Wow, good match up between two true greats. Walker was both the greater and naturally bigger fighter, so the initial inclination is to go with him. I think he improved after he left WW, though. His p4p greatness is mostly based on his work above the weight. I'd guess Walker via narrow points decision, without much confidence.
I had a look to see if I could find any older threads on this matchup but i think it is a first surprisingly.. amazing fight isn't it? Nice style clash too.. Walker the rugged aggressive hooker versus McLarnin the awkward boxer puncher.. Between them they beat two of the greatest southpaws ever in Corbett III & Tendler.. & other legends like Britton & Canzoneri etc... its one of my top 10 all time fantasy matchups
Hi Buddy. Good call, not seen this matchup before, and a very interesting fight it would have been, in a magazine I had from America many years ago, there was an article on Tendler, his background, his upbringing, and more importantly his career and fights, he cited Leonard has the best naturally, he also had high praise for two rugged, tough , individuals namely Walker and Hudkins, for what it's worth he had Hudkins as a far tougher opponent than Walker, saying that with Walker there was time to regroup after his attacks, whereas Hudkins gave him not a second to rest and compose himself, both could absorb punishment to a disheartening degree, he said Walker was the strongest, with huge legs, and a big thick torso, but Hudkins was the most ferocious, he recalled that Ace had this peculiar habit of snorting as he attacked, as if his style was not frighting enough, despite Walker being renowned as hurtful body puncher, it was the Hudkins body punching that he remembered the most, peeing blood for days, in the time honoured fashion, pressed by the writer who he felt would win if they were to fight, he diplomatically said a draw in his eyes. stay safe buddy, chat soon. Mike.
Great fighter Hudkins.. they fought twice Walker & Hudkins and by all accounts Ace might have deserved the first one.. Hudkins tho small like Walker would go on to beat HWs like King Levinsky & dynamite Jackson.. these fellas back then were cut from a different cloth.. i don't think he was ever legit KOd in his 90 fight career..
When McLarnin was fighting as a welterweight he almost always fought smaller fighters. He wouldnt have that advantage against Walker. I would pick Walker by decision.
Walker is in my top 10 fighters of all time so no problem there.. but to flesh out your comment about smaller fighters.. one of his best wins Young Corbett III weighed in the same as Jimmy & went on to fight at MW against a host of greats such as Mickey Walker, Gus Lesnevich & Billy Conn... & Brouillard, Thompson, Baker, Kaplan, Fields, Cello, Loayza & Goldstein all outweighed McLarnin when he fought them too.. McLarnin wasn't a big fella.. 5'6, 67 inch reach, started off as a Flyweight.. yes there was a 7lb difference for Canzoneri, 6lbs for Villa etc... but as i said he he did come all way up from fly himself.. albeit he was very young.. but still.. so i don't see him as a legit weight bully.. McLarnin fought them because they were within his weight range, not because he was cutting weight so he could face off with little guys. If a peak McClarnin was fighting Flyweights then there would be an argument but he wasn't.. do u believe any semi decent 17 year old fighter with a 6lb weight advantage would beat Villa? If you do then I think you're wrong. If you don't then that means something other than size contributed to McLarnin winning. To me it shows McLarnin's class as a fighter that as a scrawny teenager he beat a vastly more experienced HOF great.. I see the weight thing attributed to McLarnin a lot & think its a little unfair.. he also fought in an era with fewer weight classes meaning weight disparities were more common due to the limited divisions or lack of interest/participation in the burgeoning junior divisions...
Hence why I qualified my statement by specifying welterweight and saying “almost always” which of course is true. McLarnin moved up in weight, sure, but when he topped out he almost always fought smaller opponents who were moving up. He just did. While we are on the subject, Walker wasnt a giant either and he turned pro weighing under the featherweight limit. But, at 147 which I think was Walkers best weight, I think he was simply better than McLarnin in just about every department.
