Would guys like Walcott have cleaner records with modern matchmaking?

I dont see how guys who fought whenever they were able to get out of bed could possibly not have cleaner records if they fought twice a year, and against easier competition

 

Ithin

There is a definite case for thinking so,imo.

 

Beyond a shadow of a doubt.

 

Definitely, but they wouldn't have the character or steel they had to compete in the hard rough fights. Coddling a fighter early on does them no favour s. The ones that can take a loss early on and come back appeal more to me.

 

I seriously question whether Walcott would have ended up with his distinctive style today.

I think that his style was a product of his circumstances.

I don't think that a modern trainer moulding him as raw materials, would have seen that style as the obvious route to go down.

Loughran and Farr might well have ended up resembling their actual forms.

 

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Absolutely.

 

Of course, it's not even questionable.

 

If you look at Farr it's quite extraordinary his record of 34 losses doesn't look too good, but 16 of those losses came before he was twenty! He started his career at age thirteen!
Then fighting as a middleweight and light heavyweight he had big weight problems obviously he was still physically developing.
It does make you wonder how these fighters would fare brought through in today's environment.
Having said that the experience they gained by being in the ring so often possibly wouldn't be there.

 

I've often thought this myself. Same with Archie Moore as well.

The way I see it, in the latter part of his career it's clear to see he's a level above the guys he's previously lost to.

Although particularly in that era it's more than just match making, its financial security and opportunities to train with the right people.

 

Anyone with losses would have a cleaner record with different matchmaking.

The fact that we're talking about Walcott indicates he was one of the lucky ones.

Truth is, there were guys out there then, and NOW too, who had the ability to be champions but were mismanaged and matched badly, for whatever reason.
And I doubt we would even recognize their names.

 

I have often felt that Elmer Ray had the same career issues as Walcott, and that they both got their opportunity late due to the war.

It might be that what separated them, was that Walcott had a style suited to longevity, and Ray didn't.

 

I dont think matchmaking is the story here.
Walcott worked to support his large family and took so many fights without training and without food to eat often on very little notice.