He was born in 1914, in Merchantville, New Jersey, with the name of Arnold Raymond Cream, and later on, due to his resemblance to the boxer Joe Walcott he was nicknamed as Jersey Joe Walcott.

He was champion at the age of 37, and that was the record of the oldest boxer to win a world heavyweight title.

He won the title on March 17, 1951 when in the fifth attempt to win a world title he knocked out the up to then King of the division Ezzard Charles. Walcott reigned until September 23, 1952 when he fought Rocky Marciano.