Who was better Jersey Joe Walcott or Ezzard Charles?

Question

Both men fought each other 4 times each winning 2 fights between them. So who was better

Answer 1

pound for pound ? charles, as he wasn't a fully fledged heavyweight, he was a light heavy, who beat all time great archie moore 3 times. he also gave rocky marciano 2 tough battles.

as heavyweights? they're about even.

Answer 2

I would have to go with Jersey Joe Walcott, although they are both all-time greats.  I pick Jersey Joe because after he lost two title challenges to Joe Louis (in the first he was robbed) and then lost two more to Ezzard Charles, he never gave up and on his fifth try he became the oldest heavyweight champ at the time.  He was 37, which back then was considered older than it is today.  The left hook that he caught Charles with was one of the best knockouts in heavyweight history- look at the way his neck twists when Walcott catches him with the punch.  And to prove that the knockout was no fluke, he came back and defended the title against Charles and won their fourth fight by unanimous decision, and when he fought Marciano he was winning on points but in the 13th round he got caught with Marciano's "Suzy Q" and that was it.  Additionally, the way that Jersey Joe influenced future fighters with his style was amazing-  Muhammad Ali's "Ali shuffle" was really originated by Walcott and many fighters today imitate the way he moved his shoulders and feet to confuse his opponents.  Bernard Hopkins is a good example- after many of his fights he says things like "I used the old Jersey Joe on him tonight."  They were both great and if somebody were to say they thought Charles was better, I would have no beef with them, but I personally think Jersey Joe was better for what he was able to do at the late stage of his career and for influencing future generations the way he did.

Answer 3

Thumbs up to Mark he nailed this question right on the head.

Both are great fighters who don't get the respect they deserve but i believe Walcott was slightly better than Charles.

Answer 4

after 15 rds of slugging i would say its a draw.

Answer 5

Jersey Joe beat Joe Louis but was robbed of the decision. He was better tha Ezzard Charles.