"Schmeling-Walker"... Was this necessary?

Hell, it still happens in more modern times. Foreman lost a fight right before he got his shot at Moorer.

 

Beating all the contenders Walker beat should override the loses imo.


Walker beat said contenders in a span of less than 2 years I think.

 

Really, what are you talking about? Walker was ranked as one of the best HW's in the world and had already beaten very good contenders of Schmeling's size. It was a legit match-up.

 

No worries, i just found it a bit odd to call it tearing thru the division with a loss just 3 months before the Max fight.

 

Essentialy, Walker had got to the stage where he had to either loose to sombody verry soon or become the next heavyweight champion, and it fell to Schmeling to complete the formality.

Walker was the #4 ranked contender and had already claimed the scalps of a number of top heavyweights, who had done him the favour of underestimating him. By the time Schmeling fought him the penny had dropped that this was a heavyweight challenger you simply had to take seriously. Schmeling acordingly prepared himself as if he was going up against Jack Sharkey again.

To be fair to Schmeling, he did threaten to withdraw from the fight in the final round if the reff did not stop it. He was afraid that he might actualy kill Walker. Years later Schmeling atended the Louis Farr fight where Walker was in the ring line up allong with several former heavyweight champions. He walked straight past the heavyweights up to Walker and shook his hand.

 

Easy. Shortly before Sharkey got a gift against Schmeling while Walker held Shakrey to a draw - quite a few thinking Walker edging it. This fight was seen as the number one hw against the number 2 despite Sharkey beeing the champ. Before the fight nobody thought it would be that onesided.

Personally, I think this fight proves that Schmeling was a notch above the other heavys of the thirties aside of Louis. A great little man can beat or ran very good big man close. But a great big man beats a great little man. Walker´s stint at hw proves this to me.

While I think Schmeling was the greater fighter, Sharkey overall was the better fighter. At his very best Sharkey was one of the best. What makes Schmeling the greater fighter is his better consistency. Ranked in the Top3/5 for 9 straight years wasn´t done by many hws in history.

I agree with red cobra here. Schmeling won the second fight. The first one is a bit irritating. Yeah, Sharkey was the better man in those round they fought but the fight was announced for 15 not 4 rounds. There are many examples where a fighter comes on strong late and wins despite losing in the beginning.

Agreed. Sharkey could have been better than he was but circumstances and his own habiits, mental issues stopped him from beeing.

I disagree here. Imo Schmeling´s resume is better than Sharkey´s and clearly. Both were great fighters though.

He knew who deserved the most respect there. :good

 

Going into the 11th I had this fight 5-4-1 for Baer. It could have been 5-5. Hardly a one-sided beating. Baer delivered his career best performance and Schmeling - while beeing/entering a low in his career - still was able to be competative with him.

 

I´m quite a bit jealous.

Great story thanks for sharing :good

 

Sharkey was not very good at dealing with pressure, thus Walker's style troubled him more, although the newspapers had him winning. Walker however was made for the counter punching Schmeling, it was slaughter from round 1.

Walker was amazingly tough, despite being overweight at 170+ lbs and under-sized against heavyweights. He had to put on relentless pressure at all times with his short reach and height.

 

mickey walker had drawing power too. hell even after he retired they talked about getting him to come back and fight louis...

 

It was necessary because Walker fancied himself a giant killer and had in fact held the respected Sharkey to a draw...however the German was one giant who he couldn't deal with...and that's showbiz...the guys who jump weight classes have to pay the piper every now and then.