Marciano versus Prime Charles/Walcott

What, he's fighting a Light-Heavy Charles????

 

I think Charles probably beats him. On points.

But I think Walcott was still in his best condition when they fought in 1952. He was 38 years old but I can't say the Walcott of the Joe Louis fight in 1947, for example, was necessarily a better version. So, same result.

 

Marciano beats both again. I think people exagerate how well Charles did in their first fight, Marciano clearly won and it wasn't like he was being pinched to knock him out or anything. Just because the other guy is still there against a bomber and doing well doesn't mean he's winning.

 

Depending on who you talk to ( and their personalized agenda ), Walcott is often viewed as being at his best in the Marciano fight. Although he was 37 years of age, it was truly the first time that he had really gotten his career together. I'm somehow inclinded to thnking that the best Walcott was the man who fought Louis a few years earlier though.

 

The first Louis fight was the best I've seen of Walcott. I think that Walcott could have very well beaten Marciano, since he was less likely to trade punches and be pressed against the ropes.

I think Walcott was knocked out because he was tiring and his reaction times had diminished a little due to it, enough for Marciano to beat him to the punch and deliver the big right hand.

 

Walcott was way less agressive vs Louis in that first match, and in the later rounds, RAN from Louis. Thus giving Louis the win.


I think once Walcott starting his running, Marciano would corner him and knock him out as he did in the first bout.

 

I saw these fights and scored them. I scored the first 1954 Marciano-Charles fight 10 rounds to 5 rounds for Marciano. I had the second 1954 Marciano-Charles fight 6 rounds to 1 round for Marciano before Rocky knocked him out in round 8. I had the 1952 Marciano-Walcott fight 7 rounds to 5 rounds for Walcott before Rocky knocked him out in round 13. In the 1953 Marciano-Walcott fight, Rocky knocked him out in round 1.

I liked Walcott and Charles, enjoyed watching them both fight. I don't think any versions of Walcott or Charles that I ever saw were better than Marciano. Were Walcott and Charles capable of beating Marciano on a given night? Sure! In their primes, if Marciano fought them each 10 times, I think Rocky (in his prime) would win at least 16 of those 20 fights...in my opinion.

 

Its widely acknowledged Rocky faced a Past prime version of Walcott? I would disagree. If you took a public poll, I think most would consider the years 1947-1952 as Walcotts prime, thus fitting 1952(the year Marciano beat walcott) into that time frame.

2ndly,

I do not realize that a Heavyweight Champion of the world coming off his career 2 best wins in a span of one year...... and putting on yet another career definging performance in 1952 in which he claimed afterward "never before had I felt so good physically and mentally in a fight".....was "Suddenly" past his prime.


If that is your case...then I would like to be put on record saying if Marciano did not beat a prime Jersey Joe Walcott, than neither did Ezzard Charles. I think Marciano vs Walcott fantasy matchup is what it is. Take Marciano-Walcott I and you got the result. It would have always turned out that way.



I do think a 1948 charles vs 1951 Marciano is a very interesting fantasy matchup though. Charles matches up excellently against him. Still I believe rocky takes 2 out of 3 in a trilogy. I will go into more detail later.

 

Good post.

 

Walcott only "ran" in the last round when his victory seemed secure. Aside from that it's one of the most brilliant masterclasses of boxing I've ever seen.

His legs weren't the same in the first Marciano fight in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK6wylLSVyI

 

Only Marciano bias would make you think that a 38-year old Walcott is as good as a 33-year old one, and that a 33-year old Charles is as good as a 28 to 29-year old one. They'd both have a great chance against Marciano prime for prime. Since I pick a prime Ali to beat a prime Frazier I'm kind of against the wall here, am I not? So: Marciano loses at least one of these fights.

 

For a man who loves to judge film to back up his views...you certainly have decided to alter your angles here. You claim walcott was tiring, yet walcotts 2 best rounds of the fight(other than round 1) happened in Round 11 and Round 12 where he won both going away, even hurting marciano....The fight Commentor claimed "Walcott has the legs of a 20 year old. he seems to be getting stronger as the fight goes on".....So your point about walcott tiring by round 13 has no substantial evidence whatsoever. Walcotts stamina and reflexes looked better in rounds 11-12 than at any point of the fight.


It was not a fluke that knockout blow landed. The same thing happened to that "Peak" version of walcott your referring to by a Past his Prime joe Louis in 1948, late while ahead on points. Perhaps its a recurring theme? I think Marciano-Walcott fantasy fight would always happen the way it did. Sure Walcott looked fantastic in 1947, his speed movement footwork looked better than ever. But he still was vulnerable. Remember Violent Ray a puncher swarmer just like Marciano gave Walcott 2 very difficult fights right around that time period in 47.