Rocky Graziano

[elmersalsa]

I saw the movie "Somebody Up There Likes Me" acting Paul Newman. I liked the movie a lot. Graziano was one of the most courageous fighters ever. And boy, can he hit!!!

He could surely put you on queer street with his punch. I looked at his record and it is very impressive. Too bad that he was world middleweight king for only a year. But he beat great opposition during his career. I also read that he and the great Jake LaMotta were neighborhood and childhood friends.

I would like to see Zale vs Graziano I and II, but I understand that those fights are not on tape. Damn, I would love to see those fights too.

What are your thoughts of the great Rocky Graziano?

[klompton]

overrated and protected, that being said he was popular and exciting. a natural 154 pounder.

[Crease]

Graziano is an all-time great... I'm not sure if the word legend could be used to discribe him, but certainly he was entertaining.

[harrygreb]

actually it is thought that graziano never fought tony zale. it was almost certain that paul newman, who looked almost identical to rocky, took on zale after an agreement was signed by the two men that graziano would in turn play the lead role in "cool hand luke" as newman was allergic to eggs (to the extent that the hollywood legend may have died filming the famous egg scene in that movie).

whatever the truth of this story, away from boxing and the film-set the two remained great friends until newmans death in a japanese prison camp in 1944.

[My2Sense]

actually it is thought that graziano never fought tony zale. it was almost certain that paul newman, who looked almost identical to rocky, took on zale after an agreement was signed by the two men that graziano would in turn play the lead role in "cool hand luke" as newman was allergic to eggs (to the extent that the hollywood legend may have died filming the famous egg scene in that movie).

whatever the truth of this story, away from boxing and the film-set the two remained great friends until newmans death in a japanese prison camp in 1944.

Easily the most bizarre post on this forum ever.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Try familiarising yourself with some of Evander's handiwork before making that judgement, My2

[harrygreb]

glad you enjoyed it - i enjoyed writing it

[Ambling Alp]

It's interesting how much Graziano's reputation has declined. Really, up until the at least the mid 1990's when people talked about great middleweights,his name came up. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in only the 2nd year that it was open; before many other fighters who also been long retired. Joey Giardello, for example was a better fighter and didn't get into the Hall of Fame until two years after Graziano.

Maybe Graziano was overrated for a long time; if you take out the win over Zale his career doesn't seem that impressive.

[harrygreb]

yeah, but we loved him. always worth watching, always action and always tried to bust his opponents brains in. one more point, the selection commitee for the HOF was originally chaired by a Mr P Newman.

[enrique]

Graziano was not overprotected. Look at his record.

He had a great right hand, guts and a great personality.

To me he was one of the greats - not on the level of Sugar Ray Robinson or Greb- but certainly a quality champion.

[harrygreb]

well it seems somebody up there did like him because in his later years he was a pretty well off guy. he deserved it. not a great boxer, but he deserved it.

[slakka]

Enrique I'm surprised, Eddie Futch among others had a lot 2 say about Rocky being protected.

[enrique]

No, I don't think he was overprotected.

He fought Zale, Harold Green, Billy Arnold, Charlie Fusari, Tony Janiro, Sugar Ray Robinson and most of them more than once.

Maybe by the standards of his era he was overprotected but by today's standards certainly not.

[klompton]

Rocky Graziano was one of the best middleweights fighting in the welterweight division...

[slakka]

Enrique, remember Harold Green "I took a dive vs Rocky" in Ring Mag 12/15 yrs ago?
His title shot came easy.

[enrique]

Actually I was not aware of the Harold Green affair.

[slakka]

Cover Page Admin CenterSept 28 - Rocky Graziano KOs Harold Green, three rounds, New York. Many years later Green will claim that he was forced to take a dive. ...
http://www.BS.com/modules.php? ... view&id=61 - 33k - Cached - Similar pages

Picked up this little blurb online.

[klompton]

I have the film of the fight. It was definately a weird ending.