Has anyone here ever met Jersey Joe?
Has anyone here ever met Jersey Joe?
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Last edited by Tantum on 11 Sep 2012, 21:42, edited 1 time in total.
alas,tantum...one of my great regrets is in never having met Jersey Joe Walcott. Talked to people in the game who did, though, and no one had a bad word to say about him.
He was deeply saddened by the long cruel disease that took Ezzard Charles life, and I heard when he learned of Joe Louis' death he took it very hard.
A most remarkable man...and we'll never know what his record would have been if he had been able to get fights durung the earlier days of his career.
Abe Simon, who gave Joe Louis hell and traded big punches with him said that Walcott, whom he knocked out, hit him harder than anyone else ever did.
Now, like you, I'll sit back and hope someone comes through with some personal stories.
I could hedge and say I was at an event at which he appeared and spoke, but as far as actually meeting him....no.
He was deeply saddened by the long cruel disease that took Ezzard Charles life, and I heard when he learned of Joe Louis' death he took it very hard.
A most remarkable man...and we'll never know what his record would have been if he had been able to get fights durung the earlier days of his career.
Abe Simon, who gave Joe Louis hell and traded big punches with him said that Walcott, whom he knocked out, hit him harder than anyone else ever did.
Now, like you, I'll sit back and hope someone comes through with some personal stories.
I could hedge and say I was at an event at which he appeared and spoke, but as far as actually meeting him....no.
Terrific fighter. People overloook Jersey Joe's knockout of Ezzard Charles when they discuss the great knockouts - but what a left hook Jersey Joe nailed Ezzard with that night!
And what an upset! I have read that Nat Fleischer (famous editor of Ring magazine of course) was holidaying in Europe when the fight took place, and read the result in a local paper. He immediately phoned the paper to tell them they had got the result the wrong way round.
And what an upset! I have read that Nat Fleischer (famous editor of Ring magazine of course) was holidaying in Europe when the fight took place, and read the result in a local paper. He immediately phoned the paper to tell them they had got the result the wrong way round.
another human interest story. I remember watching on tv the long long line of people waiting to view John Kennedy's body to pay their respects. I spotted Walcott in line...way back...and in a little while the tv commentator recognized him. He found out that someone in charge saw him right away and told him he didn't have to stand in line...he could come up with the VIPS. Walcott declined, said Kennedy was a president "who wanted to help the average person.....like me."
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Joe Richmond
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 43
- Joined: 25 Feb 2003, 16:58
Chance Meetings . . .
Your note quickly reminded me of my chance meeting in spring of 1981 when I visited men's room in Maxim Hotel, Las Vegas, and standing there next to me was Jersey Joe. We exchanged pleasantries, then hustled back to the main ballroom where they had a big party in progress as part of the hullabaloo for the Holmes-Cooney fight. Walcott impressed me as being a very humble, down-to-earth guy. Unfortunately, because of work, I missed the big fight--even worse--I soon was transferred and never collected some 400 "cimolians" I wagered on Holmes with fellow workers.
someone studied the film of marciano/walcott I and was able to determine that the picture of walcott's face distorted was NOT from the kayo blow later. saw on tv ..a long time ago...this clip...and the series of still photos of the distortion picture it looked as if that was correct.
if so...he sure took one hell of a shot and didn't go down.
if so...he sure took one hell of a shot and didn't go down.