Athlete: Boxing
Year to be Inducted: 2026
Year of Birth: 1899
Born in: Ottawa, Ontario

Born in 1899, Joe Barber carried on a family tradition of success in sport, although his pursuit differed from that of his horse racing father, Paul Barber.

Boxing gloves were the younger Barber’s ticket to notoriety as he became one of the region’s best pugilists in the early 1900s.

While working as an usher at the Imperial Theatre in 1916, Barber became better known for his talents in the ring, often taking on opponents over his weight class.

The 125-lb. fighter frequently headlined cards at the Cartier Square Drill Hall, where he defeated Babe Moore in 1920 in front of a crowd of 2,000.

He boxed at many other venues and clubs around the city during the sport’s heyday in Ottawa, including St. Bartholomew’s Sunday School and the Ottawa-New Edinburgh Club.

Barber took his boxing talents to Montreal in pursuit of a spot on Canada’s Olympic team, but faced racist verbal threats and physical violence there, after which he almost quit boxing.

He turned his attention to serve in the Governor General’s Footguard Militia unit, where he became the first Black man in the regiment. Barber achieved the rank of corporal, and also earned plenty of respect while boxing for his unit against other militias.

Barber later worked in the government for Public Works, coached at the Ottawa Boys Club and fundraised for youth with charitable events.