Jersey Joe Walcott's loss to Rex Layne

Walcott supposedly injured his right hand early, and Layne at his best could be effective enough to scrap past a great fighter that wasn't at the top of his game.

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...NUpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zAwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1679,4795840

"I hurt my right hand in the third round when I hit him on top of the head. When I wanted to counter I just couldn't."

In the dressing room, Walcott said he had bruised his right hand so badly in the third round that "it was almost useless from then on."

http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/4567982/

Jersey Joe Walcott: A Boxing Biography cites he bruised his hand. Could be sour grapes but regardless, Layne was evidently a seroius threat in those early years.

 

Walcott looks flat and seems like his timing is off at times. His movement is unusual and he is getting beaten to the punch with his defense very low......he may have had an injury but its not one of his better fights....Layne was a rugged guy not the same after getting shotgunned by Marciano with a record or 34-1-1 and he avenged that loss & draw with a KO...the way he got KO'd ruined his confidence and self moral

 

Never really watched this before...But it looks like Walcott was trying all of his tricks expecting Layne to rush in. Walcott was doing his waltz, stepping forward..then back..forward again...Wanting Layne to run head first into a right hand...and Layne waited on him! Looks like Layne was playing the 'cutie' here...Just a guess.

 

Haven't you heard? Walcott is an ATG

 

Could it be because that at going on 37 , maybe Walcott was past his best and even a tough, durable but limited one handed fighter like Layne, slow but steady, could force his tired legs past their stretching point ? I know this flies in the face of all who like to say Joe got better w age but honestly, we all know no one does past a point and styles will dictate fights ..

 

I dont think that is the case simply because other than the 4 fight series with Charles which they split 2-2, Layne was his only loss, Walcott had some great wins Ollie Tanberg KO 3, Harold Johnson KO 3, Omelio Agramonte KO 7,Johnny Shkor KO 1, Hein Ten Hoff UD 10 and even in his 13rd KO loss to Marciano he was fit,dangerous and clever

Most felt Layne would be the next Heavyweight Champion in fact Nat Fleischer called him the next Dempsey (quite a compliment) Layne was never the same after the brutal one punch KO loss to Marciano

I am think it could be a case of an injured hand but beside that Walcott just does not look like himself but in his next fight he got the title shot....did he have the cuffs on, a bad night or was the pre-Rocco fight Layne better than we thought or a combination of the injury an off night and Layne being prime mentally....either way Walcott looks nothing like himself

 

Layne was known to be a lazy trainer who was not in the best of shape for some of his lesser opponents.

He was obviously in top condition for this one.

Off the other films I have seen of Layne, he was not a one-handed fighter. He had a surprisingly good left jab as well as that quick and accurate right. His big weakness generally, besides sometimes entering the ring in not the best of shape, was a very leaky defense. Layne's defense looks better in this fight than any I have seen.

I think Walcott fought a very poor tactical fight. He apparently thought the he could counterpunch Layne easily, but Layne, despite his clumsy appearance, fought a smart fight, making the best use of that right. Layne was awkward, but he could box, and when he came forward he got off quicker than Walcott.

I think it was a case of a veteran holding the young fellow cheap and paying the price.

 

Should I cite fights where people you call ATG's had bad fights.. surely that must mean they aren't ATG's right? Surely.

 

In terms of skilled HWs - Wallcot makes my top 10 list.

 

He makes my top 35.