Introduction
Johnny Toomey
Johnny Toomey, 1936
JOHNNY TOOMEY was the ring name of Philip John Carlin Jr., one of the three brothers from Camden NJ who fought under the surname Toomey, the others being his older half-brothers Daniel “Danny” Toomey and William “Billy” Toomey. Another brother, Jake Carlin, fought as an amateur, and apparently the Toomey boys’ father had also fought professionally.
He was born on July 23rd, 1914 in Camden NJ to Philip J. and Bertha Carlin. His early years were spent at 53 South 26th Street in East Camden. By 1924 the family had moved to 70 South 24th Street. During these years his father worked as a pipefitter and as a steamfitter. The April 1930 Census found the family at 101 South 33rd Street. Besides the four boys mentioned above, there were also two daughters, Mary and Clara Carlin. Philip J. Carlin Sr. died in 1936.
Following his older brothers into both the Navy and professional boxing, young Carlin, under the name Johnny Toomey reportedly fought 134 times during an eleven year period. He served in the United States Navy prior to World War II, then returned to civilian life and professional boxing. His last known fight came in 1945 after a four year layoff, as he had returned to the US Navy during World War II.
Last a resident of 417 Vine Street in North Camden, Philip J. “Johnny Toomey” Carlin suffered a fatal heart attack on October 6, 1953 at the Ridgway Hotel, which stood on the southwest corner of Front and Market Streets in Camden NJ, opposite the old Pennsylvania Railroad Ferry. He was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken NJ, near his mother, who survived him, as did his brothers, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Hines. He also left a son, Jackie Carlin, and a daughter, Miss Phyllis Carlin.
Burglar Alarm Lands Pair in Jail 2 Months
Camden Courier-Post —
Burglar Alarm Lands Pair in Jail 2 Months
A youth and a man who were found loitering near a building at 2610 Federal street, after the ringing of a burglar alarm, were arrested at 1:30 a. m. today. At a hearing in police court they were sentenced to serve two months in jail.
The two were arrested by Patrolman Joseph Keefe, of the Third Police District. The prisoners said they are John Toomsey, 17, of 101 South Thirty-third street and Paul Thompson, 23, of 202 North Twenty-sixth street.
Keefe told the court he heard the burglar alarm and saw two men running away. He later arrested Toomey and Thompson on suspicion. The prisoners said they also had heard the alarm sounding and had run to see what the excitement was all about when they were arrested. The police could find no evidence that anyone had tried to force an entrance into the building.
A Johnny Toomey Contract Signing
Johnny Toomey is seated at far left
1933 or 1934 News Articles
Probably from a Newark, NJ newspaper.
Dear Tony:
Your story about Harry Jacobs being the only local fighter who seems to be going places has got me going. There happens to be a little Irish lad by the name of Johnny Toomey you seem to have overlooked. Johnny in his short career has had but eleven fights and in that list you can find no Harry Monroes or Owen Flynns, but all good tough kids.
Toomey is 19 years old and comes from a fighting family. His brother Danny was at one time All-Navy featherweight champion and fought, among others, Frankie Bordeaux. Some years later his brother Bill held the same title. Then there is the younger brother, Jake, who just recently won an amateur tournament in Camden. And not forgetting the old gent, who was some pumpkins as a fighter in the good old days.
But getting back to Johnny, I want to say that he has more color than Nick Kline’s wardrobe, and anyone who can’t see that is color blind. Remember the name—Irish Johnny Toomey.
Your apology is accepted.
FRANKIE BUNT.
Johnny Toomey Wins.
Johnny Toomey put up a game finish to outpoint the clever blond, Joie Woods, in the six-round semi-final. Toomey went through the last three rounds with his left optic badly damaged. He started off in great style and scored a knockdown in the first round, but after that Woods seemed to improve, and in the fourth cut Toomey’s left eye. After that it was an uphill battle for Johnny and he came through in fine style.
Johnny Toomey Wins.
Johnny Toomey put up a game finish to outpoint the clever blond, Joie Woods, in the six-round semi-final. Toomey went through the last three rounds with his left optic badly damaged. He started off in great style and scored a knockdown in the first round, but after that Woods seemed to improve, and in the fourth cut Toomey’s left eye. After that it was an uphill battle for Johnny and he came through in fine style.
Dear Tony:
Your story about Harry Jacobs being the only local fighter who seems to be going places has got me going. There happens to be a little Irish lad by the name of Johnny Toomey you seem to have overlooked. Johnny in his short career has had but eleven fights and in that list you can find no Harry Monroes or Owen Flynns, but all good tough kids.
Toomey is 19 years old and comes from a fighting family. His brother Danny was at one time All-Navy featherweight champion and fought, among others, Frankie Bordeaux. Some years later his brother Bill held the same title. Then there is the younger brother, Jake, who just recently won an amateur tournament in Camden. And not forgetting the old gent, who was some pumpkins as a fighter in the good old days.
But getting back to Johnny, I want to say that he has more color than Nick Kline’s wardrobe, and anyone who can’t see that is color blind. Remember the name—Irish Johnny Toomey.
Your apology is accepted.
FRANKIE BUNT.
Johnny Toomey's Boxing Record
As best known as of November 17, 2018.
W 13 (1 KO) | L 40 | D 1
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945-11-15 | George Hill | L | KO | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia |
| 1940-10-18 | Mayon Padlo | L | TKO | Waltz Dream Arena, Atlantic City |
| 1940-09-26 | Buck Streator | L | PTS | Convention Hall, Camden |
| 1940-06-17 | Steve Gacha | L | PTS | Rocky Glen Bowl, Scranton |
| 1940-04-04 | Frankie Saia | L | TKO | Olympia A.C., Philadelphia |
| 1940-02-15 | Billy Mims | L | PTS | Olympia A.C., Philadelphia |
| 1940-01-23 | Pete Caringi | W | KO | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia |
| 1939-12-20 | Deacon Cooper | W | PTS | 114th Infantry Armory, Camden |
| 1939-12-19 | Johnny Morgan | W | PTS | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia |
| 1939-11-14 | Teddy Baldwin | L | PTS | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia |
| 1939-09-25 | Larry Mangine | L | PTS | Arena, Trenton |
| 1938-07-05 | Maxie Fisher | L | TKO | Adelphia Athletic Arena, Elizabeth |
| 1938-06-20 | Benny Berman | L | KO | Belmont Park, Garfield |
| 1938-06-14 | Harvey Jacobs | L | PTS | Meadowbrook Bowl, Newark |
| 1938-06-08 | Benny Berman | L | PTS | Wessington Stadium, Clifton |
| 1937-09-06 | George Daly | L | TKO | Speedway, Long Branch |
| 1937-08-18 | Pete Galiano | L | TKO | Cambria Stadium, Philadelphia |
| 1937-08-09 | Lew Massey | L | PTS | Arena Stadium, Philadelphia |
| 1937-03-01 | Eddie Cool | L | PTS | Convention Hall, Camden |
| 1937-02-13 | Lew Kirsch | L | KO | Mecca Temple, New York |
| 1937-02-01 | Paul Cortlyn | L | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1937-01-15 | Sammy Julian | L | KO | Henderson’s Arena, Brooklyn |
| 1936-10-27 | Salvy Saban | L | KO | Broadway Arena, Brooklyn |
| 1936-08-10 | Norman Snow | L | TKO | Meadowbrook Field, Newark |
| 1936-07-14 | Joey Allen | L | PTS | Arena, Pennsauken |
| 1936-06-08 | Aldo Spoldi | L | KO | St. Nicholas Arena, New York |
| 1936-05-11 | Young Zazzarino | L | KO | Columbia Park, North Bergen |
| 1936-04-20 | Lew Feldman | L | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1936-03-10 | Jesse Townsend | W | PTS | Kalurah Temple, Binghamton |
| 1936-03-03 | Billy Beauhuld | L | PTS | Braddock Arena, Jersey City |
| 1936-01-13 | Maxie Fisher | L | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-12-30 | Jerry Paul | W | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-11-11 | Al Singer | L | TKO | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-07-22 | Stumpy Jacobs | L | PTS | Griffith Stadium, Washington |
| 1935-06-11 | Jimmy Brady | L | PTS | Freihofer Field, Phillipsburg |
| 1935-05-13 | Nick Laiko | W | KO | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-03-25 | Jimmy Brady | L | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-02-11 | Jimmy Brady | D | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-01-21 | Jimmy Brady | W | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1935-01-02 | Frankie Litt | W | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1934-12-10 | George Levy | L | KO | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1934-11-15 | Mickey Salem | L | PTS | Teterboro Airdrome, Hasbrouck Heights |
| 1934-10-01 | Billy Burkett | L | TKO | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1934-08-30 | Billy Burkett | W | TKO | Teterboro Airdrome, Hasbrouck Heights |
| 1934-08-23 | Al Kenny | W | PTS | Teterboro Airdrome, Hasbrouck Heights |
| 1934-08-02 | Buddy Fisher | W | PTS | Teterboro Airdrome, Hasbrouck Heights |
| 1934-06-25 | Red Rossi | D | — | Newark |
| 1934-05-04 | Allie Rowan | L | PTS | Elizabeth |
| 1934-03-20 | Larry Reina | L | PTS | Amusement Academy, Plainfield |
| 1934-02-12 | Joe Ardito | L | PTS | Laurel Garden, Newark |
| 1933-11-17 | Maxie Fisher | L | PTS | Convention Hall, Asbury Park |
| 1933-10-30 | Young Andy | W | PTS | Newark |
| 1933-09-18 | Maxie Fisher | L | PTS | Dreamland Park, Newark |
| 1933-08-04 | Young Salvatore | W | TKO | Columbia Arena, Stanhope |
| 1933-06-01 | Maxie Fisher | L | PTS | — |
Joey Allen to Meet Tough Foe in Toomey
Camden Courier-Post —
Joey Allen to Meet Tough Foe in Toomey
JOEY ALLEN TO MEET TOUGH FOE IN TOOMEY
Clash Here Tomorrow
Newark Lightweight May End Local’s Streak Here in Semi-final Tomorrow
WALCOTT VS KETCHELL IN 10-ROUND WINDUP
A keen two-fisted scrap, which should rival the “Jersey Joe” Walcott-Billy Ketchell featured match, has been arranged for the eight-round semi-final of the Atlas Boxing Club’s show tomorrow night at the Pennsauken open-air arena.
The principals in this encounter will be Joey Allen, pride of South Camden, and the clever Johnny Toomey, of Newark, who holds a number of verdicts over outstanding lightweight fighters.
Allen was originally scheduled to face Ernie Ratner, of Jersey City, but according to Promoter Marty Garaguso and Matchmaker Anthony Georgette he failed to pass the state physical examination.
Georgette stated that after having signed Ratner to a contract he had heard rumors of Ratner’s physical condition with the result that the Jersey City youth was forced to pass an examination by physicians of the State Boxing Board, who turned him down.
The local matchmaker immediately burned the wires in order to find a most suitable opponent for Allen and was fortunate in having obtained the services of Toomey, who is considered one of the outstanding lightweights in the East.
In fact from all appearances the present match is looked upon by experts as far better than the original opponent with Allen meeting an opponent who may cause the South Camdenite to lose his first match since appearing in this city.
Toomey Fought Here as Amateur
Toomey is already matched to meet Al Roth, of New York, one of the classiest lightweights in the metropolitan area. These two are slated to come together in Newark on July 17.
Incidentally, Toomey is a former Camden resident, who fought in the amateurs here some years ago. Since then he has had a meteoric rise in the boxing game and has earned decisions over such fighters as Lou Lombardi, Maxie Fisher, Allie Rowan, “Red” Cochrane, Joey Costa and Harry Carlton. In a bout a few months ago Toomey dropped a close decision to Lew Feldman, one of the cleverest, and hardest hitting lightweights in the game today.
Allen is a regular crowd-pleaser, ready to mix it with anyone with whom he is matched and is also rated as a fine boxer. In his last appearance here—last fall—Allen appeared in an eight-round windup against Norman Rahn and gained the verdict.
He is unbeaten in this city, but he will have to step mightily lively in order to keep his record intact when he comes to grips with Toomey tomorrow night.
This tussle should whet the appetite of the fans for the following bout, which finds Walcott, the “Bomber” from Merchantville, tangling with Ketchell, of Millville in 10 rounds. The fur is sure to fly in this scrap, for both are known for packing plenty of T.N.T. behind their punches.
Walcott, Ketchell May Score Kayoe
Walcott and Ketchell are about the best matching heavyweights in this section of the state and it could be classed in some respects as a match to determine the South Jersey heavyweight championship. A knockout is looked for in this battle.
Supporting these two exceptionally fine matched tussles, are three other bouts which should keep the fans on the edge throughout the evening.
In the main-preliminary, Joe Duca, of Paulsboro, is slated to go eight-rounds with Freddy Lewis, of Maple Shade. These two youngsters are expected to set a merry pace for what marks the third and “rubber” match between them.
In the second tussle of the night, Joey Straiges, popular Camden lightweight, mingles with Billy Mariner, of Philadelphia, while in the opening fuss Jimmy Russell, of Beverly, takes on Tommy Ricco, of South Camden, in a featherweight tilt. Both bouts are slated for six rounds.
Millville Slugger Suffers Cut Eye; ‘Jersey Joe’ Loses Round on Foul
Camden Courier-Post —
ALLEN BEATS TOOMEY
By Frank Kopesky
South Jersey fight fans still are at odds over the superiority of their two outstanding heavyweights.
“Jersey Joe” Walcott, the Merchantville “Brown Bomber,” and the veteran Billy Ketchell, of Millville, tangled at the Pennsauken Open Air Arena last night and engaged in a 10-round draw.
A gathering of some 2500 attended the first presentation by the Atlas Boxing Club, and by all indications, professional fighting has regained a foothold in this city.
Walcott and Ketchell, both of whom are regarded as powerhouse hitters, engaged in a bout that was hard-fought from start to finish. In the opinion of the writer, however, the Merchantville Negro merited the decision.
Ketchell, who came in at 181, seven pounds lighter than his opponent, fought an inside fight throughout. He tied Walcott into a knot and then pummeled his ribs and stomach. Granted that the Millville veteran scored considerably by this method, but Walcott’s long-range slugging, his aggressiveness, and his numerous damaging blows clearly, in our opinion, earned him better than a draw.
Walcott Won Six Rounds
The score card showed six rounds for Walcott, two for Ketchell, and two even. The Millville campaigner, whose ring career began as a lightweight years ago, won the sixth round by his telling body punches and the ninth on a foul. The fifth and seventh were even.
The decision by Referee Bill Kutcher, of Atlantic City, appeared to satisfy many of the customers, but a good number was of the opinion that the nod should have gone to Walcott despite the fact that Ketchell made a fight of it.
No knockdowns were scored and three furious exchanges in the first round gave the customers their biggest thrill. After that, the principals settled down and waged a careful fight throughout.
The Merchantville knockout artist employed a left jab effectively in several instances and this helped in gaining him the first round. Neither connected with any damaging blows in the second session and they closed with a rush after hanging and sparring during the first two minutes. Walcott won by a shade.
The stream-lined Negro staggered his adversary twice in the third round with gashouse rights to the jaw, and Ketchell pummeled Walcott’s ribs. The long-range socks gave Walcott the round easily.
Fight at Close Quarters
They fought extremely close in the fourth round with neither landing any telling blows and it was the Merchantville slugger’s round by a shade. The fifth was a repetition of the fourth except that Ketchell fought his opponent on even terms. It was in the sixth that Billy scored with telling body blows and Walcott slowed down somewhat and missed several times to forfeit the round.
It was all infighting in the seventh and their scuffling at close quarters resulted in a nasty cut on Ketchell’s right eye as a result of a “butt.” This round also was even and Walcott won the next by a shade by virtue of his harder and more frequent hitting. In this chapter he returned a few of Ketchell’s body blows.
Walcott hit low in the ninth, but Ketchell took only one minute, 20 seconds rest and appeared none the worse for the blow. Walcott protested that the blow was not a foul, but it nevertheless lost him the round. In the tenth, the suburban scrapper again had the best of it.
Because of threatening weather, the bout was third on the program of five fights.
Allen Beats Toomey
Doing considerable damage with a stinging right, Joey Allen, popular South Camden lightweight, punched out an eight-round decision over Johnny Toomey, of Newark, in the semi-windup.
Toomey, who tipped the beam at 143, is a former Camden boxer, and sported an advantage of seven pounds.
Allen staggered Toomey with powerful rights in the first and sixth heats. Toomey put up a good fight, but Allen was just a little too smart for the upstate scrapper. Joey won all but the second round, which was even.
Freddy Lewis, 156½, of Maple Shade, and Joe Duca, 161, of Paulsboro, brought the rearranged show to a close by treating onlookers with a hard-fought eight-rounder. It was the third and “rubber” fight and Duca made it two victories by gaining the decision.
They engaged in toe to toe slugging bees on several occasions and neither gave an inch throughout. Duca landed the most damaging blows, belaboring the Maple Shade youngster with telling right crosses and straight punches to the head.
Easy for Straiges
Billy Mariner, of Philadelphia, was absolutely no match for Joey Straiges, nimble footed Camden lightweight in the second bout slated for six sessions. Straiges, who fairly oozed class and ability, chopped up both Mariner’s eyes before Referee John Loughrey intervened and halted the slaughter in the third round. The time was two minutes 39 seconds.
Straiges came in at 136 pounds, holding an edge of one pound.
Tommy Ricco, 125½, South Camden scrapper, outpointed Jimmy Russell, 128, of Beverly in the opening number of six rounds. After starting slowly with both doing considerable holding and wrestling, the bout developed into an exciting affair from the second session on.
Russell scored with numerous body blows, but Ricco’s aggressiveness and hard blows to the head throughout easily merited him the decision. Ricco particularly had much the better of it in the third and sixth rounds, staggering the Beverly youngster with a number of head blows.
Ketchell-Walcott Even In Camden Mitt Tilt
Bridgewater Courier-News —
Camden—(AP)—Billy Ketchell, 181, Millville, and Jersey Joe Walcott, 180, Merchantville, battled to a 10-round draw in the windup bout of a boxing show here last night. In the semi-final, Joe Allen, 135, Camden, took the decision over Johnny Toomey, 136, Newark, in eight rounds. Joey Straiges, Camden lightweight, scored a three-round technical knockout over Billy Mariner, Philadelphia. Tommy Ricco, 125½, Camden, won a six-round decision over Jimmy Russell, Beverly. Freddy Lewis, 156½, Maple Shade, and Joe Duca, 161, Paulsboro, battled to a six-round draw.
At Sea with the United States Navy
Johnny Toomey, U.S. Navy
At Sea with the United States Navy
At Sea with the United States Navy
Death and Obituary
Johnny Toomey Dies Suddenly, Ex-Boxer
Phillip Carlin, 39, who fought in the prize ring under the name of Johnny Toomey, collapsed in the Ridgeway Hotel at 7:30 a. m. today and was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital.
Coroner John A. Healey said death was due to coronary thrombosis. Mr. Carlin had been suffering from a heart condition. He was treated for the heart condition in Cooper Hospital in June and was operated on at Veterans Hospital, Wilmington, last October.
Mr. Carlin was a welterweight and was under the management of Lou McFarland. A veteran of War II in which he served in the Navy, Mr. Carlin also had a previous hitch in the Navy before War II. His home was at 417 Vine st.
Johnny Toomey Service Friday
Services for Phillip J. Carlin, 39, who fought in the prize ring under the name of Johnny Toomey, will be held Friday at 2 p. m. in the funeral home of John A. Healey, 9 White Horse pike, Haddon Heights. The Rev. Newton C. Conant, pastor of the Calvary Bible Protestant Church of Camden, will officiate.
Burial, with military rites, will be in Arlington Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday night.
Mr. Carlin collapsed of a heart attack at the Ridgeway Hotel Tuesday and was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital. His home was at 417 Vine st.
Mr. Carlin, a native of Camden, fought as a welterweight and had 134 fights in 11 years. He fought in Camden, Newark, Washington and at other places. He served two hitches in the Navy, one prior to War II and the other during the war.
Surviving are a son, Jackie, Newark; a daughter, Phyllis, Collingswood; his mother, Mrs. Bertha Sweeten, of the Vine st. address; three brothers, Daniel Toomey, of Kenilworth, who fought as a bantamweight under his own name; William Toomey, of Mt. Holly, who fought as a featherweight under the name of Billy Toomey, and Jacob Carlin, of Oaklyn, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Hines, of Runnemede.
Johnny Toomey Dies Suddenly, Ex-Boxer
Phillip Carlin, 39, who fought in the prize ring under the name of Johnny Toomey, collapsed in the Ridgeway Hotel at 7:30 a. m. today and was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital.
Coroner John A. Healey said death was due to coronary thrombosis. Mr. Carlin had been suffering from a heart condition. He was treated for the heart condition in Cooper Hospital in June and was operated on at Veterans Hospital, Wilmington, last October.
Mr. Carlin was a welterweight and was under the management of Lou McFarland. A veteran of War II in which he served in the Navy, Mr. Carlin also had a previous hitch in the Navy before War II. His home was at 417 Vine st.
Johnny Toomey Service Friday
Services for Phillip J. Carlin, 39, who fought in the prize ring under the name of Johnny Toomey, will be held Friday at 2 p. m. in the funeral home of John A. Healey, 9 White Horse pike, Haddon Heights. The Rev. Newton C. Conant, pastor of the Calvary Bible Protestant Church of Camden, will officiate.
Burial, with military rites, will be in Arlington Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday night.
Mr. Carlin collapsed of a heart attack at the Ridgeway Hotel Tuesday and was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital. His home was at 417 Vine st.
Mr. Carlin, a native of Camden, fought as a welterweight and had 134 fights in 11 years. He fought in Camden, Newark, Washington and at other places. He served two hitches in the Navy, one prior to War II and the other during the war.
Surviving are a son, Jackie, Newark; a daughter, Phyllis, Collingswood; his mother, Mrs. Bertha Sweeten, of the Vine st. address; three brothers, Daniel Toomey, of Kenilworth, who fought as a bantamweight under his own name; William Toomey, of Mt. Holly, who fought as a featherweight under the name of Billy Toomey, and Jacob Carlin, of Oaklyn, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Hines, of Runnemede.
Grave at Arlington Cemetery, Pennsauken NJ
Phil “Johnny Toomey” Carlin’s grave at Arlington Cemetery, Pennsauken, NJ
Phil “Johnny Toomey” Carlin’s parents’ graves at Arlington Cemetery, Pennsauken, NJ