Joe Wallcott: Appreciation Thread

That was some prime Joe Louis, wasn't it?

The Marciano result speaks for itself.

Again, he was a high performing journeyman.

 

They really weren’t old when he faced them. Louis wasn’t prime but Charles arguably was and wasn’t even that old. His chin was his biggest weakness. Would you say Moorer and Foreman were champs in a weak era in the 90s? I wouldn’t say any man who wins the belt to be a journeyman . They work hard for that shot and to beat the best that title goes out the window. Weak champ or not. Walcott also had enough good wins to justify not having that label

 

Great fighter and an all-time great referee. RIP

 

What was Ezz's record post Walcott? Was he really prime in a division above his pay grade and stature or was he merely trying to cash in as the guy who had a paltry well in a desert?

 

Yeah, that Ali-Liston result was masterful on his part.

 

Boxing thrives on controversy. I think

 

Great! I always felt Walcott was underrated especially in his own time.

 

A man who has cleaned out all the other top contenders of his era, is clearly no journeyman.

If Walcott was a journeyman, then there was no such thing as a contender, in the heavyweight division of the lat 40s!

 

Here are the rankings for the late 40s, with the men that Walcott beat highlighter in red

1946

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, Champion

1. Tami Mauriello
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4. Bruce Woodcock
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7. Melio Bettina
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9. Joe Kahut
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1947

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, Champion

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3. Lee Savold
4. Johnny Flynn
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7. Joe Kahut
8. Rusty Payne
9. Pat Valentino
10. Freddie Beshore

1949

Title Vacant

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3. Turkey Thompson
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5. Bruce Woodcock
6. Lee Savold
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8. Pat Valentino
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10. Roland LaStarza

 

1950

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, Champion

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2. Lee Savold
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4. Clarence Henry
5. Bob Baker
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7. Jersey Joe Walcott
8. Jack Gardner
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Early 50s

1951

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, Champion

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3. Clarence Henry
4. Roland LaStarza
5. Karel Sys
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7. Cesar Brion
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9. Bob Baker
10. Johnny Williams

1952
Rocky Marciano, Champion

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4. Bob Dunlap
5. Clarence Henry
6. Johnny Williams
7. Roland LaStarza
8. Heinz Neuhaus
9. Karel Sys
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1944

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, Champion

1. Melio Bettina
2. Tami Mauriello
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7. Jack London
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9. Al Hart
10. Buddy Scott

1945

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Billy Conn
Tami Mauriello

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Bruce Woodcock

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Freddie Schott
Arturo Godoy

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The above is the record of an exceptional contender.

 

Yes, Louis was 33, same as Walcott and kept sharp by boxing 100+ exhibitions in the army.

Yes, he had Marciano beat in a 12 round match.

If Walcott was only a high performing journeyman, then Louis and Marciano had problems with journeyman. Is that what you are saying? I see you have changed the language a bit to " high performing " journeyman.

If you keep an open mind, I'd like you to consider the following:

Was Elmer Ray a journeyman? Walcott beat him. How about Charles who Walcott beat twice, taking him out with one of the best filmed left hooks ever? What about Jimmy Bivins? Yep, Walcott beat him too.

Wins over Maxim, Hoff ( Which you should watch on film as it shows Walcott can handle a semi-skilled big man ) Gomez ( A big puncher, one of the top 100 according to ring magazine ) and some of the top black talent Louis never fought ( Murray and Sheppard ) show he was not a high performing journeyman at all. Journeyman, or as you say high performing journeyman do not hold several wins over hall of fame fighters ( I count 4 wins over HOF fighters ) , and a few over top ten type of opponents. Or at least they don't in my book.

Walcott was an excellent, sometimes inconstant type of fighter who had it tough win the way up. That's how I view him.

Walcott is the type you have to watch. His skill level is better than his record suggests. Or just go by how many hall of fame fighters he beat, and giving two what is viewed as ATG in the top 10 very hard night with a robbery against mixed in. He's in my top 30 of all time.

10 years back, I didn't think as much of him as I do know. He's actually a great boxing story. Broke with six children to feed, boxing helped him make ends meet. He was thrown to the wolves early, developed his own style, and peaked at a very age. With better management, or if he was white, his record might look a bit better, especially in the first half of his career.

 

I was going to post the same type of stuff, you beat me to it. Read my reply to Seamus. I think he'll change his mind a little after reading it.