how in the world did abe simon.....

I'd imagine something to do with Walcott dropping his hands and taking a big shot on the chin

 

Jersey Joe is vastly overrated. A few flashy (tho questionably effective) steps and boxing wags are drooling over him. I don't get it. I'll take quiet and consistent excellence any day. It proves the paucity of heavyweight talent in that era.

 

Walcott was inconsistent, didn't have the greatest chin and despite his slick style could be hit.

And Simon could hit a bit.

 

I beg to differ - I think Walcott had a great chin didn't look to me like anything but Rockys best punch would've put him down on his best night

 

Boxing, like life, does not exist in a vacuum.

 

respectfully you are well of-the-mark with this!

 

It amuses me when the discussion is boxing but the commentators are in awe over dancing. Pointless, time-wasting, largely ineffectual footwork. If Layne, Simon and Maxim (and even lesser fighters) are beating you, time to revisit your plan for greatness.

 

Well for one thing, I don't think this was the pinacle version of Walcott that Simon beat. Remember, he was still about 7 years away from fighting Louis and about 10 years away from beating Charles for the title. At this time, he was far less experienced, poorly trained, and insufficiently nourished. That's a bad combination when going in against a guy who was being groomed as a contender.

 

Yeah but at the same time if your beating the likes of Joe Louis (in their first fight) Rocky Marciano (if it had been a 12 rounder) and ko'ing the rarely ko'd Ez Carles then you can re-re-visit your plans for greatness arguably - you can at least have another knock on the door and see what people think

 

Ps Maxim was a great fighter - one of the greatest of the era - just ask Jimmy Bivins (and everyone else who fought in that era - and Rex Layne is a hugely under respected contender by people these days

 

Agreed.

I have often surmized how history might be different had Walcott's fight with Marciano been scheduled for 12. At best, he probably would have received a good win over a solid contender, but then it probably wouldn't have been considered a hostorical victory, because Rocky was the challenger and who knows how the rest of his career would have panned out had he lost to Walcott.. Getting the nod against Louis would have been a huge notch as well, though Louis was fading... Still these were great efforts, and ones that unfortunately are overlooked by those who just look at his statistics and not the depth of the full story.

 

Totally agree.