Jersey Joe Walcott vs Tua

The stats have to favour Tua. When you know the other guy can't hurt you, but you can switch him off at anytime with just one shot, it makes little difference at all whether or or not he is perceived as a step up in class. Tua was far from useless, and Walcott was no Lewis or Ibeabuchi. I see Walcott going inside 6 rounds.

 

Erm no, the stats are very decidedly against Tua here.

At least Walcott sometimes beat legitimately world class opposition!

It’s not a step up for Tua, it’s more like two!

 

Nonsense.

Walcott as we know him was only knocked out two times at his best. The first time was after 25 completed rounds deep in their second fight, Louis caught him with a right cross counter over the top and followed through with a two fisted combination.

The second time was a right over the top by Marciano, executed by a perfect feint.

Walcott evaded knockout against punchers such as Ray, Gomez, Louis, Charles, Sheppard, Hoff, and Shkor.

In his two noteworthy knock out losses, he showed vulnerability to counter right hands late in fights.

Tua could probably stop the Walcott of the second Marciano fight, where he was uncharacteristically caught by a left hook/uppercut combo early.

If we are going to bring up the Simon fight when Walcott was a weekend warrior, Simon was a 6'5" 256 pounds of solid muscle monster of a man who caught Walcott in round 6 with again...a right hand.

 

People are quick to forgett just what a dominant contender Walcott was. Here are the annual rankings from 1945-1948, with the fighters he beat highlighted in red:

1945
Joe Louis, Champion
Billy Conn
Tami Mauriello

This content is protected

Bruce Wood****

This content is protected

Freddie Schott
Arturo Godoy
Jersey Joe Walcott

This content is protected

1946
Joe Louis, Champion
Tami Mauriello

This content is protected

Jersey Joe Walcott
Bruce Wood****

This content is protected

Melio Bettina

This content is protected

Joe Kahut

This content is protected

1947
Joe Louis, Champion
Jersey Joe Walcott

This content is protected

This content is protected

Pat Comiskey

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected

Turkey Thompson
Bruce Wood****
Phil Muscato

1948
Joe Louis, Champion
Jersey Joe Walcott

This content is protected

Lee Savold
Johnny Flynn

This content is protected

This content is protected

Joe Kahut
Rusty Payne
Pat Valentino
Freddie Beshore

Even if Walcott had never held the title, he would have to be regarded as one of the best contenders of all time.

 

I just don't see it. Walcott survived so many big punchers, he deserves more benefit of the doubt.

Was Tua really more efficient a KO artist than Ray or Gomez? They were just as if not more destructive against fringe contenders and journeyman of all size as Tua.

Tua was fast at delivering single shots but predictable and slow of foot, and lacks the right cross that seemed to be critical in timing Waloctt. It isn't just power, Maricano and Louis were two of the best at timing their right hand and finishing their men off.

 

Looking at Walcott’s record against the punchers of the division, and Tua’s record against people who could hold a ranking, you have to think that Tua would find a way to screw up.

 

And we can talk about Tua's weight, but its not like Walcott's opponents were that small. They looked like absolute power houses at a time when lack of nutrition made it hard for men to weigh 220 plus fit.

Murray at 6'3" and 200+

[url]http://static.boxrec.com/thumb/c/c1/LeeQMurray.jpg/250px-LeeQMurray.jpg[/url]

[url]http://static.boxrec.com/thumb/8/83/F756705.jpeg/350px-F756705.jpeg[/url]

Ray at 6'2" and 190-200+. Ray in particular looked like he wasn't far from Mike Tyson in upper body mass.

[url]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--1I6YaEcwPQ/VLjkZAE3RiI/AAAAAAAABEg/1zMRiuTDgnQ/s1600/The%2BCincinnati%2BFlash%2Bvs%2BViolent%2BElmer%2BRay.jpg[/url]

[url]http://i21.tinypic.com/10pa5fk.jpg[/url]

[url]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/Elmer_Ray.jpg/220px-Elmer_Ray.jpg[/url]

Tommy Gomez at Tua's height and a more natural 180+ build.

[url]http://static.boxrec.com/thumb/a/a7/Jersey_Joe_Walcott_vs._Tommy_Gomez_._Fasan.jpg/250px-Jersey_Joe_Walcott_vs._Tommy_Gomez_._Fasan.jpg[/url]

 

I am not sure that Walcott used to “clown late” as such.

I think that he was more trying to frustrate his opponents, and make them do something careless.

I am also far from sure that Tua carried his power late.

 

Why do you think that?

 

Because Walcott’s whole style was based on confusing and frustrating his opponents.

He liked to play the matador, and make the other guy the bull.