Who takes this one? In the modern era over 12 rounds. Allow Jersey any modern training or extra weight if beneficial. Who takes it?
Walcott could replicate the strategy Byrd used, but the question is how much did the shoulder injury affect Vitali and from what point? I always score the fight 5-4 to Vitali at the time of the stoppage and there's no doubting Walcott is a better fighter than Byrd was. Interesting matchup.
LOL, Walcott lost 17 times. He did not always perform well, didn't have a top chin, and would be in over his head. Vitali wins almost every round until he stops him.
Even if your scoring is correct, this is when Vitali was injured. HBO says Vitali was complaining about the injury in round three. So this is not a fair comparison at all unless your fantasy matchup is Vitali with a torn shoulder vs Walcott. Byrd had a top level chin, and was a southpaw who covered up better and fought smarter. Walcott lost a lot, didn't have a good chin and would have limited range vs Vitali. If Abe Simon knocks you out and Rex Layne out boxes you...sometimes a fantasy....Walcott is taking the count.
I don't remember my round for round scoring so would have to see which rounds I gave to Byrd. His style gave Vitali huge problems though and that's how Walcott fights. A man who loses to Ike shouldn't beat Vitali, but he did.
I do not think that the Simon loss, or Walcott’s other early losses are particularly germaine to this argument, because he was not a full time professional fighter at that point. I would not even say that the win over Walcott was Simon's best win. The Rex Layne loss is certainly germaine to the argument, but I don't think that Layne outboxed him. I think that it was more of a case of pressure fighter beating a clever boxer.
The same 190 pound Walcott who lost to 177 pound Henry Taylor, knocked out by 191 Al Ettore, got beat by 179 pound Billy Ketchel, knocked out by 178 pound Tiger Jack Fox. 174 George Brothers, Tiger Fox again, 197 Roy Lazer, Abe Simon knocked him out, Johnny Allen who had a losing record of 11-14, 180 pound Joey Maxim, Elmer Ray, and others beat him. But sure the 6'8 240 to 250 pound Vitali would lose because even though Walcott lost to numerous guys who weren't even cruiserweights by modern standards that means he would beat a huge modern size heavyweight. Wow you people are so amazingly intelligent.
Amen. I think part of the problem here is the hate factor, or Walcott exposing limitations on very popular fighters in Marciano and Louis that would not even be part of the fight with Vitali. A more intelligent reply for those schooled in the history of the game would be Walcott vs. Hien Ten Hoff ( 32-7-4 ), a fringe contender German who happened to be 6'3" tall. Walcott won a split decision here and there is some film to view. If the limited Hoff who only had 18 fights under his belt could be close and land his jab, Vitali would have his way with Jersey Joe.
9 times out of 10 Vitali wins and mostly by a stoppage. As a trainer once told me, that's just too much man.
You do realize that Walcott wasn't a full-time professional before the end of WW2, right? He was a **** poor factory worker who barely had anything to eat and just boxed a bit to supply for his family. Educate yourself.