I have Charles at #17, Jersey Joe at #22.... Like in their series of fights little seperates them. It is just Charles is talked about a lot, indeed possible too much; while Walcott perhaps not enough. His story was arguable greater than Braddock's.
I would tend to rate Walcott higher because his overall body of work at heavyweight was deeper. He esentialy cleaned out the division to get a shot at Louis's title. I have no problem with anybody rating Charles higher though.
The lines between light heavy and heavy were blurred in the 1940's and 1950's. Head to head vs the field, I think Walcott is a little better because he could do more in the ring. Walcott had more size, defense, power, and very good countering / feint ability. Charles to me was a brawler type who would not do as well vs the bigger heavies that began to emerge from Liston to present because he liked to mix it up more so than box from the outside. Head to head, Walcott got the better of Charles in the series because he scored the only KO. However, if we are talking a resume of wins, I think Charles edges him. Charles was a more consistent of a fighter in his prime.
This is an extremely hard question and i go back and forth on it over time. I always rank them next to each other. They went 2-2 against each other (though Charles won the 4th according to some observers). Both gave Marciano a tough fight in their first attempt and an easy win in their second attempt. Both beat a lot of contenders of their era. Both did great against Louis. I think i'd rank them something like 11th/12th.
Walcotts victims rankings. This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected 1945 This content is protected 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 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 Joe Kahut 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 This content is protected 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 Joe Kahut Rusty Payne Pat Valentino Freddie Beshore 1949 Title Vacant This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Bruce Woodcock Lee Savold This content is protected Pat Valentino This content is protected Roland LaStarza 1950 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected Lee Savold This content is protected Clarence Henry Bob Baker Rex Layne This content is protected Jack Gardner This content is protected This content is protected 1951 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected This content is protected Clarence Henry Roland LaStarza Karel Sys This content is protected Cesar Brion This content is protected Bob Baker Johnny Williams 1952 This content is protected , Champion This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Bob Dunlop Clarence Henry Johnny Williams Roland LaStarza Heinz Neuhaus Karel Sys This content is protected
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Based on the above analysis I would say in general terms that Walcott did a more thourough job on the division of that era.
I'd rate Walcott higher, but not by much. Walcott is around #18 on my All-time list. Charles borderline Top 20, but not quite. :good
This is a really difficult one, Walcott was in his prime as q heavyweight and was one of the best of his era. He come up against 2 of the best heavies ever and did well against them, although Louis wasn't peak then. Charles was better p4p (in my opinion), one of the very best ever, but not in his prime at this weight, but still managed to do well at the higher weight, though he was never as effective there as at 175. If I have to pick I pick Charles, but it's so close. Like I said, even though not his best weight, he still did enough at heavy to get my nod here, and his p4p skills just outweigh other factors.
I regard Walcott higher as a heavyweight he beat more ranked more fighters there he cleaned up the division as a contender, although Charles did make more title defences so it is close but I gotta go with Walcott.
I give Walcott the edge because of the clean KO over Charles, the 4 KDs over Louis, the KD over Marciano but they are close to the top 10, 10 and 11 or so or 9 and 11
As Janitor pointed out, Walcott did a bit better in the HW division, so perhaps the nod should go to him. I think the two are very close, however - probably around 11 - 15.
Charles. He beat Walcott twice and, from what I hear, was robbed in their fourth fight. Walcott landed a good shot on Charles, but Charles had him in the skills department. Charles beat Louis convincingly, and he gave Marciano an excellent fight.
