Difficult one to call... Walcott was/is a very underrated fighter.....a masterful boxer at his very best.....but only really got the opportunity to exhibit his best years against another excellent fighter....ezzard charles...by the time Marciano got round to him, Walcott had undoubtedly jaded, but still gave Marciano somewhat of a boxing lesson for 12 rounds, before being taken out by the Suzie Q in the 13th. Its always difficult to compare fighters from different eras, and this match up would be intriguing, as Tunney was also a wonderful boxer.....however, I think that Tunney is, like Walcott, much more of a mythical character that people appreciate, in the sense that the big fights of his career, against Jack Dempsey (x2), and Harry Greb (x4), are difficult to scrutinise. Dempsey had ruled the division for quite some time, and had slipped into a hollywood glamour lifestyle, and was, quite definitely, slipping towards the end of his career. the legendary Greb, on the other hand, giving up a huge amount in natural weight, and all round size, was able to defeat Tunney once, with the other fights also being bitterly contested, although Greb was very much on the slide himself, following their first fight, which Greb won unanimously. Why talk about all these factors though? Well it is difficult to call this one, based on styles, as both were great technical fighters, and boxed beautifully...... BUT....with this hypothetical fight taking place undoubtedly at heavyweight, I feel personally that a peak Walcott would more than likely take it, by a late TKO, or UD. Walcott was a natural heavyweight, and Tunney was not....and although Tunney was able to tame the much deteriorated Jack Dempsey, he would find a peak Jersey Joe, far too difficult to master, with all the physical advantages going into the fight, and perhaps arguably all round better boxing ability....and also having faced his match, during the peak of his career, against Ezzard Charles....legitimate adversity, being something Tunney never really faced at his peak, aside from his wins against Dempsey, and Greb, as described above. Walcott it is.
Has to be tunney, he'd jab him silly all night, not sure if he could knock him out though, light-heavyweight power in a very small heavyweight boxer. Walcott was a big heavy for his day, weighing in at about 200-210lbs. And when he was in condition, he was strong, strong as an ox. And I don't really want to hear that tunney knocked dempsey down so he could do one on walcott, dempsey was tough but a lil flaky up top sometimes and walcott only really ever was legitemitly knocked out once, by rocky, the others coming when he was underfed and malnourished by his an his familys poverty stricken situation. All that said, tunney would outbox him, maybe facing a few sticky spots before having a unanimous in his favour. Thoughts?
I disagree that Tunney would jab Walcott silly.. Walcott was one of the finest technicians there was at his peak....and was one avoided mofo, before finally taking the title against Ezzard Charles.....he gave Joe Louis an extremely tough fight, losing a bitterly argued split decision....and im talking about a Joe Louis in 1947, and not 1951 when Marciano got to him.....
