Edward Roberts (born as Edwin Lionel Rowland) (January 20, 1903 – March 3, 1968), better known as Eddie Roberts, was an American Welterweight/Middleweight boxer, actor and a World War I, World War II and Korean War veteran who competed from 1922 to 1931. He held the title of Pacific Northwest Welterweight Champion and was a serious contender for the World Welterweight championship in 1926–1927.
Early life
Eddie Roberts was born on January 20, 1903, in Anacortes, Washington to father Edwin Luther Rowland of Scotch-Irish parentage, the owner of a Livery and transport business and a City Marshal, and mother Mamie Kreamen of German parentage, a Housewife. The youngest of two brothers, he lived in Anacortes up until at least the age of 7, reportedly he later grew up in Alameda. His father passed away when Roberts was seven years old due to a broken neck in an automobile accident. Roberts attended Whitney Primary School. Roberts filled his draft registration card under a fake name on September 12, 1918, at the age of 15. He joined the United States Navy and was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard after which being moved to the battleship USS Arkansas in Guantánamo Bay in 1920 at the latest and gaining the rank of fireman and afterwards water tender. On November 27, 1929, Roberts married Agnes Serene Anderson.
Amateur career
While serving on the USS Arkansas as a Master-at-arms, Roberts' boxing skills were noticed by his fellow sailors, who would often engage in friendly sparring matches with him. His impressive performance in these matches caught the attention of the ship's athletic director, who saw his potential as a competitive boxer. With the encouragement of his the athletic director, Roberts decided to join the Atlantic Squadron fistic competition. Roberts' decision to join the competition turned out to be a wise one, as he quickly rose through the ranks and eventually won the middleweight championship of the navy.
Professional career
Roberts left the Navy and asked Jack Connors in late 1921 if Connors would be his coach (Connors was also the coach of future Welterweight World champion, Freddie Steele and briefly the coach of the future 15th governor of Washington Albert Rosellini), Connors accepted, Roberts left the Navy and had his professional debut on September 2, 1922, at the age of 19 in the Welterweight weight class with a win against Fred Kelly. Roberts' popularity and skill grew quickly, and by 1923, he was participating in main event fights like the one at the now Kaiser Convention Center against Oakland Jimmy Duffy.
On March 6, 1924, Roberts became the Pacific Northwest Welterweight Champion after winning against Ted Krache in a round six points decision, 19 days later he lost the title to Bobby Harper but would later regain it after winning against Harper on November 20, 1924. Roberts would lose the title again 19 days later and would never regain it.
Roberts's most notable event of his career was on December 4, 1926, where he fought against Joe Dundee and won in a first-round knockout after only 4 seconds earning him 400 dollars and a big amount of publicity. Roberts would however lose the rematch in a ten-round unanimous decision a month later in front of over 18 thousand spectators inside Madison Square Garden. Dundee would go on to become World Welterweight Champion.
On March 22, 1927, Roberts won a bout against Olympic athlete Jack Zivic with a round twelve-points decision.
On April 4, 1927, Roberts lost a bout against Olympic athlete Al Mello with a round-one knockout.
At the end of 1927, Roberts was seventh place in the Welterweight division.
On March 12, 1928, Roberts lost a bout against future Welterweight and Middleweight champion Young Corbett III with a round-nine knockout.
On February 7, 1930, Roberts had a draw with Gorilla Jones after fighting for ten rounds.
Retirement from boxing and acting career
On August 19, 1931, at the age of 28 Roberts sustained two small fractures of the jaw, this occurred during his bout with Buddy Gorman. This incident would be the final catalyst that would push Roberts into his retirement from boxing aside from a few bouts here and there in the coming years.
Roberts had started his acting career in 1929 when he starred in the film Follow the Leader where he played a gangster. Roberts would later star in many movies (see below) and also a series of boxing commercials by Al Christie alongside Buster West and Tom Patricola. In 1934 Roberts became an athletic instructor for Hecht-MacArthur Productions.