Now, did OED take "palooka" from the comic strip ? or vice versa ? Hmmmm

Most certainly Joe Palooka came first, much as "doozie" came from Deusenberg. And no, Keiva, I don't know more than I'm letting on. I'm hoping that those older than I (yes, that IS possible!) might remember the Popeye cartoons more clearly than I, or maybe even have a few on hand.