Max Baer vs Jersey Joe Walcott, prime for prime 15 rounds.

Max Baer vs Jersey Joe Walcott, prime for prime, 15 rounds. Both starred in the 1956 motion picture , The Harder They Fall, with Humphrey Bogart. Would Joe be too cagey for Max? Or would Baer easily beat Walcott?

 

Max Baer used to knock Walcott about in sparring. He allegedly knocked walcott out. Many years later when Walcott became champion a disillusioned Max Baer saw this as a decline of the division. From his point of view even His sparring partner was now champion!

 

I like JJ here, cagey and cute.
Walcott by decision.

 

Charles said the same about Liston and I’m sure Wlad was thinking the same about Wilder. I’d have to pick Max here though. Eventually he finds home I think.

 

You are correct. I don't believe for second that the Walcott that was paid to spar with Baer was even remotely the same Walcott that beat Charles and gave Marciano pure hell.

Larry Holmes use to get the **** beat out of him by Ali in the early 70's. Ten years later Holmes was ab absolute beast.

 

If we are talking best versions of both guys, I will take the Walcott that arguably beat Joe Louis, beat Ezzard Charles and gave Rocky pure hell. Baer is dangerous with that right hand but if I was putting money on it, I'll take the more complete fighter which was Jersey Joe.

 

A fired up Max might have been one of the most dangerous and hard to beat champions we had. The problem was he was not always fired up.

He beat a very good Max Schmeling before Schmeling beat a very good Joe Louis. Nobody can take that away from him.

However, In his case, and other unpredictable types, taking the very best version in a fantasy fight cannot be entirely fair.

There has to be a rule that a fighter must have a minimum number of “A-game”performances to qualify for fantasy fights before having him trumping more consistent champions with a Tokyo type win

 

I like Walcott here, but I think Max is a live underdog.

 

Max had crushing power, but I see JJW counter-punching Maxie into knots for a very comfortable decision or late stoppage.

 

Jersey Joe Walcott familiar with Max Baer from his days of sparring with him survives some anxious moments early to take a unanimous 15 round decision. Walcott is a very shrewd and shifty fighter, who in his matches appeared very deceptive, due to his fakes as an opponent was getting ready to strike. Baer packs a lot of TNT in his dukes but the question might be his desire and heart in this one, plus preparation going into this match. Max was a good sized man, and could be relentless which plays into the hands of Jersey Joe, who would be countering all evening.

 

When we use Baer in fantasy matchups, I discount his inconsistency, and assume he’s at his best.

I find it hard to imagine that Walcott eludes a dynamic, motivated Max Baer. Walcotts movement was great, but not enough to escape the bombs. Ali would evade well, and Tunney probably would too. But not Walcott imo.

 

I like Walcott

 

Max would get away with calling himself 6’5” if he was around now. He towered over Joe Louis who never looked shorter than Muhammad Ali in any photos I ever saw of them together.

from the post war era I think everyone added an inch or so to their height. everyone a hair over 6 foot began calling themselves 6’3” and most clearly were not.

Realistically, everyone apart from the genuine 6 foot three fighters should just go down as “six footers”. Nothing is reliable. So much lies about height. But your eyes don’t lie. The film shows the truth.

In truth Max was a noticeable size taller and broader than the majority of regular classic heavyweights. He was a genuine big dude.

His brother Buddy even more so.

 

I know that his brother Buddy was a large man as well, like I have said before, I saw him in an episode of Gunsmoke, he appeared wider than actor James Arness, Marshal Matt Dillon.

 

Jersey Joe Walcott is the less durable, less powerful man. Bar those two Joe was his master he was plenty tough plenty powerful a league above Max in the sweet science, he was far too cagey and a bible on feinting and footwork. I would argue he is just as strong as Max in the clinch despite the appeal of wide clavicles they are decorations on a Christmas tree and no indicator of raw strength. the way i see it Walcott befuddles Maxie boy after a few anxious early rounds, after the 8th it is just shooting fish in a barrel to a UD. Unless and this is a possibility Max turns this into a dirty affair and takes Joe out in a flurry of backhands, rough housing and elbows before finishing the job on a worn frustrated Walcott.