How Good Was Earl Walls?

Walls would have knocked out Don Cokkell.

And Jimmy Slade, a weak puncher, destroyed cokkell in 4 rounds. Walls beat Jimmy Slade in 1954.

It goes both ways

Actually not really. Walls was only 11-3, a 14 fight novice when he took on Barnett.

****ell was 46-9 when he fought Barnett, a 54 fight veteran

BIG difference


Walls looks a lot better than Cokkell on film. Cokkell had a weak jaw, and was very vulnerable to punchers. Valdes smoked him in 3. Walls had similar size, reach and punching power to Valdes.


Cokkells resume is pitiful. He feasted on washed up Marciano road kill like Layne, Beshore and Matthews. He also beat an ancient tommy farr and domestic level johnny williams. Not impressive.

He had bad losses. He got knocked out by tomato can kitteone lave, middleweight randy turpin, feather fisted jimmy slade, Valdes easily blew him away in 3.

 

That bit of film of Walls was against an inept French guy. That was not a world level opponent. I am as pleased to see film of Walls as you are but don't get carried away.

It's like the time you got excited about big Cat Williams feasting on that short blond guy with a bald head who was a part time wrestler. Williams did not look so good getting punched back against Billy Daniels did he? And I am sure it's the same for Walls if film if Barnett against Walls ever turns up. We need to see a guy getting hit back before you can decide how good he is.

Cokkell beat Lastarza to get that shot at Rocky. He earned it.

 

I would bet my life savings that a fight between Walls vs Cokkell in 1954, Walls would win.

Walls was taller, stronger, in better shape, much longer reach, better jab, faster hands, hit much harder.

****ell had a weak jaw, he wasn't in good shape, his skills were mediocre, he didn't have hand or foot speed. Recipe for an early knockout loss like what happened vs slade and valdes

 

He didn't earn anything. He was the not most logical contender for Marciano, he was not the number 1 contender. A uninspiring unimpressive win over a washed up Lastarza who also lost to charley norkus does not earn you a title shot.

 

Cokkells glass jaw would get shattered by Walls. Jimmy Slade destroyed cokkell in 4 rounds, slade couldn't knock a sick infant off a potty seat.

 

I already responded to you. Read my other posts from the last two pages.

I do critisize Marciano. Go read my post about marciano in the bruno vs moore, charles, walcott thread. LittleRed said I had the most balanced post about Marciano hes ever heard on this website. So I don't know what your talking about.

Why do you keep saying Walls was 36 when he fought Harrison? :huh

Walls was 28 years old when he fought Harrison

 

You have a TON of good information on Walls in this thread. I gave it to you as well. Read up and enjoy. Film was posted on Walls.

 

double post...

 

I don't dispute Layne was already an erratic mess at this pint, but
from articles at the time it seems Layne was forced into the first Walls fight after a bad bout of the flu, the fight had already been delayed for two weeks with reports of Rex being bed ridden.

Despite suffering a bad knock out, Layne was rushed into the rematch just 10 weeks later. Layne apparently boxed well and was ahead on points before getting clocked again.

I think its more an example of Layne's horrible "throw him to the lions" management than some great ability from Walls. Who certainly could crack at the very least.

 

Who turned the offer down, Marciano or the IBC? What makes this offer so worthwhile compared to the others he received from higher rated contenders like Nino Valdes?

I agree Walls would have made a good voluntary defense, thats for sure. Would have loved to see a highlight knockout reel of Marciano flattening Walls. It would have been an exciting fight because Walls could punch and was tall.

Maybe he should have avoided Parker's punches better. Parker was not good.



How would Walls have done vs Marciano in your opinion?

 

Didn't know that about the Flu. Good info

 

I agree, he would have been a fine tuneup for Ezzard Charles in 1954. Marciano-Walls would not have drew well though, and neither fighter would have made a lot of cash. No one knew who Walls was outside of Canada.