Loss | 41–26–7 | Neil Pattell | PTS | 30 June 1978 | Festival Hall, Brisbane | |
| 73 | Loss | 41–25–7 | Al Korovou | PTS | 14 December 1977 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | Lost Australian Middleweight Title |
| 72 | Win | 41–24–7 | Johnny Layton | PTS | 12 October 1977 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | Won Australian Super Welterweight Title |
| 71 | Win | 40–24–7 | Rudy Siregar | PTS | 11 September 1977 | Surabaya | |
| 70 | Draw | 39–24–7 | Johnny Layton | PTS | 27 October 1976 | Bankstown Sports Club, Sydney | |
| 69 | Loss | 39–24–6 | Monty Betham | KO | 23 September 1976 | Town Hall, Wellington | Lost Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Title |
| 68 | Loss | 39–23–6 | Neil Pattell | PTS | 8 September 1976 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | Lost Australian Super Welterweight Title |
| 67 | Win | 39–22–6 | Eric King | KO | 4 August 1976 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 66 | Win | 38–22–6 | Monty Betham | KO | 12 July 1976 | Town Hall, Wellington | Won vacant Australian National Boxing Federation Australasian Super Welterweight Title |
| 65 | Loss | 37–22–6 | Julius Luipa | TKO | 1 July 1976 | Chingola | Lost Australia – New South Wales State Welterweight Title |
| 64 | Win | 37–21–6 | Eric King | PTS | 9 June 1976 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 63 | Win | 36–21–6 | Joe Keresi | KO | 2 October 1975 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 62 | Win | 35–21–6 | Benny Holt | TKO | 10 July 1975 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 61 | Win | 34–21–6 | Bernie Alexander | TKO | 5 June 1975 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 60 | Loss | 33–21–6 | Benny Holt | PTS | 22 May 1975 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 59 | Loss | 33–20–6 | Martin Beni | TKO | 19 April 1975 | Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne | |
| 58 | Win | 33–19–6 | Billy O'Donnell | KO | 3 April 1975 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 57 | Draw | 32–19–6 | Martin Beni | PTS | 13 March 1975 | Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby | |
| 56 | Win | 32–19–5 | Alan Aldenhoven | TKO | 27 February 1975 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 55 | Loss | 31–19–5 | Dennis Enright | PTS | 18 August 1974 | RSA Hall, Invercargill | |
| 54 | Loss | 31–18–5 | Colin Cassidy | PTS | 14 August 1974 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 53 | Loss | 31–17–5 | Andy Broome | TKO | 13 June 1974 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 52 | Win | 31–16–5 | Billy O'Connor | KO | 17 May 1974 | Festival Hall, Melbourne | |
| 51 | Win | 30–16–5 | Wayne Cullen | KO | 8 May 1974 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 50 | Win | 29–16–5 | Matt Ropis | PTS | 4 April 1974 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 49 | Win | 28–16–5 | Barry Facer | TKO | 28 March 1974 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 48 | Win | 27–16–5 | Fred Rolando Pastor | PTS | 15 March 1974 | Festival Hall, Melbourne | |
| 47 | Win | 26–16–5 | Martin Ross | KO | 14 February 1974 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 46 | Win | 25–16–5 | Elley Dennis | PTS | 1 December 1973 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 45 | Loss | 24–16–5 | Antonio Oke | PTS | 10 November 1973 | Noumea | |
| 44 | Loss | 24–15–5 | Bobby Cotterill | PTS | 13 September 1973 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 43 | Loss | 24–14–5 | Colin Cassidy | TKO | 15 August 1973 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 42 | Win | 24–13–5 | Les Knox | PTS | 19 June 1973 | Cronulla Workingmen's Club, Sydney | |
| 41 | Loss | 23–13–5 | David Hill | PTS | 14 June 1973 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 40 | Draw | 23–12–5 | Jim Metcalfe | PTS | 17 May 1973 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 39 | Win | 23–12–4 | Mick Maher | PTS | 8 May 1973 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 38 | Win | 22–12–4 | Binky Rominski | PTS | 2 May 1973 | Manly Warringah Leagues Club, Sydney | |
| 37 | Win | 21–12–4 | Eric King | PTS | 19 April 1973 | Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 36 | Loss | 20–12–4 | Rod Connors | PTS | 28 February 1973 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 35 | Loss | 20–11–4 | Alan Mander | DQ | 7 February 1973 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 34 | Win | 20–10–4 | Ceddy McGrady | PTS | 18 January 1973 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 33 | Win | 19–10–4 | Ceddy McGrady | PTS | 30 November 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 32 | Win | 18–10–4 | Binky Rominski | KO | 15 November 1972 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 31 | Win | 17–10–4 | Matt Davis | PTS | 31 October 1972 | Cronulla Workingmen's Club, Sydney | |
| 30 | Win | 16–10–4 | Cousin Bob West | PTS | 18 October 1972 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 29 | Loss | 15–10–4 | Jim Metcalfe | PTS | 10 October 1972 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 28 | Loss | 15–9–4 | Rod Connors | PTS | 26 September 1972 | Cronulla Workingmen's Club, Sydney | |
| 27 | Draw | 15–8–4 | Jeff Malcolm | PTS | 20 September 1972 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 26 | Loss | 15–8–3 | Ross Armstrong | PTS | 17 August 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 25 | Win | 15–7–3 | Ross Armstrong | PTS | 10 August 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 24 | Win | 14–7–3 | Binky Rominski | PTS | 11 July 1972 | Corrimal Rugby League Club, Wollongong | |
| 23 | Loss | 13–7–3 | Jim Metcalfe | PTS | 22 June 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 22 | Win | 13–6–3 | Eric Larche | PTS | 15 June 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 21 | Loss | 12–6–3 | Neville Williams | KO | 7 June 1972 | Riverwood Legion Club, Sydney | |
| 20 | Win | 12–5–3 | Les Knox | PTS | 1 June 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 19 | Win | 11–5–3 | Les Knox | PTS | 25 May 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 18 | Loss | 10–5–3 | Lance McConnell | PTS | 2 March 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 17 | Loss | 10–4–3 | Lance McConnell | PTS | 8 February 1972 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 16 | Draw | 10–3–3 | Frank Geebung | PTS | 3 February 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 15 | Loss | 10–3–2 | Jim Metcalfe | PTS | 27 January 1972 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 14 | Win | 10–2–2 | Alan Scott | KO | 11 January 1972 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 13 | Win | 9–2–2 | Ern McNeill | KO | 16 December 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 12 | Win | 8–2–2 | Frank Geebung | PTS | 9 December 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 11 | Win | 7–2–2 | Wayne Oldham | KO | 7 December 1971 | Penrith Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 10 | Win | 6–2–2 | Elley Dennis | PTS | 1 December 1971 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 9 | Win | 5–2–2 | Cousin Bob West | KO | 15 November 1971 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 8 | Win | 4–2–2 | Laurie Johnson | TKO | 4 November 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 7 | Win | 3–2–2 | Graham Murray | PTS | 18 October 1971 | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney | |
| 6 | Draw | 2–2–2 | Dennis Cutmore | PTS | 13 October 1971 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 5 | Loss | 2–2–1 | Frank Geebung | PTS | 30 September 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 4 | Win | 2–1–1 | Graham Murray | PTS | 15 September 1971 | North Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 3 | Loss | 1–1–1 | Laurie Johnson | PTS | 9 September 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Graham Murray | PTS | 2 September 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Graham Murray | PTS | 26 August 1971 | South Sydney Rugby League Club, Sydney | |