Damn you, Bodhi. I was just thinking about doing a H2H Walker thread with someone else and now you've ruined it in a way only a German could. Excuse me. I'm going to go collect myself. ...3..2..1..1..2..3...SNV would say "Let it be".
Mickey has too many tools, and too much versatility. He's the better boxer. This might resemble Walker-Hudkins II somewhat.
Great match-up...this is a war and I can not pick a winner its Gatti-Ward with a higher grade of fighters in all due respect to those great warriors
I suppose it depends on what stage of Mickey's career he was at when it happened. Carmen was obviously a far more accomplished contender at the time he challenged Gavilan. When younger, The Toy Bulldog was likely faster and more mobile at the lighter weight. Retiring Johnny Summers (his first breakthrough performance, immediately preceding Britton I), and dealing with Bogash, Britton, Pete Latzo, Shade, Colima, McTigue and Tendler among others gave him plenty of seasoning while ruling the roost at 147. It was after a very credible challenge of Greb that he closed out his rivalry with a then streaking Dave Shade (who was actually younger than Walker, and retired on the same date in December 1935 with a win) in their only title showdown. From his title winning effort in November 1922 through the end of 1925, Mickey was a formidable WW. Including newspaper decisions, he was 30-1-0 with a single NC, and only a peak conditioned (albeit past prime) Greb beat him, until Pete Latzo caught him underweight and over trained in June 1926. (Well, at least according to Walker's account. At 24, his body was still maturing, he had a furious rivalry with the Latzo clan, and was coming off what was for him a long six month layoff. I think all these factors combined with his playboy lifestyle while inactive to torpedo his reign at 147.) Basilio's best WW streak was clearly the 13-0-2 binge he went on between Gavilan and Saxon I.
It would be a hard fought contest...But I like Walker's ability to move on his feet better, and side step Basilio, then attack. This would be a war. Walker by decision.
Nice input. :good I like this matchup at ww much better than at mw. At ww Walker would be less experienced and wouldn´t box him, instead he would try to make it a physical fight. He was young, fit, strong and quite big. He would think of himself as the bigger, stronger man and would go to war. Basilio would be more experienced and we all know how he fought. This would be a barnburner. I´m wondering if Basilio´s experience advantage would be the deciding factor. At mw, I think Walker hit his prime. He wouldn´t necessarily go to war, he would box at times, use more movement, sidestep more, use more angles. Basilio on the other hand was on his way out, not far on that way but on it. He wouldn´t have a real experience advantage anymore. Walker would match him in everything and then some. That would be a clear win for Walker in a fight that would be only competative in spurts in every round.
Ohhh, this ones hard. Basilio could give anyone a good fight. He'd be going in as the underdog I think, which would probably suit him. I could see Walker winning a SD in their first fight, but over a series...I'd certainly expect Carmen to pull or a win or 2 out of the bag. A good fantasy match up, I don't usually like participating in them but this one a good 'un
You gave me the ball and I went with it. Nice return as well. I considered the experience factor, then considered the experience of the man Mickey lifted that WW Title from. Britton was aging, but he was also a freak who recently closed out his rivalry with Lewis in a title win, drew with the much younger Shade, put Walker on the deck in their first tussle, and was coming off, what was according to all accounts, his most impressive performance in his series with Leonard before the controversial ending. Jack was certainly a very different jab oriented kettle of fish to the power oriented Basilio though. (Britton remained a formidable figure and box office draw for eight more years, winning ten straight from 1925 to 1927, eight straight in late 1928, and seven more in early 1929. He was in his 40s for most of this.) Now, we're discussing much more of a war though. Taken at face value, most people would presume Basilio vs Walker at MW (as I initially did), which certainly seems to favor Mickey, particularly so, because as you pointed out, Carmen was slightly past it at that stage. (As the thread starter, elaborating a WW match up is certainly your prerogative, if you wish to further stipulate that.) The ideal scenario might be to place both at the SMW catch weight limit of 154, where each of them were at when they ascended to MW glory.
