Wally Carr
Wally "Wait-awhile-Wal" Carr is a former boxer. An Aboriginal Australian, he was born 11 August 1954 in Wellington, New South Wales. Described by Boxing 1970-1980 as having "boxing ability to burn" and "outstanding skills", Wally Carr had 101 professional fights.[1] 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, Wally Carr got his first crack at a world title; his 99th fight, when he fought Korean Super-Middleweight, Chong-Pal Park in Seoul in 1984. Wally lost on points.
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.
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.[2] The book was written in close collaboration with Wally Carr over the course of six years.
Wally Carr has four children (three daughters and one son) and two grandchildren. He is the grandfather of NRL player Josh Addo-Carr.
He didn't meet his mother until he was 14 years of age while he was working on the cotton fields. This was a very sad but happy moment as they both started to hug and tear up. Wally Carr's dad sadly killed himself with a gun when Wally was still in his mum's stomach.