Barbados Joe Walcott

He gave away over a foot in height to the 6'3 Fred Russell whom he knocked down in a 6 round bout. He also had a pair of fights against 6'3 Sandy Ferguson against whom he did very well.

 

He also decimated (then) Heavyweight Joe Choynski, about 5'11 and a gigantic puncher

This content is protected

 

BY all accounts a terrific fighter, super strong and tough, a fierce puncher ... the fact that he destroyed Choynski ( past his prime but still tough and game) who went on to iced Jack Johnson says a ton ... his fights with Langford are detailed in Clay's fine book on Langford ... lot's of golden nuggets to be found in that gem.

 

he, Walcott today is a "forgotten great ". At 5ft 2" he was at a physical disadvantage against all of his great opposition. He was so short it was said, that "his feet hardly reached the floor".atsch
In an OLD Ring Mag article,Joe Choynski claimed that prior to his ko by Walcott in 1900, Choynski slipped on an icey street fracturing his ribs, and instead of canceling the fight, honored the contract ,and was stopped by Walcott in the 7th rd. For what it's worth. Sadly, Joe Walcott near the end of his life, became a porter in old MSG... :good
P.S. Nat Fleischer has Walcott #1 WW..

 

Ahead of robinson?....Very interesting.

 

This was one of the All Time Great Fighters, he was an incredible p4p puncher like Choynski and Young Peter Jackson from Baltimore and Bob Fitzsimmons. I think he kills any WW today, kills them.

 

I think he was fortunate to escape with draws against gans and sam but he certainly had an astounding career :good

 

I think people tend to look for mostly the positive for Gans and Langford in those fight because they are fond of them and often overlook the positive for Walcott. But that he was competative with both says enough anyway.

 

Barbados Joe & Gans

This content is protected

Walcott & Wills

This content is protected

Walcott & Dixie Kid

This content is protected

Link to a picture of Walcott & Langford as old men:

http://www.lelands.com/Auction/AuctionDetail/40030/June-2007-Lelands-Gaynor/Sports/Boxing/Lot16~1931-Sam-Langford-and-Barbados-Joe-Walcott-Boxing-Photo

 

it just seems to me from what I've read that both gans and sam should have beaten joe. however yes, him being competitive with both does speak volumes :good

 

I think I've read that Sam said no one ever hit him harder than Walcott ..

 

It is quite astounding how avoided he was in his prime.

When Sam Langford was at the height of his rampage and nobody wanted to fight him, they used Walcott as a frame for comparison.

 

Don't forget that he fought Gans with a broken arm from like the third round on. If he'd had both fists working he may very well have beaten Gans.

 

Walcott looks like a child next to Harry Wills...wow