returning to the ring on january 15, 1907, walcott lost a fifteen-round decision on points to mike donavan in providence, rhode island. though winning only a few of his remaining bouts, walcott succeeded in twice beating george cole, a competent hard hitting middleweight from philadelphia, in december 1907 and january 1908. in fact, of their december meeting in philadelphia, one source noted that "with the exception of the third round when cole sent over some very hard punches," the "battle was walcott's all the way."