Eps 18: Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott
The podcast discusses the historic boxing match between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952. The fight was held in Philadelphia and was a rematch of their previous bout, in which Marciano had won by knockout. Despite being the reigning heavyweight champion, Walcott was considered the underdog in the fight. However, he dominated the early rounds and seemed to be on track to win. In the 13th round, Marciano landed a powerful right hand that knocked Walcott out and secured his victory. The podcast delves into the strategies and techniques used by both fighters during the match, giving context to the historic event.
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Host
Carter Sutton
Podcast Content
On the night of September 23, 1952, history was made when the reigning heavyweight champion at the time, Jersey Joe Walcott, defended his title against Rocky Marciano at the Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia. Walcott, who was 38 years old at the time, was the underdog going into the fight against the younger and undefeated Marciano who had already won 42 fights and had a knockout record of 38.
The odds were against Walcott, but he was determined to defend his title and prove his critics wrong. The fight started off slow with both fighters trying to feel each other out. However, in the 13th round, Walcott landed a left-hand punch on Marciano that sent him crashing to the canvas. It looked as though Walcott was going to retain his title, but Marciano defied the odds and got back up at the count of nine.
From that moment on, Marciano took control of the fight and dominated Walcott with his powerful punches. In the very next round, Marciano delivered a powerful right-hand punch that knocked Walcott out cold. Marciano had won the world heavyweight title, and in doing so, became the first undefeated champion since Rocky's all-time boxing hero, Joe Louis.
The fight was a testament to Marciano's fighting spirit and determination. Despite being knocked down, he refused to give up and fought until he emerged victorious. In many ways, the fight was also a testament to Walcott's skill and experience. He had been in the boxing ring for over two decades and had fought some of the greatest boxers of his era, including the likes of Ezzard Charles and Joe Louis.
In the end, however, it was Marciano who emerged the victor, and his win over Walcott cemented his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Marciano went on to defend his title six more times before retiring undefeated with a record of 49-0.
The fight also marked the end of Walcott's career, but he remained in the boxing world as a trainer and mentor to up-and-coming fighters. He was eventually inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, alongside Marciano.
In conclusion, the fight between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott was one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing. It was a battle of two fighters who both had something to prove, and in the end, it was Marciano who emerged victorious. The fight was a testament to the fighting spirit and determination of both fighters and cemented their legacies as two of the greatest fighters of all time.