Heavyweight · Golden Age (1920–1959)
Elmer Ray
"Violent Ray"
90
Wins
15
Losses
6
Draws
64
KOs
71%
KO %
- Born
- 1910
- Died
- 1987
- Nationality
- USA
- Career
- 1930–1949
A hard-hitting heavyweight who beat Jersey Joe Walcott.
Titles & Honours
- Never fought for a world title
Career Timeline
1930–1949- Milestone
First recorded professional bout
vs Walter King · D MD
- Milestone
25th recorded win
vs Sam Morris · PTS. Newspaper decisions excluded.
- Milestone
50th recorded win
vs Freddie Hudson · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.
- Signature fight
vs Jersey Joe Walcott
W SD · Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.
- Signature fight
vs Ezzard Charles
W SD · Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.
- Milestone
Latest recorded bout
vs John Holman · L KO. Not necessarily the retirement date.
Derived from the current archive and profile honours. Title-reign years are not exact bout dates; title claims are not independently verified. Signature fights use existing profile selections, or clearly labelled wins over other archived fighters when no selections exist. Year-only dates retain their original precision.
Photo Archive
1 archival photographs under their original licences.
Fight-by-Fight Record
| Date | Result | Opponent | Method | Round | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933-10-31 | D | Walter King | MD | 10 | American Legion Arena, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1933-11-07 | W | Young Jack Johnson | KO | 5 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1934-02-08 | D | Singapore Joe | PTS | 10 | Daytona Beach, Florida, US |
| 1934-06-19 | D | Willie Bush | SD | 10 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1934-07-17 | W | Walter King | UD | 10 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1934-08-21 | W | Willie Bush | TKO | 4 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1934-09-18 | W | Willie Bush | KO | 7 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1934-10-02 | L | Battling Chauffeur | UD | 10 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1935-03-20 | L | Willie Bush | DQ | 7 | City Park Arena, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1935-04-02 | D | RC Holloman | PTS | 10 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1935-04-17 | L | Singapore Joe | PTS | 10 | City Park Arena, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1935-10-08 | W | Henry Johnson | TKO | 2 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1935-10-15 | W | Ben McCoy | PTS | 10 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1935-11-05 | L | RC Holloman | DQ | 9 | Recreation Park, Tallahassee, Florida, US |
| 1935-11-08 | L | Big Fast Black | KO | 2 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| 1936-01-14 | W | Jonas Cobb | TKO | 4 | Rockland Ballroom, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1936-01-21 | D | Billy Jones | PTS | 10 | Rockland Ballroom, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1936-03-15 | D | Ben McCoy | PTS | 10 | Nassau, Bahamas |
| 1937-01-19 | D | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | N.W. Second Avenue Arena, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1937-01-26 | L | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | N.W. Second Avenue Arena, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1937-03-18 | D | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | Johnson Street Arena, Daytona Beach, Florida, US |
| 1937-03-25 | L | Obie Walker | TKO | 6 | Lincoln Park Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US |
| 1937-07-27 | L | Earl Bethal | PTS | 4 | Jacksonville, Florida, US |
| 1937-08-06 | W | Joe St. Peter | KO | 1 | Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach, Florida, US |
| 1937-09-25 | L | Jersey Joe Walcott | KO | 3 | Rockland Palace, New York City, New York, US |
| 1938-03-04 | W | Larry Lovett | PTS | 10 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US |
| 1938-04-01 | W | Larry Lovett | PTS | 10 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US |
| 1938-04-27 | W | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | City Park Arena, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1938-05-19 | L | John Henry Lewis | KO | 12 | Ponce de Leon Ballpark, Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| 1938-07-25 | D | Jim Howell | PTS | 8 | Dyckman Oval, New York City, New York, US |
| 1938-09-15 | L | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, US |
| 1938-10-03 | L | Obie Walker | TKO | 6 | Warren Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| 1939-02-23 | W | Obie Walker | NWS | 10 | City Auditorium, Birmingham, Alabama, US |
| 1939-04-13 | W | Obie Walker | NWS | 10 | City Auditorium, Birmingham, Alabama, US |
| 1939-06-19 | W | Otto McCall | TKO | 3 | Ponce de Leon Ballpark, Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| 1939-07-17 | W | Leroy Haynes | UD | 10 | Ponce de Leon Ballpark, Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| 1939-12-04 | W | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, US |
| 1940-01-11 | W | Tiger Jack Wright | PTS | 10 | City Park Arena, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1940-01-22 | L | Frank Lumpkin | PTS | 10 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-02-05 | L | Frank Lumpkin | PTS | 10 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-02-16 | L | Henry Taylor | SD | 10 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1940-03-07 | W | Obie Walker | PTS | 12 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1940-04-01 | W | Obie Walker | PTS | 10 | Tinker Field, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-04-11 | L | Frank Lumpkin | SD | 15 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-04-29 | W | Jack Lewis | KO | 3 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-07-04 | W | Earl Bethal | KO | 1 | Jacksonville, Florida, US |
| 1940-07-11 | W | Kenny Blackshere | KO | 1 | Jacksonville, Florida, US |
| 1940-12-02 | W | Dixie Oliver | PTS | 10 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-12-09 | W | Dixie Oliver | KO | 2 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1940-12-30 | W | Dixie Oliver | SD | 10 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1941-02-27 | L | Willie Reddish | TKO | 3 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1941-03-05 | D | Dixie Oliver | PTS | 10 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1941-04-01 | W | Willie Reddish | PTS | 10 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1941-05-12 | W | Sam Morris | PTS | 10 | American Legion Arena, Orlando, Florida, US |
| 1941-06-24 | W | Obie Walker | UD | 10 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, US |
| 1941-07-23 | W | Wilbert Bassett | TKO | 6 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, US |
| 1941-08-06 | W | Cyclone Lynch | KO | 3 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, US |
| 1941-10-29 | W | Battling Monroe | PTS | 10 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, US |
| 1942-01-26 | D | Dixie Oliver | PTS | 8 | Davis Islands Coliseum, Tampa, Florida, US |
| 1942-02-10 | W | Bob Smith | PTS | 10 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1942-02-17 | W | Otis Thomas | PTS | 10 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1942-02-20 | W | Willie Snell | TKO | 5 | Location unknown |
| 1942-03-03 | W | Ben Reed | KO | 3 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1942-06-12 | W | Louis Moulton | KO | 3 | Jacksonville, Florida, US |
| 1943-01-15 | L | Larry Lovett | PTS | 10 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US |
| 1943-01-24 | W | Moise Howard | KO | 3 | Victory Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| 1943-04-19 | W | George Fitch | PTS | 10 | Pelican Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| 1943-04-26 | W | Phil Johnson | PTS | 6 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| 1943-08-24 | L | Turkey Thompson | KO | 1 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 1943-10-01 | W | Gene Felton | KO | 2 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, US |
| 1943-10-15 | W | Lorenzo Pedro | TKO | 8 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, US |
| 1943-10-18 | W | Jimmy Grinnage | TKO | 3 | Ocean Park Arena, Santa Monica, California, US |
| 1943-11-12 | W | Ernie Rios | TKO | 5 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US |
| 1943-12-03 | W | Bob Smith | PTS | 10 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, US |
| 1944-02-18 | W | Mike Alfano | TKO | 2 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US |
| 1944-02-25 | W | Al Jordan | TKO | 3 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, US |
| 1944-03-08 | W | Al Ware | KO | 3 | Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 1944-03-15 | W | Bob Smith | KO | 10 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, US |
| 1944-03-31 | W | Buddy Millard | KO | 4 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US |
| 1944-04-28 | W | Jay D. Turner | KO | 5 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, US |
| 1944-05-05 | W | Bob Smith | KO | 2 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US |
| 1944-05-15 | W | Freddie Hudson | KO | 1 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US |
| 1944-07-17 | W | Colion Chaney | KO | 5 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1944-10-03 | W | Larry Lovett | TKO | 3 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 1944-10-17 | W | Perk Daniels | PTS | 10 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US |
| 1944-10-27 | W | Bill Petersen | KO | 2 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1944-11-24 | W | Claudio Villar | KO | 1 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1944-11-30 | W | Earl Lowman | UD | 10 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| 1944-12-08 | W | Kid Riviera | TKO | 6 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| 1945-01-11 | W | Mickey Hayes | KO | 3 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| 1945-01-25 | W | Henry Jones | TKO | 9 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| 1945-02-05 | W | Johnny White | KO | 1 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US |
| 1945-03-23 | W | Jimmy O'Brien | TKO | 5 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US |
| 1945-04-03 | W | Bob Jacobs | TKO | 3 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1945-04-13 | W | Vince Pimpinella | TKO | 5 | 5th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, US |
| 1945-05-04 | W | Perk Daniels | KO | 8 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US |
| 1945-06-01 | W | Larry Lane | UD | 10 | Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1945-09-14 | W | Henry Cooper | TKO | 3 | Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US |
| 1945-10-11 | W | Jimmy Gardner | KO | 1 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US |
| 1945-10-19 | W | Hubert Hood | PTS | 10 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1945-11-29 | W | Grant Shade | KO | 2 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, US |
| 1945-12-06 | W | Cyclone Lynch | KO | 1 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, US |
| 1945-12-10 | W | Grant Shade | KO | 1 | Bismarck, North Dakota, US |
| 1946-02-19 | W | Dan Merritt | KO | 4 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1946-03-05 | W | Al Patterson | KO | 3 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1946-03-19 | W | Hubert Hood | TKO | 4 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1946-04-02 | W | Dixie Oliver | KO | 1 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1946-04-15 | W | Colion Chaney | KO | 1 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US |
| 1946-06-03 | W | Art McAlpine | TKO | 9 | Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US |
| 1946-06-17 | W | Vern Escoe | KO | 3 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US |
| 1946-07-01 | W | Earl Lowman | KO | 3 | Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US |
| 1946-07-23 | W | Larry Lane | KO | 2 | Zivic Arena, Millvale, Pennsylvania, US |
| 1946-08-05 | W | George Fitch | TKO | 5 | Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US |
| 1946-08-28 | W | Lee Savold | KO | 2 | Ebbets Field, New York City, New York, US |
| 1946-10-15 | W | Earl Lowman | RTD | 2 | Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US |
| 1946-10-25 | W | George Parks | KO | 3 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1946-11-04 | W | Clifford Mann | KO | 2 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US |
| 1946-11-15 | W | Jersey Joe Walcott | SD | 10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US |
| 1947-02-06 | W | George Parks | TKO | 2 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1947-03-04 | L | Jersey Joe Walcott | MD | 10 | Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1947-06-30 | W | Colion Chaney | KO | 3 | Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US |
| 1947-07-08 | W | Pete Louthis | KO | 2 | MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, US |
| 1947-07-14 | W | Howard Chard | TKO | 7 | MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, US |
| 1947-07-25 | W | Ezzard Charles | SD | 10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US |
| 1948-03-02 | W | Willie Brown | KO | 4 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1948-03-16 | W | Sandy McPherson | KO | 5 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1948-03-26 | W | Al Smith | TKO | 3 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1948-05-07 | L | Ezzard Charles | KO | 9 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 1949-01-11 | W | Tex Boddie | KO | 4 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1949-02-08 | W | Sid Peaks | KO | 9 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
| 1949-02-22 | L | Kid Riviera | UD | 10 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US |
| 1949-03-08 | L | John Holman | KO | 8 | Dorsey Park, Miami, Florida, US |
Showing 132 of 132 recorded fights · last updated 2026-10-15. Imported record tables are not independently verified and may be incomplete. Early-era logs include newspaper decisions (NWS), which are not counted in the official totals above.
Record notes
Fight record last retrieved: 2026-10-11. Title histories remain subject to archival review.
Historical-era totals differ between record-keeping conventions (newspaper decisions, exhibitions).
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