Jersey Joe Walcott is one of the most tear-jerking stories in boxing.

The dancer, the oldest heavyweight champion before 1994, the honorable namesake of the Barbados Demon whom he considered one of the greatest welters to ever lace them. He pushed through wartime poverty, disease, malnourishment, and racial inequality. Much like the great Archie Moore he pushed through numerous retirements and ten times as many heartbreaks and Van Gogh-esque undulations in his career.

He fulfilled the twenty years dream with one of the most beautiful punches ever caught on film.

He lost that dream title showing grit and grace in league with Barney Ross demanding to be let lose like a champion against the war-master Henry Armstrong.

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Joe could be: "..arrogant and smiling, feinting and side-stepping like a ballroom dandy.." and as Mike Casey (still missing him dearly) said: "Jersey Joe’s runaway tactics in the first fight, and his subsequent rants about the injustice of it all, hadn’t endeared him to many writers [The Perfect Execution: Joe’s KO Of Walcott One Of Greatest Ever • East Side Boxing • News Archives], but in losing his title he produced the most humbling, character-building, genuine passing of the torch quotes I've ever read, that I still consider to be a perfect ending to a movie biography of his.

"I liked that title. I didn't want to lose it to anybody, but if I had to lose it, I'm glad I lost it to you. You are a great fighter, and gonna be a great champ."

There were moments when I really felt Marciano saying things like:

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.. and I'm glad Joe got to hear Marciano saying that night he was the greatest.. there are nights where some fighters really are. In that one particular moment of time and space.

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Walcott smiling there is how I wish every boxer got to feel—being seen by his opponent as a force of nature.

Just a Joe Walcott appreciation thread. Cheers gents. Bonus video of Riddick Bowe praising JJW (I think?)

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