This fight has always be a curiosity to me. Murray was one of the biggest punchers in the game and a skilled boxer. He had Ray Arcel in his corner and had been in there with the best and beaten most of them. Yet he gets disqualified for "not trying" and playing Bonecrusher Smith to Walcott's Mike Tyson by clinching and grabbing the whole way and not fighting. From what I've read it's not like he was hurt really bad at any point and it's not like Walcott was some holy terror; not so much that a proven top heavyweight like Murray should be afraid of him and fight scared. I've often wondered if Lee Q. threw this fight. He was investigated afterwards from what I've read and his purse upheld. Anyone know the particulars to this battle? Burt? GPat? Anyone?
This was one of Walcott's most underrated wins. Lee Q Murray in his prime was a terrific fighter. Along with Elmer Ray and Jimmy Bivins, 2 other top fighters Walcott beat. Walcott essentially cleaned out the division from 1945-1947. It's my personal opinion Walcott's style made Murray look so bad early on, that Murray lost confidence in himself and became frustrated. Walcott simply dominated him. DISQUALIFY MURRAY FOR NOT FIGHTING Baltimore, Nov. 13 —Lee Q. Murray, the Norwalk, Conn., battler who had won 11 straight fights in Baltimore rings, was disqualified for stalling in the ninth round of his scheduled 10-round bout at the Coliseum last night with Jersey Joe Walcott. Walcott, 1B9, Camden, N. J., was awarded the decision on the basis of having taken every round and the aggressor all the way. The Maryland State Boxing Commission announced it had summoned Murray and his manager to give an accounting next Monday. Meanwhile, Murray's share of the purse was held up. After the main event, Referee Eddie Leonard gave this explanation: "It was an unusual decision, but if the match had been declared no contest Walcott, who tried to make a fight of it. would have been penalized along with Murray. Walcott was named the winner because he tried."
Thanks for this thread. I'm not very 'up' on my Heavyweights but it seems an interesting bout nonetheless.
No, I have no insight to this fight, but having seen Joe Walcott flatten hard punching Tommy Gomez ,MSG 1946, I have little doubt that Jersey Joe was the best heavyweight excluding the aging Joe Louis.. Lee Q Murray would tease you, much like a later David Tua, but never would live up to expectations...Joe Walcott was a late bloomer it seems...b.b.