Muhammed Ali - The Greatest

[Mars_ax]

[QUOTE=RohanKnight;1019867][QUOTE=Mars_ax;1019866]

and from whom Rocky Marciano had run shitscared from.

I don't think Marciano was ever afraid to fight anybody, including Sonny Liston, that's insulting. I do believe however that had this fight happened, Liston would have knocked Marciano out, he was too big, and too powerful for the much smaller Rocky.

well yes, shitscared is an unfair term for such a brave man, I concede that was wrong to say. As you say and everyone seems to agree with apart from BB above, its more that Rocky knew his limitations as a fighter... and I was not happy that he then went on to say he could whup Ali when he knew he couldnt even whup Liston.


I would expect a gracious man like Marciano to admit to his limitations, not lie about them, but that might be too much too ask from a lot of ex champs. Thats why I am glad that Ali didtn fall into the trap Marciano did and was down to earth when asked about him versus Marciano (see BrocktonBusterMathis's thread for the video), he showed he wasnt full of shit.

I'm sure Rocky thought he could defeat every Heavyweight who ever lived, including Liston and Ali, so I don't get what you believe he's "lying" about.

well he steered clear of Patterson and Liston, as soon as Ingemar Johannson had lost the title, he stopped his comeback and reretired for good. SO what he said about Ali, and what he actually did are polar opposites.

If Marciano was officially retired, how the fuck is he steering clear of Patterson and Liston? Aside from what i'm hearing from you, i've never heard this bullshit, or that he stopped a comeback rather than fight Liston. Rocky feared no man, he retired, and stayed retired for reasons that had fuck all to do with Patterson, Liston, Ali, et al, end of story.

[Saddo]

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.

[Mars_ax]

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%.

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.

[Saddo]

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%.

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

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.

[brocktonblockbust]

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%.

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

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

[Saddo]

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

[brocktonblockbust]

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!