16.02.2022
Having won the world title in an epic struggle over 13 rounds, Rocky Marciano agreed to meet the man he had usurped in his title defence. In the first match the former champion was conclusive ahead on everyone’s score cards until the fateful thirteenth round. Walcott had not only out-boxed his opponent, but even knocked him down in the opening round. In round 13 Marciano charged in with a renewed focus and a moment’s hesitation whereby Jersey Joe had become bothered by his opponent’s left hook lost him a one-punch shoot out. His counter punch never left its starting position as Marciano landed a devastating short right, knocking him clean out.
This time, although time had allowed for Walcott’s body to heal, it was clear from the beginning of the fight that Marciano had already won the psychological war. The fight was worth watching in order to see how even the most hardened and experienced of fighters can be shaken by traumatic events, ultimately affecting their game. Likewise, Marciano’s hard-earned confidence this time around proved to be the deciding factor.
Despite many boxing journalists being uncertain about Marciano, a very small heavyweight fighter, the odds were 16 to five in his favour. However, given the huge struggle of the previous match, anticipation was high for the rematch.
For the opening two minute of round one, Jersey Joe circled off the back-foot and Rocky pressed forward. It was familiar territory for both, but neither man really landed any clean shots. Walcott was visibly wary and when he did commit to jab, Marciano took his cue and charged in resulting in a clinch. Here Walcott tried to get in his close-range punches but to little effect. Here and there Marciano attempted flourishes but was immediately tied up. Finally, Walcott set up a feint with a jab and went to throw his right. However, Marciano flew in with his own left hook and combined it with a devastating uppercut sending the challenger to the floor.
Walcott had been served many injustices throughout his fight career, which we have covered in these lessons. However, this wasn’t one of those moments. The film footage present a clear picture of a beaten man sat on the canvas, although unhurt clearly undecided about continuing. He rose to his feet as the referee counted 10 waving the fight off and declaring Marciano the champion. Walcott stamped his feet and made gestures of indignation, claiming he had been a victim of a fast count. His coach clearly told people at ringside that Walcott was up at nine. Marciano won via first round knockout and retained his world title.
Jersey Joe Walcott would retire from boxing permanently this time. Like many boxers, he first tried his hand at showbusiness and got acting roles in films and TV shows. He starred with Humphrey Bogart and Max Baer in “The Harder the Fall” in 1963. Also like many his fellow retired boxers; he tried his hand at professional wrestling for a brief period. We will also see Walcott in the ring again in the controversial world championship rematch between Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali, where he refereed. This particular incident, which we will cover in detail, cost him a future job in this department.
He became involved in politics losing his first attempt to become sheriff of Camden County, New Jersey, his hometown in 1968, but won it in 1971. He was the first African American to be elected to this role. Walcott was also director of Community Relations in Camden County in 1968 and from 1975 to his mandatory retirement in 1984, he was the chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. On 12th April 1981 he was ringside at the WBA lightweight title fight between Hilmer Kenty and Sean O'Grady when the news reached him about the death of his old rival, Joe Louis. Walcott was recorded to have been speechless and almost on the verge of tears.
Walcott devoted most of his retirement days to directing special projects for the New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs, focusing on aiding children with physical and mental disabilities.
He died aged 80 in 1994 at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, N.J., where he lived due to complications through diabetes.
Jersey Joe Walcott is an inductee of the Boxing Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
On 16th October 2021 an 8ft bronze statue of Jersey Joe Walcott was unveiled in Camden County amidst a parade and community celebration.
After winning the World Light Heavyweight Championship, Archie Moore fought six non-title bouts. He won five of them via stoppages and one unanimous decision over Cuban heavyweight champion, Nino Valdes. Joey Maxim had only fought once since losing the world title. He beat Danny Nardico via a unanimous decision.
The highlight footage we saw of this fight revealed a more active Maxim from the off. He did go early into some clinches where Moore pummelled him, but also chose to box from the outside scoring with jabs. This was short-lived as he sought to spoil Moore’s coming forward. More transitioned between his cross-arm guard to a more active forward guard and moved the fight to the mid-range, taking control of the fight. Maxim resorted to just holding on again.
We moved to round six where Moore tried to be more active but Maxim continued to spoil. I am still not sure why Maxim wanted to continue to use this similar strategy as he had lost a unanimous decision before and it was clear that Moore wasn’t going to be worn down without taking some significant punishment. Maxim lacked heavy-hitting firepower and always had done, relying more on his basic out-boxing skills and strong chin. The round ended with Moore clearly the most active and scoring with short right to Maxim’s jaw.
Round 10 saw more action from both fighters. Moore led the exchanges at long range and especially at mid-range. Maxim’s jabs were easily slipped or not delivered with much commitment. Moore did well to roll away from the long-range shots and move in. As always, there was plenty of clinch-work but these were more punctuated with strikes before moving to other ranges. Moore began to use a low guard in this round, his lead arm relaxed to feed in jabs. At one point Moore came in with a gazelle punch and then followed in with an overhand.
Round 15 was the most action-packed round we saw in the highlights. Archie Moore led the exchanges and Maxim, realising that he had little hope of winning the fight unless he got a stoppage, was noticeably less clinch-friendly. However, that didn’t stop him still trying to muffle Moore’s attacks. Again, I saw another gazelle punch care of the champion. Switching tactics, Moore came in like a swarmer now pressing for a knockout. As Maxim clinched, he tore into the body with lefts and rights. Archie Moore won via unanimous decision to retain his world title.
Since winning the World Welterweight title vacated by Sugar Ray Robinson in May 1951, Kid Gavilán successfully defended it five more times, as well as fought in 18 non-title bouts, before facing Carmen Basilio. He had lost none of his non-title bouts and had a single draw with Johnny Bratton, the man he had defeated for the title. His record, at this point, was 94–13–4. Carmen Basilio was born on 2nd April 1927 in Canastota, New York. He made his professional debut on 24th November 1948, knocking his first opponent, Jimmy Evans, out in the third round. He then won his next fight with a first round knockout followed by another knockout win and then a split decision over Rolly Johns. In 1949 he opened with two draws followed by four straight wins – two knockouts, one TKO and one win on points. He lost his fight on points to Connie Thies before knocking out Johnny Clemmons and Johnny Cunningham. Cunningham was a rematch on his first draw. After two more wins he lost to Cunningham in their third match via a split decision and then beat on points in their immediate fourth encounter. After five straight wins he went up against the powerful slugger Lew “The Sweetheart Swatter” Jenkins, the man who stopped Lou Ambers to win the World Lightweight Championship in 1940. Basilio took a majority decision in what was Jenkins’ 118th and penultimate fight. After losing a unanimous decision to Koballa, Basilio began fighting out west in New Orleans. He drew and then beat the Canadian, Gaby Ferland, stopped the Argentinian, Guillermo Gimenez twice. He then fought in New York again several times as well fights in Ohio and Pennsylvania, winning more than he lost. In 1952 he rose in the ranks and began taking on serious world class opponents such as Billy Graham. Graham is considered one the greatest fighters never to win a world a title, finishing his career with 102 wins and 15 losses. He beat Basilio in ’53, but Basilio gave him one of his losses ’53 followed by a draw. Prior to this Basilio beat the great Ike Williams at the beginning of the year. He went into his fight with Gavilan holding a record of 35-11-5. Basilio was 5 ft 6 1⁄2 inches tall with a 72-inch reach. He was known to be a pressure fighting swarmer with an iron chin and explosive combinations. In his 79 fight career he was only knocked out twice and that was in two fights above his weight category and very late in his career. The fight opened with Gavilán as the 3½ -to-1 favourite and closed out as the 5-to-1 favourite. The crowd was very much behind Basilio. Round 1 – Although known to be a swarmer, Basilio did not charge in the usual fashion expected of these stylists. The fight was kept to the outside for the most part and, if anything, Gavilan pressed the fight. The first round was fairly even. Round 2 – Signs of how serious matters would get in this round were revealed early on with an aggressive exchange that almost unbalance Gavilan and cut Basilio under his left eye. A few seconds later of aggressive circling where both fighters exchanged jabs, Basilio landed a left hook/right uppercut/left jab/left hook combination that sent Gavilan down. This was only the second time Gavilan had ever been floored in his career; Ike Williams did it first in 1948. For the next seven rounds Basilio remained on the offensive, pushing Gavilan back. The Cuban Hawk fought off the back foot and used his reach advantage to score points, but the judges had Basilio ahead. Then in round 10 the tables turned and it was Gavilan pushing back hard. He ripped into Basilio’s body with punches and continued to cause damage to his eye. The bolo punches didn’t appear to be landing as well as they usually did. By the end of round 14 Gavilan had moved in front, shutting Basilio’s eye and breaking his nose. Basilio regrouped in the final round in a last ditch attempt to win the fight, but it wasn’t enough. Kid Gavilan retained the welterweight title via a split decision. Referee George Walsh gave the widest score in favour of Gavilan and was pelted with rubbish by the audience, requiring a police escort off the premises. https://clubbchimera.com/services/
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