A few people seem to have their Walcott heads on at the moment, so I thought that it might be a good time to compare his resume to that of Ezzard Charles, through he end of year rankings. This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Please point it out if I have missed anything. 1945 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected Tami Mauriello This content is protected This content is protected Gus Dorazio This content is protected This content is protected Turkey Thompson Lee Savold Buddy Scott 1945 This content is protected , Champion Billy Conn Tami Mauriello This content is protected This content is protected Bruce Woodcock This content is protected Freddie Schott Arturo Godoy This content is protected This content is protected 1946 This content is protected , Champion Tami Mauriello This content is protected This content is protected Bruce Woodcock This content is protected This content is protected Melio Bettina This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected 1947 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Pat Comiskey This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Turkey Thompson Bruce Woodcock Phil Muscato 1948 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected This content is protected Lee Savold Johnny Flynn This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Rusty Payne This content is protected This content is protected 1949 Title Vacant This content is protected This content is protected Turkey Thompson This content is protected Bruce Woodcock Lee Savold This content is protected This content is protected Omelio Agramonte Roland LaStarza
1950 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected Lee Savold This content is protected Clarence Henry Bob Baker This content is protected This content is protected Jack Gardner This content is protected Rocky Marciano 1951 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected Rocky Marciano Clarence Henry Roland LaStarza Karel Sys Joe Louis This content is protected This content is protected Bob Baker Johnny Williams 1952 Rocky Marciano, Champion This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Bob Dunlap Clarence Henry Johnny Williams Roland LaStarza Heinz Neuhaus Karel Sys This content is protected 1953 Rocky Marciano, Champion Nino Valdes This content is protected Dan Bucceroni Roland LaStarza Earl Walls Don Cockell Clarence Henry Tommy Harrison This content is protected This content is protected 1954 Rocky Marciano, Champion Nino Valdes Don Cockell This content is protected Bob Baker Earl Walls Heinz Neuhaus This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Jimmy Slade 1955 Rocky Marciano, Champion This content is protected Bob Baker This content is protected John Holman Willie Pastrano Nino Valdes Johnny Summerlin This content is protected Young Jack Johnson This content is protected
I have it close enough to be argued either way. What is perhaps telling is how few people they didn't beat between them!
Dec 6, 1947... Washington Evening Star, Burton Hawkin..."Jersey Joe Walcott, 34-year old journeyman heavyweight and ebony-hued father of six" June 22, 1948... Milwaukie Journal, R. G. Lynch..."For Walcott is strictly a second rater, a journeyman boxer working at a trade. He knows his trade well, but he has practiced is always for survival rather than for the greatest success..." Nov 30, 1947... Milwaukie Journal, R.G. Lynch... "(Walcott) a journeyman fighter who wants to stay in the business..." June 23, 1948... Plain Dealer, Gordon Cobbled*ck (love that name) "(Walcott) is only lately come to be recognized as a fair journeyman operator after 17 years of ring warfare." May 24, 1946 AP preview of Walcott Oma begins... "A couple of journeyman heavyweights who have lost the first flush of youth..." I could go on and on and on... It is the most common descriptor of Walcott. And continued to be such into the 1950's.
Writers and Reporters were also in competition too, so to speak. it was important for them to "get & have the Leads, or the skinny, to have it first, to add Your OWN Slant or Take - which equally wasn't always neutral, but rather in Flavour & Favour with the PAYING Advancing Top Rags!
When he was broke, starving, mismanaged and working a day job, yes, he was a Journeyman When he started focusing on boxing? Nah
He toiled a long, long time until the division softened enough for him to shine. Either that, or he miraculously gained new talent and skill well after a decade in the sport.
Once you win the championship you cease to be a journey man and are a champion...it’s really that simple.
Isn't a more plausible explanation that he simply got a manager, and proper financial backing in the post war era? If he and Elmer Ray only shone in the post war era because the competition became softer, then you would have to conclude that the pre war era was one of the strongest, if not the strongest in the history of the sport!
I would go further and say that you cease to be a journeyman if you beat somebody ranked in the top twenty!
You clearly weren't saying that he was a journeyman when he was starved, broke and unable to train properly.
