How great could J J Walcott have been?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009.


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  1. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    How great could Jersey Joe have been had he had a properly managed career? Seeing how well he did even though his best years were spent with very poor preparation before many fights, not having the opportunity to train or even eat properly, could he have been one of the very greatest if his career was managed like that of Louis or Ali?
     
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Louis and Ali were managed horribly :D

    Louis was far to busy, and wtf he's doing being matched with a veteran pro like Schmeling in his second year is anybody's guess.

    As for Ali, his manager advised him to take a stand over Vietnam, costing him the best years of his boxing career. Horrible management :D
     
    McGrain, Jun 30, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 30, 2009
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  3. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah. Come to think of it, it was Walcott who had all the breaks. He didn't fight a top fighter like Scmeling during his first decade as a pro, and he stayed active fighting in the ring (well kind of) instead of in the court during WWII. One really should take a leaf out of that book when managing a fighter. :D
     
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    #3
  4. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He could have been greater but I don't really know. Perhaps having it tough and going through all those experiences made him the fighter he was.
     
    TheGreatA, Jun 30, 2009
    TheGreatA, Jun 30, 2009
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  5. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    True I think Walcott was a late developer and never was the same natural as a Louis, more of a technician who perfected his style over time. Plus he had a rematch against a past prime Louis when he was in his prime and got KO'd, so no he was never getting to the level of a Louis.
     
    PowerPuncher, Jun 30, 2009
    PowerPuncher, Jun 30, 2009
    #5
  6. Ted Spoon

    Ted Spoon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jack Blackburn was the pivot point in Walcott's turbulent career - left him for Louis. He got 'comeback of the year' from many papers in 1944, but it was a long time coming.
     
    Ted Spoon, Jun 30, 2009
    Ted Spoon, Jun 30, 2009
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  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Honestly, I can't see how that could have been good for him. I'm actually quite amazed that he accomplished what he did under those circumstances. Hell, people make a big fuss about Tyson without Rooney. Set that in relation to the circumstances of Walcott's career.
     
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    #7
  8. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Of course he would have been better .. his natural gifts were terrific but no matter who you are you are not as fast at 34 as at 24 ..
     
    he grant, Jun 30, 2009
    he grant, Jun 30, 2009
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  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think it's more a case of having to wait for very long to get your shot, or even to fight under decent circumstances. In all likelihood we never saw Walcott's true prime, since he was inactive for four years. A lot is made out of Ali's career after that inactivity (by me for example), but look at Walcott. He was inactive during what would have been four of his best years, and before that he was fighting under poor circumstances. But still he comes back and gives Louis two great fights at the age of 34.

    By no stretch of the imagination can he be said to have been in his true prime when he faced Louis. We never got to see his true prime. Probably he was quite a bit further removed from it than Louis.
     
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    Bokaj, Jun 30, 2009
    #9
  10. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    when did Blackburn leave him?
     
    GPater11093, Jul 1, 2009
    GPater11093, Jul 1, 2009
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  11. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I think that if he had stayed with Blackburn he would have developed earlier and been a world class fighter much sooner.

    An equaly interesting question is what would have become of Louis if he had Walcotts career circumstances.
     
    janitor, Jul 1, 2009
    janitor, Jul 1, 2009
    #11
  12. Ted Spoon

    Ted Spoon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It was not directly leaving, but due to contacting Typhoid in 1934, Walcott was unable to tag along with 'Chappie' to Chicago to be a sparring partner for Louis.

    From that point onwards, Walcott was on his own.
     
    Ted Spoon, Jul 1, 2009
    Ted Spoon, Jul 1, 2009
    #12
  13. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    thanks Ted. intresting
     
    GPater11093, Jul 3, 2009
    GPater11093, Jul 3, 2009
    #13
  14. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I do not think Walcott would have become the motivated, tricky fighter he was if he was not put through what he was early on. It built character. Like steel, he was tempered. He bent, but he did not break, and he came back far stronger because of it.
     
    Russell, Jul 3, 2009
    Russell, Jul 3, 2009
    #14
  15. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He was a great fighter ...If he was carefully managed and better connected early in his career he would have had a better record but some of the hard knocks made him learn his trade and pick up bucks the hard way. Walcott fought some of the tougher fighter of 2 decades. Some of the more protected fighters like Foreman may have not survived those decades at least not with his padded record.
     
    Bummy Davis, Jul 3, 2009
    Bummy Davis, Jul 3, 2009
    #15
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