Jersey Joe Walcott v Harry Greb, Harry Wills and Sam Langford

Not enough film to judge, Prime Walcott may take them all but Walcott wasnt mr consistent and his career didnt have the same longevity of those men

 

I wouldn't favor Joe over Grab or Langford, honestly.

 

I could see that happening.

I don't like Walcott against Greb's frantic work rate, though.

 

Ok I'll make assumptions

Greb - smaller version of Marciano but faster with less power. I see Walcott doing what Tunney did in their series or it going liek the Marciano fight BUT Walcott doesnt get overpowered late

Langford - 5'6 boxer puncher. I pick Walcott to outbox and out counter at range to win either a wide UD or get KO'd similar to the Louis/Marciano bouts. But I'd go with Walcott UD

Wills - don't know enough, Wills is bigger, Walcott I'd expect to be slicker but this really is guess work. Wills had less embarassing defeats but also didnt face as many fighters of the calibre that Walcott faced.

Both are boxer types so I see it going the distance, I'm inclined to go with WIlls, but not sure

 

I feel Walcott would probably beat all three Greb, he is too small and Walcott would possibly be the hardest hitter Greb ever fought. The footage of Langford is limited for me he doesn't look great on the limited film but that could be down to the quality and Wills well I've only seen one of his fights at which point he was far from his prime. On the description I feel Walcott would be able to beat the slower Wills and he would probably decision Langford although I could see them splitting a series.

 

I like JJW over the 3....Greb and Langford would be trickier opponents, but Walcott had the power to keep them on the defence. Walcott would be the trickier over Wills and I see Joe winning a UD with Wills down a few times from pinpoint shots

 

1. Greb--Walcott was 195. Greb beat bigger men, such as the lightheavies Tunney and Gibbons, and second-tier heavies such as Brennan, but I think it a stretch to see him handling a fighter of the skill of Walcott who was 30 pounds heavier. Walcott wins, most likely by a knockout as I think Jersey Joe would be aggressive against a man without the punch to hurt him.

2. Wills--Wills and Langford are going to be close to blind guesses because of the lack of film. I think Jersey Joe would outbox Wills but how this fight would be scored--how important is aggression?-will probably tip it. I would favor Wills if pushed to the wall because of his reputation as a body puncher. I think he would go to the body rather than headhunt the tricky Walcott.

3. Langford--Ditto. Sam uses his "kill the body and the head dies too" strategy to beat Walcott.

If they fight a series, Walcott scores wins at some point over both Wills and Langford.

 

Wills, slow, stationary? I wonder how many fight reports of Wills at or near his prime you have read.

 

I think he would UD Greb.

I'd have him 60/40 or so over Langford, over 15 that is. The 40% chance is that Langford knocks him out.

50/50 with Wills.

It's really hard to choose, especially vs. Langford/Wills, but I think Walcott is slick enough to outpoint Langford, as long as he doesn't get knocked out. If Langford was anything, I think, he was a fantastic finisher.

Wills is the opposite, and because I don't know very much about his prime, I'd have them 50/50. I'd have Walcott about 50/50 over any boxer type, really, especially one like Wills who, by most accounts, was not a puncher or finisher by any means.

 

I actually fancy Jersey Joe over Greb by decison. Langford and Wills I'm split between, I would probably take him to decision Langford aswell but lose to Wills probably by late TKO.

If he had 2 fights with Langford and Wills though it would be 1 a-piece, Greb could probably decision him aswell if they had 3/4 fights.

 

I would favor Walcott in a single match against any of the three, but were he to actually fight all three of them in a career, I think he would most likely lose one.
Greb is the most solid for me, as I don't believe Greb possessed anything that could hurt Walcott appreciably, I imagine Walcott could effectively manhandle him, and I would guess he could fairly readily hurt him, as well. Greb would no doubt not go away quietly, but I think he would be pretty soundly outboxed and manhandled.
Langford is a very tough call. For comparison with major opponents, I tend to think Walcott was more slick and powerful than Jeanette (in addition to being a little taller and rangier), but that Jeanette was more durable. On the other hand, Langford was smaller and I think not quite the powerhouse, brick wall or tireless pursuant Marciano was, but he was quicker and possessed a more versatile style... Assuming Walcott is having one of his on-form nights and fights a smart counterpunching strategy, I like him to outpoint Langford, probably in a very good fight.
Wills is the most vague call for me, as there is barely any surviving film of him, what there is shows him past his prime, and it's somewhat difficult for me to get a clear impression of his style and assets from his record and the surviving literature. To my knowledge, Wills was known as a boxer-puncher with good speed for a relatively big man, a pretty orthodox fighter, and mainly a jab/overhand-right style of puncher. I'd venture a guess that Walcott would (having only been stopped by Louis and Marciano anywhere near his best) probably be a fair bet not to be knocked out here, and could perhaps keep Wills out of his comfort zone stylistically, particularly with rhythm, angles and range, and pepper his way to a decision.