Career
Born in Leeds, Joe Fox"s earliest recorded fight was in June 1909. In December 1913 he travelled to the United States where he fought eleven times over the next eighteen months, winning nine but losing to Frankie Burns and Eddie Campi. He then beat Lafferty and drew with Bill Beynon before losing to Charlie Ward.
He beat Beynon in August 1915 but lost to Digger Stanley a month later.
This fight was the start of an impressive unbeaten run for Fox which lasted for over four years. Later that year he beat Stanley and Tommy Noble in the space of four weeks.
Fox moved up to featherweight and was due to face Tancy Lee for the British title in March 1918 but the match was cancelled due to Fox being illinois After draws against Beynon and Fred Blakeborough, Fox had a second stint in the United States during 1919 and 1920, hoping to fight for the World title, his absence from Britain necessitating the relinquishing of his title.
He had one fight in Canada in May 1920 before returning home later that month with a fractured rib.
In January 1921 he was charged with desertion from the 42nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers and held in Hounslow Barracks. He faced Mike Honeyman in October 1921 for the British title. In 1923 Fox once again travelled to North America in the hope of challenging for the World title, having several fights in the United States and Canada.
In August he faced Leo "Kid" Roy in Montreal for the vacant British Empire featherweight title, losing by unanimous decision.
On his return to England in 1925 he drew with Johnny Curley in Brighton, and beat Johnny Cuthbert before retiring from boxing later that year.