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I remember seeing an interview eight after his win over Archie Moore fight when he was asked if it really was his last fight... Marciano own words where along the lines of...."if i'm struggling against guys like this its time to call it a day"
he knew he was done and its prob refreshing to see it happen.... when you look at the likes of Roy Jones and Ali for that matter.
I read somewhere that real reason Marciano retired was because of all the trauma to his face/nose/head and the fact that he suffered from severe back pains in his last few fights. I also heard that he didn't want to continue giving a big chunk of his purses to his manager Al Weill, reported to be as much as 50%.Quote:
Originally Posted by Saddo
Marciano was a great champion, who defeated everyone they put in front of him, most by KO. When all is said and done, whether or not Rocky would have been able to hang with bigger, stronger, Heavyweights, like Liston, Ali, Holmes, or Tyson, remains to be seen, and really makes little difference.
makes sense mate he did take a shitload of punishment in his time.... there is that other old argument of him losing a few fights when he started out but they were never recorded for some reason, can't remember the reason behind it or if its even true :-\Quote:
Originally Posted by Mars_axI read somewhere that real reason Marciano retired was because of all the trauma to his face/nose/head and the fact that he suffered from severe back pains in his last few fights. I also heard that he didn't want to continue giving a big chunk of his purses to his manager Al Weill, reported to be as much as 50%.Quote:
Originally Posted by Saddo
Marciano was a great champion, who defeated everyone they put in front of him, most by KO. When all is said and done, whether or not Rocky would have been able to hang with bigger, stronger, Heavyweights, like Liston, Ali, Holmes, or Tyson, remains to be seen, and really makes little difference.
it would make sense as his amateur career was piss poor if the copy I have is anything to go by... it was given to me about 7 years ago while it was still being researched.
i can upload it if anyone is interested.
I think what defines a fighter as great is how he trains for a great performance and how many times he comes forth to do it again and the quality of his opponent. How good was his opposition? Enough to have many great moments where his performance is recognized as great. After all you are only as good as your last fight until you are not able to do it any more. Sadly enough age, eroding of skills and finally desire cause them and us to remember the good performances. Ali was once called,"A thinking man's fighter." That also made him great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by saddomakes sense mate he did take a shitload of punishment in his time.... There is that other old argument of him losing a few fights when he started out but they were never recorded for some reason, can't remember the reason behind it or if its even true :-\Quote:
Originally Posted by mars_axi read somewhere that real reason marciano retired was because of all the trauma to his face/nose/head and the fact that he suffered from severe back pains in his last few fights. I also heard that he didn't want to continue giving a big chunk of his purses to his manager al weill, reported to be as much as 50%.Quote:
Originally Posted by saddo
Marciano was a great champion, who defeated everyone they put in front of him, most by ko. When all is said and done, whether or not rocky would have been able to hang with bigger, stronger, heavyweights, like liston, ali, holmes, or tyson, remains to be seen, and really makes little difference.
it would make sense as his amateur career was piss poor if the copy i have is anything to go by... It was given to me about 7 years ago while it was still being researched.
I can upload it if anyone is interested.
saddo please upload!! Would love to see it ;)
OK mate have hunted them out... basically he turned pro in 1947 but still carried on fighting as an amateur in 1948 under the name of Roco Marchegiano (think that was his real name) trying to win the golden gloves and got beat by Coley Wallace and that must be the loss everyone talks about.
I have also attached the article on it for you ;)
Saddo dont know where you dug that up, that is a classic and rare piece of boxing history. IN all the years of my Marciano research I have never come across anything so poignantly and strikingly informative as this. Wonderful job there to find it and post it here. This certainly fills in many, many of the missing months of the Portland, Oregon boxrec on him, as well as shine the light on alot of the Rhode Island bouts as well. :)
Superb. Thank you! :)
cheers mate I got it from a historian about 7 years ago... and its been on my hard drive ever since as i knew it was quite rare ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust
glad you liked it :)
I watched a (surprisingly good) 1999 made for TV movie "Rocky Marciano" staring Jon Favreau who did a good job playing Marciano, if you get a chance, rent the movie and check it out.
Rocky Marciano (TV 1999) - IMDb
In the movie, it shows Marciano turning pro after just a few amateur fights, it's absolutely amazing how far he was able to go as a pro, with so little training, and so few amateur fights. He basically did it all with guts and determination.
I will concede that Ali was the greatest Heavyweight of all time. However, my all time GOAT award has to go to Sugar Ray Robinson. The man was way ahead of his time.
Here's what I posted on another web site a while ago.
Rocky's Amateur Bouts:
1946
1. April 15, 1946 Henry Lester L-DQ3
_______________________________
(AAU Championship Tournament
Portland, Oregon August, 1946)
2. August 23, Frederic L. Ross KO 1
3. August 23, Richard Jarvis KO 1
4. August 23, Joe DeAngelis L 3
1947
(Massachusetts State Amateur Heavyweight Championship, Boston, January, 1947)
5. January 17, Jim Connolly KO1
6. Jan 17, Bob Girard L3
1948
(Massachusetts/Rhode Island Golden Gloves Tournament
Lowell, Massachusetts January 1948)
7. Jan 26, Joe Sidlaskis KO1
8. Charlie Mortimer KO 3
(Rocky wins Ma-RI Golden Gloves Tournament)
(New England Tournament of Champions, Feb 1948)
9. George McInnis TKO1
(Rocky wins New England Tournament of Champions)
(Golden Gloves All-East Coast Championships
New York, New York March 1948)
10. March 1, Coley Wallace L 3
(AAU Olympic tryouts in Boston, 1948, March)
11. Fred Fischera KO
12. George McGinnis W 3
(Rocky wins AAU Heavyweight Championship)