his early professional boxing years between 1890 and 1896 focused in the areas of boston and new york city. one of his more noteworthy bouts included a 15-round draw with mysterious billy smith, and a fifteen-round loss to george "kid lavigne" in march and december 1895. he lost to welsh born middleweight tommy west in 1894 and 1897. west acted as a sparring partner for walcott in late october 1904.