Jersey Joe Walcott - An Alternative View.

Interestingly enough I wouldn't really view him any different. For me he's still the same fighter.

This post highlights the difference between those who place an emphasis on achievements.

 

I don't think it would have changed much to be honest. Of course in terms of accomplishements, he would be the first two time HW champion, but he wouldn't have done more in ring than he already did. Louis win would be great of course, but Joe was past his prime at this point and he knocked out Walcott in rematch anyway.

Walcott is to me a strong top 30 HW ever with outside chances for top 20. One controversial decision win over past prime Louis wouldn't give him huge boost in my opinion.

Beating Marciano on the other hand would be much bigger accomplishment and that could help him making a case for top 15.

 

Any fighter will look better if you re-imagine their losses as wins.

I think Marciano's rep would take the biggest hit from all this.

And in this scenario, Louis would be the first man to regain the title...

 

That's a difference between achievements and resume.

Ali's great because he won the fights he did.

Walcott already has a close fight with Louis on his ledger. He already has a fight where he was winning against Rocky. You're scenario doesn't make him a better fighter, it gives him a better roll of the dice, imo.

 

That's what I mean, hence why I don't think it changes a lot for me, but for others who put an emphasis on achievement it might well do.

We already knows he's capable of fighting on even terms with Louis and capable of outboxing Marciano.

Very good fighter, falls short of greatness imo.

 

And we also know he's 0-4, 3 KOs against them. It's one thing doing well against an all-time great for a few rounds, it's something else actually pulling out the W. Difference between good and great.

His rep would definitely be higher if he was 2-2 against Louis and Marciano, though he'd still suffer for all those losses and poor performances that littered his career.

 

The performances don't change, just the judges perception.

 

The judges had nothing to do with three of those losses.

 

TBH if Marciano had a L on his record it wouldn't appreciably change my perception of him.

 

Have you actually read the opening post?

 

Well I give Walcott credit for the first Louis fight which was a robbery, and credit for a losing effort in the first Maricnao fight. This puts Walcott in the top 20-25 range for me, as he lost a lot of other fights. Louis and Marciano would have lost a few more if the rounds were capped at 12.

An win official win over Louis, and win over Marciano two heavyweight most have in their top 10 heavyweight would move his Walcott's stock up into my top 15-20 range, and Marciano's slightly down. I think Louis stock would take the biggest hit collectively, as he'd lose the consecutive title streak he had.