mafias role in boxing

big train express · Post by **big train express** » 03 Aug 2006, 04:15

back in the day did the mafia control boxing? if they did then im guessing that many people took dives in order to save their life. i also read somewhere that primo carnera was a hoax. people gaveaway fights because he was affiliated with mafia. fill me in real quick. i gotta do a report on this.

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 03 Aug 2006, 07:25

Carnera was allegedly controlled by Tommy Luchese, a major NYC crime figure at that time. Mob figures have always been attracted to boxing - but then again, I like boxing and I'm not a major crime figure! In many cases it's just that the game is in the blood, but of courtse - like any sport - there are those who will see the opportunities to intimidate and expolit...

There are many books on the topic of the Mob and the fight game. Do a wikipedia or google look-up on names like Frankie Carbo and Blinkie Palermo - that should be a useful start point and I'm sure you'll find relevant links from there.

At risk of bringing the "Jim Brady was a ***" brigade down on my head "Boxing Confidential" by the late Jim Brady is worth a read on this topic.

J

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 03 Aug 2006, 08:47

Followed my own advice from previous post amd did a quick look up.... didn't realise that some German artist had adopted the name "Blinky Palermo" ('cos he apparently looked like the gangland figure!) so you might be better to add the word "boxing" to any search on Blinky.

Lot's of stuff about Carbo/Palermo and such as Jimmy Carter (the boxer not the President!), Sonny Liston, Jim Norris and the IBC, etc.

J

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 03 Aug 2006, 08:59

Carbo and Palermo were bad news .
However much of what people think goes on as far as the mob and boxing is hollywood.
Fighters who associate with mob guys do so at their own risk.If certain individuals do a favor for you, they are gonna want one in return at some point.

barry · Post by **barry** » 03 Aug 2006, 09:52

Before they were busted, Carbo and Palermo were big-time players in boxing. Some fighters had no choice...I mean what do you do...when the mob approaches you do you tell them to go fornicate themselves...most certainly not. It's one of the more ugly times of boxing history when the mob had a lot of control in boxing...They were never about pride, tradition, or who was really best...it was about money and nothing more.

jimglen · Post by **jimglen** » 04 Aug 2006, 10:23

Frankie Carbo is WHY the name of JOCK MCAVOY isn't noted among thee Top 10 greatest middleweights of All-Time!

Carbo and Co. "owned" Eddie 'Babe' Risko and there was No Way in Hell they were handing over the World's middleweight title nor the money and notorioty that went with it , to say nothing of the "in" it would bring them to other fighters, managers, promoters and further control...

Theres no way that prestige could fall into the hands of a "limey" nor could America NOT be in possession of the more "respected & favoured" titles-among the HEAVIER divisions!!!

JOCK MCAVOY, Thank God his name is restored and at least some recognize him in the right place among the Geatest Fighters Ever!

AndreWardFan2006 · Post by **AndreWardFan2006** » 04 Aug 2006, 17:18

Wasn't it said that Rocky Marciano was pressured to become associated with the mob, but he and his team declined? I'm almost positive this is true but maybe someone could clear it up. I'm glad he chose to make his own decisions because there would never have been that 49-0.

~A.W.F~

big train express · Post by **big train express** » 04 Aug 2006, 17:50

i read somewhere that liston gave the two fights away to ali. i read this from several places and i wanna know if its true.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 04 Aug 2006, 18:56

marciano was friends with frankie carbo , he respected rocky marciano alot.

al weill was part of the corrupted IBC and some say carbo actually controlled weill and he told weill what to do.

actually ill go check in rockys book, it actually has a alot of good detail on how rocky was connected with the mob

bottom line: all of marcianos fights were very legite.

with sonny liston: he was so damm good the mob didnt have to protect him, they knew no one could touch liston.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » 04 Aug 2006, 19:21

Also do a BoxRec Wiki search for "mafia" (and gangs, gangland, gangster, mob, gamblers, etc.):
http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/S ... arch=mafia

big train express · Post by **big train express** » 05 Aug 2006, 20:54

thanks for the information. appreciate it.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 05 Aug 2006, 22:52

big train express wrote:i read somewhere that liston gave the two fights away to ali. i read this from several places and i wanna know if its true.

Ask Liston.