Where was Joe Walcott during the Joe Louis Era ??

Stronger than the immediate post-war period. We lost a generation of fighters there.

 

Yes, but I don't think that we can contribute Walcott's ultimate success, to the decline in talent alone.

Something else was also happening.

Now if I am wrong, then you would have to conclude that the pre war era was very strong.

 

Yes, the Great Depression uniquely effected Joe. His broad shoulders bore its entire weight.

All other contenders boxed between gorging and trips to the vomitorium.

 

Which would also strongly suggest Tiger Jack Fox was better than Ezzard Charles and by a good margin.

 

Isn't it obvious?

 

Or it would suggest that Walcott, like many journeymen, was inconsistent in his performances.

 

It’s a known fact that Walcott ate nothing but a handful of dirt once a week while other boxers were fed steak three times a day during this era.

Just bad luck he was always last in the steak line.

 

Nope. He was never on the level of Fox in the 1930s.

 

When you read the press reports on Walcott's early career you don't recognise the man who fought Louis and Marciano. He was known as a slugger, not a defensive boxer. The Camden Courier-Post described him as a notoriously lazy trainer who counted on his punch for an early win.

 

Which no doubt effected those below 175Ibs, just as it did those above 175Ibs.

So really there should be no suprise in the top fighters like Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, being the clear inferiors of Tiger Jack Fox or John Henry Lewis. That's the only possible conclusions to your no doubt entirely sincere beliefs

Hell Ezzard Charles went life and death with an ancient Elmer Ray, and lost the official decision. Elmer Ray wasn't even as good as journeyman Walcott, losing 2 out of 3 fights to him.

John Henry Lewis, meanwhile:
The Atlanta Constitution- 1938 May 20 (page 24)
John Henry Lewis, light-heavyweight champion, threw an overhand right to the lidney in the 11th round and it was all over except the shouting for Elmer Ray, champion of Florida, as big time boxing returned to Atlanta last night at Ponce de Leon park.
Weathering severe body punishment most of the way, Ray was felled like a poled ox in the 11th and the bell saved him.
Lewis wasted no time in the 12th. He threw another whisling right to the same spot and Referee Marty Burke, or New Orleans, counted Ray out.
AWKWARD STYLE
Ray's awkward style—he fought in a shell and threw darting lefts that kept Lewis on the go for the first 10 rounds—was deciphered by Lewis through the medium of body punches. He simply wore the game Floridian down and then made the kill. He knocked Ray down for the count of nine in the third, but the Florida boy bounced up and kept going.
Lewis outpointed Ray in the first five rounds, the sixth was a draw, Ray took the seventh, and eighth rounds and the fight was Lewis' the right of the way.

 

People who argue against Walcott's career circumstances playing a role in his early lack of success, don't seem to be willing to take their own argument to it's inevitable conclusion.

 

Which just proves my point that we was a career journeyman.

Looks, this isn't even me saying this. I have posted numerous contemporary accounts of him be labeled this, being described as a guy who outwaited the division. The fact that other fighters have his number only backs this up. And we all know that the transitive property does not work in boxing, i.e. just because boxer A beats boxer B and boxer B beats boxer C does not mean that boxer A beats boxer C.

Walcott was a journeyman who waited for weak stretch in the division to flourish. Charles was ageing great who found the same time to rise above his natural weight to collect bigger checks. I don't see the great mystery here.

 

Nope.

John Henry Lewis and Tiger Jack Fox were Light Heavyweights, the same as Ezzard Charles. And using Jersery Joe Walcott as the benchmark, it's clear Tiger Jack Fox was atleast a level above Ezzard Charles, if not multiple.

There's really no argument otherwise if Walcott didn't improve.

It's also biazzaire you'd use the term aging to describe Charles but not Walcott. In their first fight Charles was 27 and in his prime. Walcott was 35.

 

Walcott didn't really get into a position to have a chance at being a major player in the division until the late 30's, since he lacked the backing Joe Louis had. That said Walcott still put together an impressive record in the late 30's ( also keep in mind that Many of Walcott's fights from the 30's aren't listed on Boxrec) with his most impressive win being over Bob Tow. Walcott was guaranteed a Madison Square Garden appearance and a possible fight with Galento in 1940 if he beat Abe Simon, which everybody expected him to do, but shocking everybody Walcott walked into a right hand and got knocked out. This was a major setback for Walcott. If he'd been a fighter with backing similar to Joe Louis the loss wouldn't have been a big deal and his team would've still put him in position to get a title shot, but he lacked this backing and knew it would be tough to climb back up, so Walcott stepped away boxing altogether. Although admittedly the War most likely was a major factory in him prolonging his stay away from boxing.

Here is some info on the Walcott-Simon fight being a make or break fight for Walcott.

"Seeking a fight with Two-Ton Tony Galento, giant Abe Simon, 6 feet 4 inch heavyweight, comes to Laurel Garden tonight for an eight-round engagement with Jersey Joe Wolcott of Merchantville. If a Simon-Galento bout materializes, it will be a benefit show with the entire profits to be shared by the Finnish Relief and Infantile Paralysis Funds. Matchmaker Babe Culnan, who stands ready to promote the fight in the Newark Armory, date to be agreeable to both gladiators, said Jimmy Johnston, Manager of Simon, would let his charge fight gratis as long as it was for such a worthy cause.

The setup might be premature because Wolcott, not a midget an one of the toughest heavyweights in the game, was installed a slight 6 to 5 favorite today by the betting fraternity.

Wolcott is bent on winning. Originally the fight was signed for last Monday night but at Jersey Joe's request it was advanced one week. The Negro heavy wanted more time in which to prepare for the ring giant.

Wolcott has defeated every good name fighter to face him and for that reason is on the blacklsit of managers of high ranking fighters. The chips are up for the South Jerseyan tonight and only he can make them count. Victgory will earn him appearance in Madison Square Garden in the near future.
Jersey Joe is just as anxious for a shot at Galento as Simon. He never thought much of the Orange Beer Barrel and always had hopes of someday provit it with his fists. The colored glovester's most important triumps were scored over Freddy Fiducia, Art Sykes, Lorenzo Pack and Bob Tow."
https://imgur.com/7FWIKdK

Here is a piece on the actual Simon-Walcott fight.

After taking a boxing lesson from Jersey Joe Walcott, 192, for five sessions Abe Simon, 256-pound New Yorker, crashed through with a terrific right to the mouth to knock out the Merchantville Negro in 2:32 of the sixth round of the scheduled feature eight round boxing bout at Laurel Garden. Walcott hardly moved as referee Cavalier counted him out.
https://imgur.com/GBvOmFm