Frazier not quite as explosive as Louis or Marciano but perhaps cuts the ring better. At least better than Louis.

Walcott with the feints, the head movement and the footwork to give anyone trouble. Can he survive the middle rounds after Frazier warms up? Does he drop Frazier early with one of those sneaky potshots?

Does Frazier`s consistant bodyattack wear Walcott down? Affect his movement?

This is a war. Walcott is crafty and skilled enough to take the first handful of rounds, but once Frazier gets going, I don't think Walcott would have enough to keep Frazier off of him. He'll be fighting his ass off, but Frazier will have Walcott's back to the ropes for the majority of the fight and probably gets himself a late, late stoppage or competitive UD. Still, Frazier's face is gonna get a beating.

Ten or twelve rounds, & Walcott's odds are pretty short. He was excellent at nullifying smaller, short-armed aggressors, the most famous case-in-point being his first battle with a prime Marciano (at a time when Walcott's best years were plainly behind him).

I think he'd learn Frazier's assault pretty snappily (Walcott was a quick study --- many of his losses can be attributed to a combination of poor nutrition & little prep time, especially a number of his early & mid-career defeats), but I do question his chances over fifteen. He was artful & precise, without sacrificing quickness, & he defended his chin & body with skill & daring --- he was brave when he needed to be, going on the assault, & pensive when it was required, feinting, switching stance & tying up his adversary.

I do see Frazier taking many rounds to deal with that. I know he wasn't at his best this night, but I think this could look a bit like Ali-Frazier II. A taller, faster fighter, with greater range & a bag full of tricks tying up & frustrating his smaller opponent. Jab, cross, left hook, &, as Frazier closes, hang on for dear life.

All that said, Walcott's stand-out weaknesses were occasional lapses in concentration of alarming magnitude, a shaky chin, & less-than-stellar recuperative powers. All these are pretty horrible flaws to carry into the ring against a foe who, as we all know, will just never stop throwing punches. Hard punches. These shots turn ribs into soup, &, over fifteen championship rounds, I question whether Walcott can weather the assault.

I think a ten or twelve-rounder would be very close, perhaps with a marginal edge to Walcott. Fifteen, & I doubt Jersey Joe hears the final bell against Smokin' Joe. In terms of the scorecards, Frazier would be more competitive with a peak Walcott than Marciano initially was with an aged one.

Walcott would do a number on Frazier for the first 4 or 5 rounds. His footwork, his feints his sneaky hook would rattle Joe and keep him turning.

Joe would have trouble catching up to him until he started to warm up and get into that bobbing and weaving rythem. By the mid rounds Frazier would start to land the occasional hook to the head and dig wicked bodyshots with both hands.

When the 10th rolls around Frazier looks fresh while Walcott is starting to wilt.

Frazier TKO 11.