Rocky Marciano question...

[Crease]

I'm a big fan of Rocky Marciano, but everything I've seen of him I've seen through tapes, newsaoaoer articles, rare interviews etc...

I wasn't born during his era, but those of you who might've been young or a bit more near his decade would probbaly know the answer to this...


Everyone know the story of the late great Rocky Marciano, (undefeated champ etc)

I've always thought (like many others) that Rocky was a fearless fighter, ready to take on all comers, HOWEVER, I have 1 question for everybody, and I would appreciate some plausible answers please,

WHY DID ROCKY NOT FIGHT THE LIKES OF:

Joey Maxim, (although he oculd be considered a Light Hevayweight, he was still ranked #4 in the world when Rocky started his title charge.

Jimmy Bivins, (I know he lost a few fights to Charle and Moore, but he was still a top contender).

What do you think people, any informantion will be news to me...



Check: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Aren ... /ring.html

[sockdolager]

I'm a big fan of Rocky Marciano, but everything I've seen of him I've seen through tapes, newsaoaoer articles, rare interviews etc...

I wasn't born during his era, but those of you who might've been young or a bit more near his decade would probbaly know the answer to this...


Everyone know the story of the late great Rocky Marciano, (undefeated champ etc)

I've always thought (like many others) that Rocky was a fearless fighter, ready to take on all comers, HOWEVER, I have 1 question for everybody, and I would appreciate some plausible answers please,

WHY DID ROCKY NOT FIGHT THE LIKES OF:

Joey Maxim, (although he oculd be considered a Light Hevayweight, he was still ranked #4 in the world when Rocky started his title charge.

Jimmy Bivins, (I know he lost a few fights to Charle and Moore, but he was still a top contender).

What do you think people, any informantion will be news to me...



Check: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Aren ... /ring.html

Id say it was mainly the fact that he ran out of time. He didnt have long left when he won the title. Swarmers like him and Dempsey and Fraizer and Tyson run out of time faster than "boxers" because of their constant intense activity and willingness to take shots to get their own off. Because of how good the first fights were between Walcott and Charles, he deservingly gave each a return fight. Also he took a return fight against Lastarza too settle his previous MD over him. That left 2 fights, one vs Cockell and one vs Moore. I am not sure of Cockell's official rating at the time of the fight but Moore was ranked the #1 HW at the time they faught. Bivins was at the extreme end of his career at the time of Marcianos reign so I dont think he would have been any more suited than Cockell, also at the very end. I also cant imagine Joey Maxim fairing well at all against Marciano. Maxim at the time of Marcianos reign was not the same fighter as he was in the late 40s and into the very early 1950s. From 1952-1958, Maxim went 4-11 with his only notable win coming against a very young Floyd Patterson. Patterson had only faught 13 times at that point and weighed only 168 lbs. Maxim lost to Archie Moore 3 times in that span, so for Marciano to bypass Moore for Maxim wouldnt have made much sense.

[Cap]

One interesting sidebar. After the Moore fight, there was some talk of matching Marciano with Canadian champ Earl Walls, but the promoters couldn't assure Marciano of proper financing. Walls retired shortly after.

Cap

[sockdolager]

Was the said Earl Walls fight close? I thought that immediately after the Moore fight Marciano retired and had no intrest at all in fighting again. If Im not mistaken however, I believe if Johansen won the 2nd fight w/ Patterson in 1960, Marciano would have un-retired and whacked him around the ring.

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

very interesting cap, walls was an excellent fighter. too bad it didnt come off, i would have liked to see that fight.

actually marciano didnt retire until april 1956 many months after the moore fight



A VALDES-MARCIANO FIGHT almost happened in early 1956 but valdes lost to baker and satterfield elimininating the scheduled fight

[Crease]

Thanks Sockdollanger, that does clear things up a bit...