Two highly skillful and fast boxers. Two of my favourites. Walcott had the bigger achievments but was also less consistent. I mean, he lost quite a few to indifferent opposition. Jimmy Young gave hell to lot of great names. But somehow he always came up with the short end of the stick. Can't really say, but if I have to, I will pick Walcott to win 5 out of 8.
A battle of cuties to be sure. 15 rounds with Walcott's title at stake, I think that no knockdowns would be scored and this definitely would be a specialists type of fight. I think that Walcott would just narrowly eke it out on the basis of some effective aggression in the late championship rounds (a reminder that all championship bouts should be set for 15 rounds) for a close, but not too exciting decision victory, probably a split decision.
Joe was a slick boxer/puncher , Jimmy was a defensive master, Joe was the better all around fighter and Jimmy couldn"t crack an egg.....Walcott UD 15
I think this might turn out somewhat awkward, sort of a constipated fight, like the Walcott-Maxim fights are supposed to have been. Both of these guys did most of their best work off their opponent's offense, forcing the other guy to lead uncomfortably. The main effective difference between them, I'd say, is that Walcott was a substantially harder puncher, but that might not come into play, particularly with Young's slippery defense and solid whiskers. I'll say Walcott SD.
Hard to predict. Both people were erratic types who could look good on their best nights. From what I have seen, Young seems to be harder to catch clean, and throws straighter punches. Walcott certainly has an edge in power, but he was never a seek and destroy type of fighter. Joe was a counter puncher, and magician type who liked to set people up with feints, footwork, balance and speed. This type of game works best vs slower fighters, flat footed fighter, or fighters with average defense, but Jimmy Young was the polar opposite of that. It would be hard to counter, feint, or catch Jimmy Young off balance. Young’s head movement was among the best I have ever seen at heavyweight. He’s not walking into a right hand or hook. No way. To beat Jimmy Young you have to press the action and make him punch back. I’ll go with Young vs Split Decision in a boring, and tactical fight. I think Young’s jab would land and be throw a bit more than Walcott’s. And that would be the difference.
1 for the purists, most would call it boring, complain about having their time wasted in watching such a spectacle but I would find it fascinating to watch. Hard to predict Prime Young is EXTREMELY underrated