Prime Max Schmeling vs. Jersey Joe Walcott

I think the Joe Louis victory by Schmeling is by far the greatest either fighter ever had. It was the only loss Louis had from 1934 to 1950. He was viewed as unbeatable going in, and proved pretty much unbeatable afterward. There is just no way of minimizing this one.

Charles was great and on a roll, but he had lost to Ray a few years earlier and would lose to Layne the next year. Still impressive, but not as impressive as Louis.

As for the rest, rating eras is always questionable, but I don't see the gap as wide as you do, plus Moore was better than anyone other than Charles that Walcott defeated. He won all 3 from Maxim, 4 of 5 from both Bivins and Johnson, and beat Sheppard twice. Murray? Might be a bit overrated as he had lost earlier in the year to Johnny Flynn and O'Dell Riley. Guys like Oma, Baksi, Agramonte? Pretty ordinary, I think.

I would agree with you that Walcott faced somewhat the tougher opposition, but this is balanced out by Schmeling's big win over Louis and his generally more consistent and more impressive wins. Besides ko'ing a young Louis, he is the only man to ever ko Stribling and Hamas, and the only one to stop a prime Risko. Walcott had a lot more of a "now you win one, now I win one" split decisions sort of career.

 

Good points Edward morbius and the reason schmeling ranked I think 55 in rings 100 greatest punchers. A spot well earned.

 

I find Walcott very inconsistent ... he did fight good fighters for sure ... Schmeling did as well .. it really is an interesting match up .. I can see Walcott outboxing but I can also see the smart, strong, precise Schmeling lashing out and forcing Joe to fight a defensive fight once he tags him .. either way would not surprise me .. One thing I'll say about Schmeling and Sharkey is that they did not draw the color line like so many others ...

 

Joe was far craftier agreed but he had times when in the lead he would lose concentration and the win and that's what Max and his right hand would be waiting for. I don't see Max one punch outing him but once he landed clean on the bill I think Joe would go downhill from there.

 

Schmeling is clearly the superior fighter. He fought a young Joe Louis and knocked him out. Walcott did knock down Louis in both of their fights and should of won the first and if he didn't get knocked out would of won the second in my opinion too.

In any case I believe a prime Max would of stopped Jersey Joe Walcott in 6 or so rounds if not quicker.

 

Schmeling was so patient, a thinking man's fighter with a potent right. And good hand speed, very underrated

 

I would go with Schmeling on points. Walcott really shined vs slow footed or easy to hit fighters. Shcemling is neither.

 

i'd favour Walcott in a fight between these two real gentlemen, a points win.

 

Nothing wrong with going with Schemling on points..but that last statement isn't very accurate.

Walcott beat some great defensive fighters in Bivins, Charles, and Maxim.

Though known footage exists, Elmer Ray was described as being very quick.

Elmer (Violent) Ray has the extraordinary distinction of being the only man Joe Louis wouldn't even meet in an exhibition. Louis boxed Dan Merritt of Cleveland instead, and stood watching as Ray, a crowding weaver and bobber with the speed of a swift middleweight, ironed out Claudio Villar, a Spaniard, in 29 seconds flat


The Coshocton Tribune, March 8, 1946
originally soucred by poster: Marciano Frazier