The Brockton Blockbuster's Power

Because Walcott had good results late in his career,does not mean he was in his physical prime.
In his case it meant he was hooked up to a fulltime manager who was connected,and that meant Walcott had the luxury of training fulltime without need to have another job to feed his large family,and he was eating good food regularly.

Layne had poor defence all his career and he was soft in the midsection.Goldman knew this because his fighter Cesar Brion had already fought Rocky.He instructed Marciano to target Layne's belly to soften him up and get his hands down.Layne was worn down by the relentless bombardment and, like a Turkey,he was oven ready for the ko.Layne had shipped punches comparable to the ko blow early in the fight and withstood them.

Mathews was a paper tiger.his stats are misleading.He turned down a shot at LHvy Champ Maxim,Jack Hurley his manager set up such a sqawk charging the IBC with operating a monopoly and black balling Harry anxious to deflect the attention,Carbo and Norris called Hurley's bluff and offered him a fight with Marciano.Hurley didn't want the fight he wanted a straight shot at Walcott,but he was caught wrongfooted.
Around10 of Mathews wins are at lightweight,5 at welter ,40 at middleweight, about 8 at lhvy and of his 19 heavyweight fights up to when he fought Rocky,half were overstuffed lhvys like himself,the only heavyweight of note he had beaten was a diminished Layne.
What were Mathews credentials for a heavyweight title shot?