What were Nat Fleischer's pick on these fights?

Fleischer picked Louis to knockout charles I think I read in a book

Im not sure about marciano-walcott I i believe fleischer picked marciano, but on a side note I have newspaper articles where fleischer stated he overhwhelmingly thought Rex Layne would be the next young heavyweight champion to take over, he thought he had all the tools to become champion, he thought more of layne than he did marciano. Until marciano beat the hell out of layne.

Johnson vs Willard- he picked jack johnson

 

I beleive many thought Layne was at least on a par ,or better than Marciano at that stage in their careers,that is until Rocky sheared Laynes teeth off at the gums,with that ko punch.

 

Nat had a lean towards his boyhood Idols, he also was responsible for the highest rating of Langford and Johnson, making the boxing world put these guys on a pedistall, However I tend to lean towards the fighters of the 15 rd limit peaking in the 40's 50's 60's and 70's a lull in the 80's and 90's despite a few superstars and NOW a New era of highly experience amauter backround professionals and eastern europeon fighter change the scene but bring a new look to the higher weight classes

 

Fleischer definitely picked Marciano over Walcott. He had this to say about the upcoming Walcott fight in his report on Marciano's knockout of Matthews--Ring Magazine October, 1952, page 45:

"He'll meet a seasoned veteran who is clever and can sock with as much punishing power when he lands full force as does Marciano.

"Walcott will be the hardest nut Rocky has been asked to crack and he'll have to carry into the ring with him more than lethal power in those iron fists of his.

"But it's a cinch Rocky will have it. He has the ideal temperament for a fighter. He loves the game and is a willing pupil. His jaw can take a punch and his body is so built that he can absorb heavy battering.

"So, it's meet the next champion, Rocky Marciano, of Brockton, Mass."

 

I think the comparision with Dempsey was more because Layne was the first major heavyweight contender to come out of the mountain west since Dempsey. I don't know if anyone thought their styles that close.

Whatever Dempsey thought of Marciano, Jack Kearns was high on him from the beginning.

Kearns after the Matthews fight-Ring, October, 1952, page 4, quoted by Nat Fleischer.

"This guy Marciano is a throwback to Jack Dempsey. He hits hard with either hand, comes in harder and tougher when hurt, is no easy target, and is the best puncher since Jack."

Later, after the Walcott fight, Kearns had this to say--Ring, December, 1952 page 11, quoted by Dan Daniel.

"'Marciano hits harder than Jack Dempsey did,' said Jack Kearns, Dempsey's old manager, after Marciano had stopped Walcott.
"Kearns should know, and he hardly has any incentive to exaggerate in favor of the new champion.
"As a matter of fact and record, Doc predicted Rocky's rise to the title after the Layne fight, and made it all the more emphatic the day after Marciano had stopped Joe Louis."

 

I was under the impression that Fleischer thought Marciano was a primitive, unskilled fighter who had nothing going for him except for his big punch.