Joe Pyle
Born In: New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: July 5th, 1923
Passed in: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Passed on: August 24th, 2009
Joe Pyle passed away peacefully August 24, 2009, with his sister, Marguerite and her husband, Gordon by his side in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Joe was 86.
Joe was born on July 5, 1923 in the coal mining town of New Waterford, Cape Breton.
He was the son of the late MacDonald and Eliza Pyle. His father was born in Barbados and his mother was born in France.
Joe had two brothers, Charlie, who was one of the greatest athletes to come out of Nova Scotia and Peter, along with a sister, Marguerite.
He was living in Winnipeg with his sister, Marguerite and her husband, Gordon Mackie at the time of his death.
Joe had two children, a son, Joe Jr., with his first wife, Mary MacAuley and a daughter, Joanne with his second wife, Dody.
Joe was an all around athlete growing up in New Waterford, where he played hockey, rugby and basketball.
His great love was boxing. After he returned home from the army. Joe started a career in boxing, fighting as a welterweight and middleweight, which lasted from 1944 until the end of 1950, when he retired. During this time he was Martime Middleweight champion.
According to The Ring magazine, boxing’s bible, Joe had 49 pro boxing matches between Cape Breton and Vancouver. He also fought in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Seattle and New Hampshire.
Of Joe’s 49 fights, he won 30, lost 16 and three draws. Some of Joe’s memorable fights were against Tommy Gun Spencer, also from New Waterford. Joe won two out of three fights from Tommy Gun. Joe beat Peter Zaduk, former Canadian Middleweight Champion on May 30, 1949 at the Glace Bay Forum. He also KO’d Roger Whynot in Halifax on September 21, 1948, Roger was also a former Canadian Middleweight Champion. Towards the end of his career Joe fought to a draw and lost a decision to Billy Fifield, former Canadian Light Heavyweight Champion in Toronto in 1949 and 1950. On June 28, 1949, Joe lost a 10 round decision to former Canadian Middleweight Champion George “Rock-a-bye†Ross at the Glace Bay Miners Forum.
Joe enjoyed going to hear jazz at the Pembina Hotel every Saturday afternoon with his brother-in-law, Gordon.
Joe will be greatly missed by his family, nieces and nephews and many friends.
Cremation has taken place. A burial will take place in Cape Breton at a later date.
