On this day: February 25
Samuel Colt patents his revolver, the first black U.S. senator takes his seat, Muhammad Ali wins his first heavyweight title, and Ferdinand Marcos flees the Philippines, all on this day.
1994: Former world heavyweight champion boxer Jersey Joe Walcott dies of complications from diabetes at the age of 80 in Camden, N.J. Walcott, whose real name was Arnold Raymond Cream, broke the world record for the oldest man to win the world heavyweight title when he earned it in 1951 at the age of 37 years, 168 days. Walcott successfully defended his title once before losing it to an undefeated Rocky Marciano in 1952. His record would last for more than eight months after his death, when George Foreman took the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles from 26-year-old Michael Moorer in November 1994 at the age of 45.
