Muhammad Ali (Zaire) vs prime Jersey Joe Walcott

Head trainer is wild.

 

His '72 - 74 run was very good.

As much as I like the Cinderella Man romanticism of JJW eventually beating Charles for the title, I don't see how he doesn't get KO'd or dropped a few times en route to a comprehensive loss. The Ali that beat Foreman punched with authority and wasn't afraid to jostle with George in the clinch.

JJW is a cute stylist but other than a few cake walks and sneaky punches, I don't find myself rating him as highly as some do - around that Patterson, Charles, Machen sized fighter, he's holding his own - Ali was 6'3, notably strong and well conditioned when he trained hard and knew how to implement his size against a smaller fighter, given his hand speed and ability to hit hard enough when he planted his feet, what is JJW going to realistically do to win?

 

I was wondering if anyone else would get it

 

Walcott is one of the worst heavyweight title holders in the history of the division, including splintered titles.

Ali is the best.

 

Listen, my ex used to tell me that love is unconditional. And that this is what proves that I have never loved anyone.
...Anyway, so I'm going to have to go with Ali here.

 

Ali of the Shavers fight beats him.

 

I disagree, Norton in a fair world beat Ali twice, which I can't see Walcott doing once.

Also if you look at Norton from post Garcia loss from 70-78 - outside of Foreman he's incredibly dominant beating Ali and pushing Holmes to inches from a loss too.

 

Against Elmer Ray, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano, Walcott fought a combined 61 rounds. Ken Norton, under the same conditions, goes 3, combined.