Who wins this battle of these hard nosed Aussies? Wally was probably more of a middle-supermiddle in his day...but he was well proven at light heavy later on in his career.
Wally started as a junior lightweight and only fought genuinely as a light heavy from his 86th fight till his 100th. Tim has been a light heavy for his whole career. Wally beat the durable Matt Ropis at Junior welter. Carr v Bell is not an Apples and Apples comparison by a long stretch and Tim would probably have beaten the bloated Wally that fought at light heavy for the last 3 years of his career. A fairer matchup would be Tim Bell vs - Bobby Dunlop - Paul Murdoch - Jason DeLisle - Doug Sam - Glen Kelly - Adam Watt - Daniel Rowsell As your post mentioned Wally vs great junior middles, middles, welters, light welters would be more historically relevant. Wally will tell you straight up that his last couple of years were a blur.
I thought I could get away with that one because of Wally's proven durability and experience...and the fact though Tim is one hard man, he is a little limited. But I guess not....
......even a bloated Wally Carr would be sure of creating a hard night for Bell. Anyone know when Carr's book is due in the Book Stores????
You're right Flamengo and WAR. Regardless of weight it would still have been a fascinating matchup. Like all historical comparisons, it would have depended on which Wally and which Bell turned up on the night. The Bell that turned up for Porky would have been way too big and strong for Wal. The Bell that turned up for SMA would have been very beatable if Wal brought his full toolbox, trained hard and had more than 10 days notice. Wal was the official Australian light heavy champ and no one can take that away from him but I'm sure plenty of players got on top of Michael Jordan in his Washington Wizards comeback that would not have been able to tie his shoelaces in his prime. All that said I would have watched the matchup with glee because you never know in boxing. Wal's book is going to be fascinating reading. Anybody that pulls themselves up off the Park Bench and shocking alcoholism to become a teetotaller with a great woman behind him, a book in the pipes and running a boxing program at PCYC Shoalhaven has a great story to tell. Plus 100 fights, everyone an adventure. His story on his fight in Zambia is one of the funniest we've had on the Sweet Science So far. Hail the original King Wally.
It was only the other day we were discussing Carr vs Dave Russell (won by Russell), and at the time I couldn't help drawing some parallels between Russell and 'Tiger' Bell. The improving Bell is holding his technique together longer than previous, but some of his earlier efforts reminded me somewhat of Dave. As for Carr v Bell - IMO Bell is still improving - so it'd be a case of the improving and persistent Bell against the fading latter career Carr - probably a Bell pts win for mine.
With both Wally Carr and Dave Russell in the process of books being written on them, one thing is certain.... both accounts will suggest that Wally made little serious inroads during the bout. He enjoyed the evening and had some fun foxing and classily boxing when he felt for it. Its amazing the tenacity of Aboriginal fighters. When thier mind is set for the right program, they have no sweat at a flash showing over the rounds. Multi-dimensional/speed to say the least. Any word on the Artango Bros?????
