Tony Tucker vs Rocky Marciano

[HomicideHenry]

Vingo, in an honest evaluation of his career, was touted as being a prospect; whoever won that fight between Marciano/Vingo was going to break into the next step and be in the mix of the top fifteen period. He was (in a comparison to modern guys today) like Billy Zumbrun or Mo Harris, someone who was near the cusp but never got to live up to the potential cus Marciano almost killed him.

Was he really a big prospect? Lots of fighters are given the title "prospect" but end up being nowhere near as good as they are said to be. I'd be interested to see if rankings of Vingo are available at that time.

I tend to think his career gets somewhat exaggerated because he gave Marciano fits, Rocky even said it was the toughest fight of his entire career. Vingos record certainly doesn't suggest he was any great shakes.

As the historical records show, both Marciano and Vingo were the two most touted prospects on the Eastern seaboard in the heavyweight division. It was indeed considered a cross roads fight, someone was going to get in the heavyweight contender mix, the other would be left in the dust. Marciano had to defeat Vingo or else he was going to be considered just a slow, plodding, awkward, guy who started too late and was too small to be a heavyweight. Vingo had to defeat Marciano or else he had no business, because as stated before NOBODY really believed Marciano had what it took to be a good heavyweight. So it was a war, and both men fought with passion, and Vingo never recovered from the brutal beating; if I am not mistaken Mr. Vingo still has paralysis on his right or left side, since Marciano put him in a coma all those years ago. But yes, this was the make it or break it fight for both men; and of course, Marciano got the bigger fights after this with Roland LaStarza and Rex Layne which made him the top man in the world. So yes, by proxy Vingo was also a highly touted prospect.

[Controversial]

As the historical records show, both Marciano and Vingo were the two most touted prospects on the Eastern seaboard in the heavyweight division. It was indeed considered a cross roads fight, someone was going to get in the heavyweight contender mix, the other would be left in the dust. Marciano had to defeat Vingo or else he was going to be considered just a slow, plodding, awkward, guy who started too late and was too small to be a heavyweight. Vingo had to defeat Marciano or else he had no business, because as stated before NOBODY really believed Marciano had what it took to be a good heavyweight. So it was a war, and both men fought with passion, and Vingo never recovered from the brutal beating; if I am not mistaken Mr. Vingo still has paralysis on his right or left side, since Marciano put him in a coma all those years ago. But yes, this was the make it or break it fight for both men; and of course, Marciano got the bigger fights after this with Roland LaStarza and Rex Layne which made him the top man in the world. So yes, by proxy Vingo was also a highly touted prospect.

I hear what your saying but calling someone a prospect doesn't really mean anything. Surely the proof is in your results, Vingo had an very average record against very average fighters. Of course if he beat Marciano it would have propelled him in the division as Marciano was 24-0 (22 kos) but it never happened. If you have links to old rankings I'd be interested to see them.

As an example I remember years ago when I subscribed to Ring Magazine they used to have a piece every issue on the next hot prospect. One caught my eye, a heavyweight called 'Turbo' Terry Davis who had a string of first round wins and they were touting him as the next big thing in the heavyweight division. I made a point of checking his results out until he started to lose. Most people have probably never heard of him.

[misterpunch]

like me. i'll have a look at his card

[misterpunch]

the bad loss to golota was the last straw, i suppose. especially after the win over bey. what caught my eye were the two wins over a guy called lionel butler. butler was twice disqualified against davis, but i looked at butlers card and he must have been one of the dirtiest fighters ever! low blows litter his career. and a few blokes decided to get some in on him before he had a chance to land one!

dirty sod

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Butler was odd, he had a nice run on TNF for a minute. Completely wasted Tubbs. Then he went right back to wasting away. I think he had drug issues.

[Datsue]

I was picking Holyfield in 1990 and I won't be changing my mind anytime soon.

Mate I know we have our differences but you do know that anyone that acknowledges this basic universal truth is in my opinion a gentleman of taste & distinction & obviously a learned sort of fellow, despite contretemps...?

You do now.

[Rover]

Butler was odd, he had a nice run on TNF for a minute. Completely wasted Tubbs. Then he went right back to wasting away. I think he had drug issues.

Wasn't he in prison before his run?
He stopped Bonecrusher, too.
Then Lennox whooped his ass on HBO.

[Rover]

I was picking Holyfield in 1990 and I won't be changing my mind anytime soon.

Mate I know we have our differences but you do know that anyone that acknowledges this basic universal truth is in my opinion a gentleman of taste & distinction & obviously a learned sort of fellow, despite contretemps...?

You do now.

[HomicideHenry]

As the historical records show, both Marciano and Vingo were the two most touted prospects on the Eastern seaboard in the heavyweight division. It was indeed considered a cross roads fight, someone was going to get in the heavyweight contender mix, the other would be left in the dust. Marciano had to defeat Vingo or else he was going to be considered just a slow, plodding, awkward, guy who started too late and was too small to be a heavyweight. Vingo had to defeat Marciano or else he had no business, because as stated before NOBODY really believed Marciano had what it took to be a good heavyweight. So it was a war, and both men fought with passion, and Vingo never recovered from the brutal beating; if I am not mistaken Mr. Vingo still has paralysis on his right or left side, since Marciano put him in a coma all those years ago. But yes, this was the make it or break it fight for both men; and of course, Marciano got the bigger fights after this with Roland LaStarza and Rex Layne which made him the top man in the world. So yes, by proxy Vingo was also a highly touted prospect.

I hear what your saying but calling someone a prospect doesn't really mean anything. Surely the proof is in your results, Vingo had an very average record against very average fighters. Of course if he beat Marciano it would have propelled him in the division as Marciano was 24-0 (22 kos) but it never happened. If you have links to old rankings I'd be interested to see them.

As an example I remember years ago when I subscribed to Ring Magazine they used to have a piece every issue on the next hot prospect. One caught my eye, a heavyweight called 'Turbo' Terry Davis who had a string of first round wins and they were touting him as the next big thing in the heavyweight division. I made a point of checking his results out until he started to lose. Most people have probably never heard of him.

Problem with this, imho, is the fact that RING and other syndicates only covered the top 10. 11-20, 21-50, etc. just wasnt available; the only way to know would be getting old IBC rankings, and if I'm not mistaken that wasnt created until after The Rock was champion (or came into prominance). Old state athletic commission rankings would have to be where the answer lies.

[keithmoonhangover]

I was picking Holyfield in 1990 and I won't be changing my mind anytime soon.

Mate I know we have our differences but you do know that anyone that acknowledges this basic universal truth is in my opinion a gentleman of taste & distinction & obviously a learned sort of fellow, despite contretemps...?

You do now.

I feel like I'm a member of some elite club now.

[misterpunch]

did butler look like an incorrigable low hitter during his good patch?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

did butler look like an incorrigable low hitter during his good patch?

No

[Rover]

I was picking Holyfield in 1990 and I won't be changing my mind anytime soon.

Mate I know we have our differences but you do know that anyone that acknowledges this basic universal truth is in my opinion a gentleman of taste & distinction & obviously a learned sort of fellow, despite contretemps...?

You do now.

I feel like I'm a member of some elite club now.