Could Bonavena Have Beat Walcott Of 1952?

Probably not. Bonavena struggled with Jimmy Ellis and Folley and Walcott at his best is a notch above both in terms of ring IQ, speed and power.

If this were the inconsistent walcott around the time when he was losing to rex layne id favor Bonavena without hesitation.

 

Think Walcott would have edged it out but he def could have won.

 

Bonavena could have beaten any Walcott due to Walcott's inconsistency.

 

Bonavena doesn't have the generalship or refining, nor the stamina. Walcott UD15

 

He could ,but I don't think he would. TBH I'm not even sure he'd get up from that 1 st rd left hook Joe laid on Rocky.

 

Valid points ,people point to this fight as evidence Jersey Joe was still prime,he wasn't, but he looked very good, and part of that was down to his style shining against Rocky.imo

 

Oscar was basically a cautious fighter. Look at his fights against Folley (1st) and Patterson. I cite those fights because I have watched them recently. Even his second fight against Folley in Argentina must have been pretty close if it was won by a majority decision as BoxRec says. I think that means that one judge voted the fight a draw.

Ringo was aggressive against Frazier only because he had to be. He had to meet Frazier's aggression head on or be eaten alive. Walcott wouldn't dream of slugging it out with Oscar except in spurts, so Ringo would revert to his cautious style and would therefore be playing into Walcott's hands. I'm pretty sure Walcott would have won a 10-rounder in 1952. A 15-rounder is more iffy, but Ringo at his most aggressive was no Marciano, so I would still take Walcott to go the distance. A pre-1951 Walcott definitely takes Ringo over a 10 or 15 rounder, IMO.

 

Lesser fighters had taken Jersey Joe, so Oscar has a shot. And come to think of it, I think he edges Walcott for a MD.

 

No... Walcott wasnt that inconsistent

 

I think Bonavena beats Walcott, any version of Walcott. Id even take the past his prime version that gave Lyle hell to beat a prime Walcott. I dont agree that Ellis and Foley were a notch below Walcott. Layne, who was a poor mans Bonavena beat Walcott by wide decision.

 

Walcott was a two fisted assassin in Marciano I. He packed speed and heat in that left hook

walcott was in great shape and battered Marciano around the ring in round 11

walcott beats bonavena to the punch all night for a UD

 

No I think Jersey Joe walks him onto something at some point and tko's him.
As an aside Walcott was connected to the IBC through his mob connected manager Bochichio.I wonder if that had any bearing on his upset loss to Layne?