Were all Marciano's fights on the level

[Bill Paxtom]

Funny Business

Monday ~ March 21, 1949

Rhode Island Auditorium ~ Rhode Island

Rocky Marciano ~ 12-0-0 {12 KO's} ~ 182 lbs.
vs.
Johnny Pretzie ~ 9-5-0 {7 KO's} ~ 195 lbs.

Johnny Pretzie, a 29 year-old Boston-based Heavyweight was a 'tough and rugged'
guy who could rumble.

The Fight Bill stated that his record was 16-4-0 {13 KO's}.

Rocky, who had not fought in 3-Months, was reportedly having a rough time in
Training-Sessions.

Rocky had opened as a {4-1} Betting-Favorite.

Johnny Pretzie had only been stopped 'once' in his career, and that was in the 10th
Round of a bout that he was winning by a wide-margin, until he got caught
by a 'Lucky Punch'.

Before 'fight chatter' had Johnny as a 'Live Opponent' who could beat Rocky.

Money was 'dumped' on Johnny, and the Odds dropped down to {2-1} for Rocky.

Suddenly out of nowhere, 2-Days before the Bout, the Odds went from {2-1} for
Rocky Marciano to {7-1}.

The 'street-chatter' was, that Johnny was planning a middle-round dive.