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Walker doesn't get much notice from the letter writers or from film restorers.
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He was a great fighter. He stood in the shadow of Greb in the 1920s, and after Dempsey retired boxing’s popularity slumped as the 1930s ushered in the depression era. People didn’t have money to pay fighters big purses and there was little money to go around for fans to pay and see them. Despite being passed his prime in the thirties he fought competitively with heavyweights and LHWs. He became an accomplished artist after he retired from the ring.Comment
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I wasn't "sneezing" at his resume.Originally posted by JAB5239 View Post
I am not challenging your assessment of his greatness. Damn it Jab, I was just trying to offer an answer to your inquiry. "Why we don't talk about him more"?
Trust me more!
So I repeat my a answer (suggestion):
Not too many 'big fights' - public perception wise. Loved by the fight crowd, but not a guy who got to fight 'outside in the ball park' too often.
It took Greb's name to get him the big payday; the fight 'outdoors in the ball park.' (Polo Grounds.)
The build-up, the excitement. The anticipation and chatter of the gamblers. The 'big fight. ' - He just didn't seem to have them.
What's the most common anecdote we hear/read from the old timers? It's not about a fight it's always about, the fight after the fight (in the bar.)
Anyway I was just trying to offer an answer, NOT challenge your assessment of his greatness.
Slugfester
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He really doesn’t get mentioned a lot for some reason.
Another great I feel is like that is Terry McGovern.
mrbig1
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Out of those ahead of him the best case he has is Willie Pep as opposed to Leonard’s, AliOriginally posted by JAB5239 View PostLast edited by IronDanHamza; 04-28-2023, 03:34 AM.Comment
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Until someone gets busy we will never know. Maybe he has faded because some of his major scalps were already bald. Britton's career had already spanned 16 years when Mickey fought him. He almost beat a lot of guys and was competitive with others. The Tiger Flowers fight sounds like a bad decision in Walker's favor. Seven times is a lot of times to get KO'd. He has other names on his scalp pole who were fresh--King Levinsky, Pete Latzo, Mike McTigue Paul Berlenbach, Tendler...Those are all good wins.
He was outrun by Loughran and Slapsie Maxie, bigger men. Schmeling TKO'd him. He was able to draw with Sharkey, a very light puncher. He fought powder-puff puncher Rosenbloom 3 times and beat him twice.
His own KO percentage was low even before he started fighting the big boys. Almost all those he KO'd are still unknown without their own BoxRec or Wiki-pedia page. He had a chance to KO all the opponents in those 45 newspaper draws too, mostly nobodies, but couldn't. His KO percentage was 60/164, for a 36.5% score. I don't think he ever KO'd a great fighter or anything close to it..
Not a hard puncher, but quite a few of them, with a fine left hook. Not super-highly regarded today for who he beat, but for those he was willing to fight. And of course Tiger Flowers never got his rematch. Mickey was willing to fight Greb but couldn't come close to beating him.
The public likes great punchers, so it probably does not surprise me he is not an idol.Last edited by Slugfester; 04-28-2023, 05:16 AM.
Willow The Wisp
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Why did you take my response as if it was an attack on you? I never said you "sneezed" at his resume. My point was and still is, I don't see him talked about much today given his accomplishments from welter to heavyweight, that's all. When I said his resume wasn't in Grebs league (not many are) I was just trying to say he still has a stellar resume worthy of discussion, especially considering all the weight classes he competed in at the top level which is more than most all other p4p greats.Originally posted by Willie Pep 229 View PostComment
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The toy Bulldog. All-time great fighter. His greatness is lost in history like Joe Gans, Terry McGovern and one of my favorite Carmen Basitio.Comment
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