Should Mickey Walker be considered the #1 head to head at 147?

If he's not, why not? He must be close. Sugar Ray Robinson is the usual shout. I'm always banging on about Charley Burley & sometimes a drunk or Holmes' Jab will try to force Leonard on you, but nobody seems to mention Walker....

His chin must be considered granite at the weight. Guys like Schmeling and Smith KO'd him but they were massive by comparison - and Walker's HW resume is actually not to bad! Fram Cyberboxing Zone:

"Against men who weighed more than 20lbs more than him his record was 10-1-2"

He has wins over much bigger pure boxers including Maxie Rosenbloom at light heavy, battered heavyweight contender Uzcudan to defeat and fought that famous draw with Jack Sharkey - is he on your top 50 HW's list? Because i'm pretty sure he'd make mine. The guy was capable of hustling much bigger pure boxers to defeat (though he lost some of these fights too) and could also outfight giants with whom he really had no business in the first place.

So my question is - what type of Welterweight would it take to beat a peak Mikey Walker? The great puncher or the great boxer? Because he beat much bigger versions of both.

WOuldn't he beat more great welterweights than any other great welterweights?

Is it possible to see him failing to win at least one of three against any WW in history?

 

I just watched the Walker-Schmeling highlights (an eliminator for a heavyweight title shot!) and Scmleing nailed Walker of course, but I'd submit that the right hand Max landed for the first KD would probably have stopped a lot of HW's.

What really astonishes is how well Walker does in the clinches. Was Max refusing to contest these clinches for some tactical purpose? Perhaps he regarded Walker as particularly good coming out of a clinch on the back foot? Or is Walker really that strong?

Damage is done in the clinches though...apart from this one and the Greb one, did Walker take any other serious beatings?

I love Mickey Walker.

The end of that fight - the crowd are apparently screaming for it to be stopped, Kearns is shouting at Walker to stay down, Walker is struggling to see, Schmeling is showing no mercy and Walker is still punching back.

 

I'm a bit pissed at the moment but I feel quite strongly that Walker is the best fighter that ever lived.

Just to be clear, i'm not saying that he IS, just that I feel at this time that he is.

Certainly no punching WW would ever have been able to beat him in my view.

 

The best post in the history of ESB? It's not for me to say, but yes it is.

Mickey Walker v Tim Witherspoon is a reasonable title for a thread.

Sugar Ray Robinson v Time Witherspoon is a bit silly.

 

It's not possible for a fighter to have more heart than Walker, you can only ever have as much.

 

Round 1

They were fighting hard as the round ended, with Walker scoring heavily to the body with hard lefts. Walker's round.

Round 2

Walker outslugged Greb at close quarters...[Greb]almost sent Walker to the floor [with a right hand lead]...it was another Walker round on his clean punching.

Round 3

They went close...Greb clubbed Walker with a right to the head...Walker outpunched him in an exchange of swings...Walker sent another left to the body and Greb a chopping right to the head...another round for Walker on his solid body punching.

Round 4

Walker started with another left smash to the body...rushed and sent a left right to the head, but Greb only smiled...Greb...laughed as Mickey tried to free his arms from a clinch...Greb had a shade in this round, his first of the fight.

(I think this line in bold is pretty crucial Sweet Pea. Greb would not be stronger than Tiger. In fact he would probably get handled.)

Round 5

Walker scored cleanly to the mouth. Greb spat and put his glove to his mouth. A couple of his teeth had been knocked out. An even round.

(For what it's worth I think Greb lost his rag a wee bit at this point.

Round 6

They immediatly went close and flailed to the body with rights. Walker sent a left to the body (seems this was Walker's key punch)...Greb started to move. tThey stage a holding and hitting session...Greb [stole] the honours.

(Greb would need to fight a moving fight against Tiger. I think he is capable of it in spates, but is he capable of doing if for 15 rounds? He'd need that to take things away from Tiger I think).

Round 7

Greb rushed but Walker blocked. Greb forced Walker to the ropes but was unable to land. Harry...stayed close to Walker and pounded him about. Greb's round.

Round 8

Greb came out in full flight...a shower of punches forced Walker to the corner...Walker scored with four fast blows to the body. Greb had the shade.

Round 9

Greb crowded Walker to the ropes and mauled away...Walker sent a hard left to Greb's body and Greb rushed Walker wildly. The referee spoke to Greb...Walker had the beter of the exchanges at close quarters. Walker's work at close quarters gave him an even break in this round

(If Walker could best Greb inside, so could Tiger. Combine this with his superior strength and I think that Greb has serious trouble).

Round 10

Greb backed away from a right to the head...rushed Walker furiously and backed him to the ropes with a windmill of punches...Greb's most decisive round of the fight, he is stepping on the gas!

(Windmill would be of little use to Greb v Tiger. His jaw is granite and he is durable. He is willing to take to give. He is accurate and by far the harder puncher. He would punch through Greb in this sitiation. No "Forcing Tiger to the ropes" i'm afraid).

Round 11

Greb backed Mickey Walker into his own corner and held him prisoner there. Walker was furious [upon escaping] but Greb immediatly belaboured him with all kinds of punches. He forced Mickey back and was giving him a lacing when Walker let fly a powerful left to the jaw dazing Greb. Greb held on until his head cleared. Greb's round.

(Forget about lacing Tiger unless you are insanely quick about it. Forget about trying to hold on when hurt (if we are talking about the peak version))

Round 12

Walker outpunched Greb to body and head.

Round 13

Greb began circling Walker...[Greb outpunches Walker to win the round, there are some even exchanges from distance, Greb is picking his spots]...Greb's round.

(I love this. Greb hits trouble so changes tac. I think this area of Greb's game is underated, tactical, smart, picking his battles. But he STILL has to come inside to do his best work).

Round 14

They traded light blows...the referee was having terrible trouble with his trick knee and had to grab the ropes to hold himself up lol: naughty Greb!)...a right to the jaw sent Walker staggering to his own corner...Greb piled into finish him but Mickey stood up under a reign of punches and came back with a left. Greb tired himself considerably trying for a KO...Walker was all but out on his feet.

Round 15

They shook hands (!)...Greb's round.


Be nice to find a copy of this one in your uncle's basement wouldn't it? Still, I think Walker despite taking a beating had his successes. The reason Tiger is more likely to have success than Greb is strength in the main. Tiger would be the one laughing (not literally of course) in the clinches. Greb didn't enjoy getting hit to the body in this fight I don't think - Tiger would work him harder and wouldn't be so easy to fade in those middle rounds because he's not expending in the same way.

Anyway, there it is.

 

Yeah, he was an absolute muel.

But Tiger is the single strongest middle of all time, in my view.

A proper freak, like Jackson with power or Jones with speed.