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Rocky Marciano on the Scorecards When He Beat Jersey Joe Walcott For The Title
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
When Rocky Marciano fought Jersey Joe Walcott for the world heavyweight title at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 23, 1952, Rocky weighed a cruiserweight 194 ½ pounds to Walcott’s 196 ½ pounds. Walcott was closer to being a true heavyweight than Rocky was, except Rocky hit harder than any heavyweight champion in history at the time. Walcott found out the hard way when Rocky knocked him out in the thirteenth round. He was this same logic which held ‘true’ when Rocky beat Muhammad Ali by thirteenth round knockout in the American version of the Computer fight between Ali and Rocky filmed in 1968.
The historical question overlooked by most experts was the story of the scorecards of the judges in the first bout between Rocky and Walcott. Judge Zach Clayton had it eight rounds to four rounds for Walcott going into round thirteen. Scoring by the rounds system, this meant other than by knockout Rocky could not win the fight. Judge Pete Tomasco had it seven rounds for Rocky, five for Walcott. Referee Charlie Daggert had it seven rounds for Rocky to four for Walcott. Translated, it means if the bout went the distance, Rocky would have won by 15 round split decision on the cards.
Walcott was ahead on only one scorecard going into round 13 with Rocky. The statements Rocky had already lost the first Walcott bout on the scorecards at the moment he knocked Walcott out were completely false. Rocky, in winning the thirteenth round, had the fight won on the scorecards. Rocky did not leave the bout to the judges, which-if you can do it-remains a wise philosophy in professional boxing today.
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