Correction. I don't have a low rating of Young. He did give Ali and Foreman thorough boxing lessons. I happen to think, however, that Walcott was much better than Young for the reasons that I mentioned.
Both lost the biggest fights of their career and whilst this would be horrible to watch, it would be intriguing.
Discipline ? Going from199lbs to 235lbs, losing a split decision to Ken Norton and in your next fight being beaten by 11 fight Ossie Ocasio.Walcott stops Young he was just plain all round better.Young did not have a winners mentality,he squandered his opportunities imo.
Jimmy became an addicted to coke following his loss to Norton. He broke. I don't think it is instructive how they would do against each other at their peak.
Sorry he beat your hero in their first matchup, but that is just the way the cookie crumbles bud. Poor Joe kept on having to get up the canvas and clowned continually by Mr. Walcott. Walcott looked like he was in there with a club fighter he was clowning him so much :happy Oh, and he couldn't have lost the biggest fights of his career, when he fact, he was a champion. Don't worry bud, you hang around me long enough you'll get the correct terms to use in a sentence :deal
Damn shame your hero was put down for the full count by Louis in the rematch, but that's just the way the cookie crumbled with Louis, especially in rematches. He sure looked like a clown having to be held up by the referee to stop him falling flat on his face again. :good
I don't think anyone wants to go down the path of personal responsibility, addiction as a disease, etc, etc. When it comes to overcoming adversity Jersey Joe is an all time great. As I mentioned above I am a fan of both of these guys. When I think of Jimmy standing in the pocket against Big George I find myself shaking my head. Before he fought Foreman I didn't see how he could win, he seemed capable mounting sufficient offense to dissuade Foreman from pummeling him with abandon . His courage under those circumstances was admirable. Walcott on the other hand displayed an additional, more unique brand of courage . The courage to trudge on over the long haul when all seems lost The stories of men who displayed unimaginable courage in battle only to climb into a bottle upon retuning to the safety of home are legion. Perhaps he had one of those posters sggesting that when life gives you lemmons make lemonade. Jersey Joe's Cinderella story is one of my favorites. He bravely faced and overcame setbacks that make Young's disapointment seem laughable. Walcott's life is inspirational, Young's is a cautionary tale. There is no question who had the better career, the answer is less clear cut as to prevails when they are both at their peak.
I think one could make good a sound argument that his first loss to Louis was his the biggest fight. Had he prevailed against Louis I think he would be viewed in much higher esteem.
Walcott claimed he got a quick count. He also said he only lost the first because Rocky headbutted him!
He congratulated Marciano in private after their first fight .Watch the second one and you can see Walcott is indifferent to the result until the crowd begins to boo, he then pantomimes outrage. AJ Leibling who was there wrote a good essay on it in his masterpiece "The Sweet Science".
I wonder about that one. I don't think he went in with a plan. I could buy that he got hit with a good shot, knocked down legitimately, and hesitated getting up due his vision being clouded with a vision of him laying on a Florida beach . . . not getting punched ribs by Rocky. He was winning the first go round until that often photographically portrayed KO, I would think he felt his chances were pretty good going in. On the other hand his post knockout protest was a bit, "The Harder They Fall".