Young Pluto

Joseph William Dudley Brown (10 July 1872 in Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony – 3 March 1931 at Mosman Park, Western Australia ) was a South African-born featherweight boxer, better known as Young Pluto, later Joe Pluto, who lived in Australia for most of his life. His career record was 17–9–12.

Early life Contemporary sources give Pluto's birth details variously as: 13 Sep 1871, Saint John, New Brunswick 1870, Port Elizabeth, South Africa 1870 (burial record) In 1894 he beat Benny Marks to win the Western Australian lightweight title at Coolgardie's Theatre Royal. In 1898 he left Australia for the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon. His first bout was against Californian boxer Kid Williams in Dawson City, which he won. His next bout was against George Dixon for the World Featherweight title. He lost to a knockout in the 10th round. He was the first South African to fight for a world title. He went on to lose his next six bouts, in the US and the United Kingdom.

Retirement Pluto returned to Western Australia in 1909, where he married and settled down. His last professional bout was in 1911 at Fremantle, with a knockout win over Alec Rogers. In retirement he worked as a boxing instructor in public schools, ran a poultry farm in Redcliffe and worked on local racecourse ground staff. Pluto had three sons and three daughters, including Bill and Cyril Pluto, who became noted welterweight boxers. Cyril, who also fought as Young Pluto, was welterweight and middleweight champion of Western Australia. He died on 3 March 1931 at Mosman Park, He was buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery.