The curious case of Jersey Joe Walcott and his prime.

1937 Tiger Jack Fox. Walcott KOed for a 10 count by a right to the jaw, can't find much on how the fight was going.
George Brothers. Brothers, a former Golden Glove champion was dropped for two 9 counts in the first, but came on strong late to take the decision
1938 Tiger Jack Fox. Walcott dropped Fox in the second, but Fox clearly outpointed him, being too tough and experience, Walcott unable to hurt him other than the knock down. The Evening Courier also called Fox the No. 1 Heavyweight challenger.
Roy Lazer described as being too cute for Walcott, bobbing and ducking, winning 4 rounds to 3 with 1 even.
Abe Simon, Walcott was said to have been giving Simon a boxing lesson, before a big right hit home and scored the KO, Walcott hardly moving as he was counted out

 

Exactly.

Walcott's theoretical prime never actually happened.

 

For what it's worth Louis and his people denied that vehemently, and there were newspaper accounts at the time that described Louis beating up on Walcott in sparring (I vaguely recall seeing a picture in some old paper too).

 

It doesn't take an exceptional fighter, to put a great champion on the seat of their pants in sparring.

 

A classic example of physical prime and professional prime coming at two separate times based on support, the ability to be dedicated and focused and funding ..

 

very true perspective - the differences you stated are vast

 

It was actually Walcott who was dropped, not Louis. There are photos of it. Walcott wasnt let go because he was giving Louis a hard time. His manager pulled him out with a lame excuse likely because Walcott was getting a hammering and only later their story morphed into him dropping Louis. He was only in camp for a day or two.

 

This isnt true. That was a story invented by Walcotts manager at the time. In fact it was Walcott who was dropped and his manager pulled him out of camp. There are photos of him being dropped by Louis. He was only there for a day or two. They later changed their story to say that they had been let go because he was giving Louis too rough a time but that wasnt true.

 

The proposition that Walcott just wasn't that good seems to best answer the irregularities and actualities of his career.

Even after the Great Depression relieved its singular and exclusive burden from his shoulders, he still only won twice as often as he lost.

Stop watching highligjts of his excessive and superfluous footwork and read reports of his actual full fights. He has some significant holes in his game.

 

It is totally untrue that Walcott dropped Louis in training.

 

This has been discussed in a prior forum. Walcott made the claim many years after he was a sparring partner in Louis camp (1936). The truth was he was only in the camp a day or two and he was the one who was knocked down not Louis. I refer you to my discussion in the earlier forum with a link to a photo showing Walcott on the canvas. I have two posts on this page: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/jersey-joe-walcott-the-boxrec-warriors-video.624409/page-2 .