# Aaron Wade

Aaron "Little Tiger" Wade (March 17, 1916 – February 15, 1985) was an American Middleweight boxer who fought from 1935 to 1950. Wade was a member of the famed Black Murderers' Row.

## Early life

Born in Trenton Tennessee, Wade became the first African American golden gloves champion in Peoria, Illinois and reportedly had 600 or more amateur fights. Aaron's older brother Bruce "Big Tiger" Wade was also a professional boxer, albeit a less successful one than his younger brother. Aaron stood a hair above 5 feet 5 inches and began his career at 140 lbs as a welterweight before moving up and fighting at middleweight and light heavyweight.

## Career

Known for his power, Wade had a knockout ratio of 50% over a span of 64 victories. His fights with other members of the black murderers' row are 3 losses to Charley Burley, 1 win over Herbert Lewis "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick, 2 losses and 1 draw to Jack Chase, and a win over Bert Lytell. Other notable fights of Wade's career include a win over Archie Moore, a win against Sam Baroudi, 3 wins against Oakland Billy Smith, a loss to Ceferino Garcia, and a loss in his final career fight after a 2-year layoff against the great Sugar Ray Robinson. Like all the black murderer's row fighters, Wade never got a shot at the world title. Aaron Wade finished his career with a record of 64(32 KOs)-16-6.
Wade was a sparring partner of Sugar Ray Robinson's in 1948. According to a Boston Post article, Wade got into a fight with Sugar Ray over Wade's payment. Wade had knocked down Sugar Ray outside a gym and left him with separation of his ribs and swelling described as "the size of a pullet egg" around his heart. Robinson had to cancel his scheduled fight and was out for the next two months.
Author Springs Toledo uncovered evidence that Wade took a dive in the bout against Sugar Ray Robinson. According to Wade's son, Robinson was unaware of the fix with the promoters being the culprits, paying Wade a few hundred dollars to go down in three rounds and lose the fight. According to the Savannah Evening Press Wade "began hitting the canvas for apparently no reason at all."

## Later years

After his career ended, Wade descended into alcoholism but later overcame it and devoted his life to helping the less fortunate in the Fillmore section of San Francisco as a Christian minister. Wade died of a heart attack on February 15, 1985. He was 68 years old.

## Professional boxing record

| 86 fights | 64 wins | 16 losses |
| By knockout | 32 | 5 |
| By decision | 32 | 11 |
| Draws | 6 | 6 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location |
| 86 | Loss | 64–16–6 | Sugar Ray Robinson | KO | 3 (10) | Feb 22, 1950 | Municipal Auditorium, Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| 85 | Loss | 64–15–6 | Wylie Burns | UD | 10 | Dec 22, 1947 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 84 | Loss | 64–14–6 | Ted Lowry | UD | 10 | Oct 27, 1947 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 83 | Win | 64–13–6 | Sam Baroudi | SD | 10 | Oct 13, 1947 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 82 | Loss | 63–13–6 | Holman Williams | KO | 4 (10) | Feb 4, 1946 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 81 | Win | 63–12–6 | Joe Hyman | TKO | 2 (10) | Oct 15, 1945 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 80 | Win | 62–12–6 | Bert Lytell | SD | 10 | Oct 1, 1945 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| 79 | Loss | 61–12–6 | Charley Burley | UD | 10 | Aug 20, 1945 | Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 78 | Win | 61–11–6 | Mario Raul Ochoa | TKO | 2 (6) | Aug 10, 1945 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 77 | Loss | 60–11–6 | Joe Carter | PTS | 10 | Dec 11, 1944 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 76 | Win | 60–10–6 | Herbert Lewis Hardwick | PTS | 10 | Nov 13, 1944 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 75 | Loss | 59–10–6 | Holman Williams | PTS | 10 | Oct 11, 1944 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 74 | Win | 59–9–6 | Jimmy Hayden | KO | 1 (10) | Sep 29, 1944 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 73 | Draw | 58–9–6 | Jack Chase | PTS | 10 | Aug 9, 1944 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 72 | Loss | 58–9–5 | Jack Chase | TKO | 10 (10) | Jun 28, 1944 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 71 | Loss | 58–8–5 | Charley Burley | PTS | 10 | Mar 24, 1944 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. |
| 70 | Win | 58–7–5 | Alonzo Williams | TKO | 2 (6) | Feb 21, 1944 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 69 | Win | 57–7–5 | Eddie Guerra | TKO | 1 (10) | Nov 15, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 68 | Win | 56–7–5 | Harvey Massey | TKO | 7 (10) | Oct 25, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 67 | Win | 55–7–5 | Harvey Massey | TKO | 4 (10) | Oct 4, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 66 | Win | 54–7–5 | Archie Moore | PTS | 10 | Aug 16, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 65 | Win | 53–7–5 | RJ Lewis | TKO | 4 (10) | Aug 2, 1943 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 64 | Win | 52–7–5 | RJ Lewis | TKO | 1 (10) | Jul 19, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 63 | Loss | 51–7–5 | Jack Chase | PTS | 10 | Jun 21, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 62 | Win | 51–6–5 | Al Couture | TKO | 2 (8) | Jun 7, 1943 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 61 | Loss | 50–6–5 | Charley Burley | PTS | 10 | Mar 3, 1943 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 60 | Win | 50–5–5 | Watson Jones | PTS | 10 | Dec 18, 1942 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. |
| 59 | Win | 49–5–5 | Rand Jackson | KO | 3 (8) | Dec 3, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 58 | Win | 48–5–5 | Oakland Billy Smith | PTS | 10 | Nov 10, 1942 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 57 | Win | 47–5–5 | Buddy Green | TKO | 4 (8) | Oct 16, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 56 | Win | 46–5–5 | Bobby Birch | PTS | 8 | Sep 18, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 55 | Win | 45–5–5 | Tabby Romero | PTS | 8 | Sep 4, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 54 | Win | 44–5–5 | Oakland Billy Smith | KO | 4 (8) | Aug 28, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 53 | Win | 43–5–5 | Tabby Romero | PTS | 6 | Aug 26, 1942 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 52 | Win | 42–5–5 | Oakland Billy Smith | PTS | 8 | Aug 21, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 51 | Win | 41–5–5 | Rudy Campa | KO | 1 (8) | Aug 7, 1942 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 50 | Loss | 40–5–5 | Johnny Jackson | PTS | 10 | Aug 11, 1941 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 49 | Win | 40–4–5 | Johnny Jackson | PTS | 10 | Jul 17, 1941 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 48 | Win | 39–4–5 | Urban Hernandez | TKO | 6 (10) | Jun 16, 1941 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 47 | Loss | 38–4–5 | Johnny Jackson | KO | 5 (10) | Apr 25, 1941 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| 46 | Win | 38–3–5 | Big Boy Hogue | RTD | 8 (10) | Dec 20, 1940 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 45 | Win | 37–3–5 | Bobby Pacho | TKO | 6 (10) | Sep 30, 1940 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 44 | Win | 36–3–5 | Billy Bengal | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 28, 1940 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 43 | Win | 35–3–5 | Lloyd Delucchi | PTS | 10 | Jun 7, 1940 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 42 | Win | 34–3–5 | Billy Azevedo | PTS | 4 | May 13, 1940 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 41 | Loss | 33–3–5 | Billy Azevedo | PTS | 6 | Mar 29, 1940 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 40 | Loss | 33–2–5 | Jackie Cooper | PTS | 5 | Nov 17, 1939 | White City Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 39 | Win | 33–1–5 | Chuck Vickers | KO | 3 (?) | Aug 31, 1939 | Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| 38 | Win | 32–1–5 | Henry Woods | PTS | 10 | Feb 10, 1939 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 37 | Win | 31–1–5 | Billy Pascal | KO | 10 (10) | Feb 1, 1939 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 36 | Win | 30–1–5 | Herman Graves | PTS | 6 | Nov 8, 1938 | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| 35 | Win | 29–1–5 | Jack Rainwater | TKO | 2 (6) | Oct 10, 1938 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 34 | Win | 28–1–5 | Ace of Spades | TKO | 3 (6) | Oct 3, 1938 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 33 | Win | 27–1–5 | Frankie Santos | KO | 4 (6) | Aug 22, 1938 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 32 | Draw | 26–1–5 | Frankie Santos | PTS | 4 | Aug 12, 1938 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 31 | Win | 26–1–4 | Jimmy McCready | PTS | 6 | Jun 1, 1938 | National Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 30 | Win | 25–1–4 | Jack Rainwater | PTS | 10 | Apr 26, 1938 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 29 | Win | 24–1–4 | Jimmy Berres | PTS | 6 | Mar 16, 1938 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 28 | Win | 23–1–4 | Johnny Bassanelli | PTS | 10 | Feb 4, 1938 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 27 | Win | 22–1–4 | Jimmy Wakefield | TKO | 2 (6) | Jan 19, 1938 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 26 | Win | 21–1–4 | Billy Azevedo | PTS | 6 | Nov 10, 1937 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 25 | Win | 20–1–4 | Young Lew Massey | TKO | 3 (6) | Oct 13, 1937 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 24 | Win | 19–1–4 | George Romero | TKO | 2 (6) | Sep 24, 1937 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 23 | Draw | 18–1–4 | Mickey Duris | PTS | 6 | Sep 17, 1937 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 22 | Draw | 18–1–3 | Clarence Enos | PTS | 4 | Aug 25, 1937 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 21 | Win | 18–1–2 | Mario Duccini | PTS | 6 | May 28, 1937 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 20 | Win | 17–1–2 | Lee Medina | PTS | 6 | Apr 26, 1937 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 19 | Win | 16–1–2 | Teddy Movan | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 16, 1937 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 18 | Loss | 15–1–2 | Ceferino Garcia | TKO | 1 (10) | Mar 23, 1937 | Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S. |
| 17 | Win | 15–0–2 | Johnny Fasano | TKO | 3 (6) | Nov 20, 1936 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 16 | Draw | 14–0–2 | Billy Azevedo | PTS | 6 | Nov 4, 1936 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Billy Azevedo | PTS | 6 | Oct 21, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Mike Barto | PTS | 6 | Sep 16, 1936 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Frankie Santos | PTS | 6 | Aug 12, 1936 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 12 | Draw | 11–0–1 | Jimmy McLeod | PTS | 6 | Jul 31, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Jimmy McLeod | PTS | 4 | Jul 22, 1936 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Lloyd Smith | TKO | 3 (6) | Jun 10, 1936 | Sports Palace, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Johnny Bassanelli | TKO | 3 (6) | May 21, 1936 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Frankie Nocella | TKO | 5 (6) | May 15, 1936 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Bert Sommers | PTS | 4 | Apr 17, 1936 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Walter Adams | PTS | 4 | Mar 27, 1936 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Bobby White | KO | 2 (4) | Mar 13, 1936 | L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Jimmy Duffy | PTS | 4 | Nov 22, 1935 | Chestnut St. Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Carl Martin | UD | 8 | Oct 14, 1935 | Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Murray Allen | PTS | 6 | Sep 27, 1935 | Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Murray Allen | PTS | 8 | Aug 15, 1935 | Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |