Where do you rank Jersey Joe Walcott ?

I have him at 11 some may say thats high but he totally cleaned up the division before winning the title.

 

I think he's both underrated and overrated if that's possible.

 

I have walcott at # 12 Minateuro, I used to have him at # 10. IF you look at his all around talent on film and his impressive resume, he deserves the ranking.

 

Janitor often brings up why Louis/Walcott I was scored the way it was, and how the decision made perfect sense in that period.

So, in reality going 0-2 against Louis instead of having a career defining win over him...

 

Jersey Joe Walcotts run at the title in the late 40s is one of the great untold stories of heavyweight history. Louis was sucumbing to ring rust and becoming an increasingly inactive champion.

While this is happening a former trial horse suddenly starts cleaning out the top 10. Look at the rankings of the period.

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1944 Joe Louis*, Champion

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2. Tami Mauriello
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5. Gus Dorazio
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8. Turkey Thompson
9. Lee Savold
10. Buddy Scott

1945 Joe Louis*, Champion

1. Melio Bettina
2. Tami Mauriello
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7. Jack London
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9. Al Hart
10. Buddy Scott

1946 Joe Louis, Champion

1. Billy Conn
2. Tami Mauriello
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5. Bruce Woodcock
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7. Freddie Schott
8. Arturo Godoy
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1947 Joe Louis, Champion

1. Tami Mauriello
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4. Bruce Woodcock
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7. Melio Bettina
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9. Joe Kahut
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1948 Joe Louis, Champion

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4. Pat Comiskey
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9. Bruce Woodcock
10. Phil Muscato

1949 Joe Louis, Champion

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3. Lee Savold
4. Johnny Flynn
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7. Joe Kahut
8. Rusty Payne
9. Pat Valentino
10. Freddie Beshore

 

I see no highlights!

 

Wait, is my monitor broken, or did you edit that post.

 

Anyway, to play devils advocate...

Walcott was a 4-1 favorite against Rx Layne... And he lost.

The win over Maxim was unbelievably close, and he also lost a fight against Maxim.

In the Murray fight Murray was DQ'ed. "Murray was disqualified by the referee for not trying. Tacoma News Tribune".

Curtis Shepard had Walcott on his ass.

I can't fault the mans god given talent, he had a lot of it. BUT, I don't feel he was able to apply himself to perfecting it until he was too old, which slightly taints my ranking of him.

 

You see my point though.

Walcott basically beat everybody in the top 10 or the guy that beat them.

 

I have highlights of all 15 rounds of the fight, and Louis did not win that fight. he was floored twice and lost at least 9 of the 15 rounds, no one who was their at the fight thought louis won. Louis thought walcott won.

 

Okay, just saying. Janitor (Who's statements I take at face value) mentioned something that went against that.

 

I know he avenged some of his losses, but all of them?

 

Walcot beat Maxim TWICE

The lost to maxim is what New York Times reported the next day exact Quote " The Clevelander won a very unpopular decision here tonight".



Lee Q Murray was one of the best heavyweight contenders of that era and walcott beat him. You try to take away the Murray victory with that one little newspaper description that could mean anything . Do you take away lennox victory over henry akinwande?


Hatchetman Sheppard was one of the hardest hitting heavyweight contenders of ALL TIME, no shame in getting floored by him. Archie Moore claimed Sheppard hit harder than rocky marciano. Walcott knocked out sheppard btw.

Was bernard Hopkins not able to apply himself until he was too old??

its been proven in the mid 1940s walcott cleaned out his divison beating outstanding competition. He was only 31-33 years old then. NOT OLD.

 

Q, I'm not taking anything "away" from him.

Did you miss the devils advocate bit?

By the way, Shepard's chin was soft, so no suprise he knocked him out.