BoxRec

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908577/bio

Was the only man to beat Rocky Marciano, and played Joe Louis three times in movies!

zojo, wrote:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908577/bio

Was the only man to beat Rocky Marciano, and played Joe Louis three times in movies!

Marciano had a few losses as an amateur from what I recall.

Iceveins wrote:

zojo, wrote:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908577/bio

Was the only man to beat Rocky Marciano, and played Joe Louis three times in movies!

Marciano had a few losses as an amateur from what I recall.

Coley Wallace liked to say that he was the only man to beat Marciano, and Stanley Weston perpetuated that in his book on the heavyweight champions.

In fact, as I recall, Rocky's amateur record was 8-4. He lost his first amateur fight on a DQ (kneed the guy in the groin), and lost three times by decision - one coming at the hands of Coley Wallace. If memory serves, 7 or his 8 wins were by KO and most of those in the first round. One of the intrepid researchers from the IBRO put together Rocky's amateur record a while back. When I get home tonight, I'll see if I can find it.

Wallace won the Eastern Golden Glove tournament at MSG in 1948.

Go to the cyberboxingzone old-timers forum and look at an old thread.
"Rocky Marciano's toughest opponent" by nyckid from April-2007.
He downloaded an old newspaper article concerning the Marciano-Wallace amatuer bout(with a photograph).
post a reply to it so it resurfaces there for further discussion .

At the press conference where Marciano retired he was asked what was his toughest fight.

He said, "The title fight. The fight with Walcott."

Here is Marciano's amateur record:

April 15, 1946 Henry Lester DQ
= according to my notes, the inexperienced Marciano was getting battered along the ropes and drew up his knee in defense, striking Lester in the groin or stomach, and losing on a DQ.

AAU Championship Tournament
Portland, Oregon August, 1946
unknown KO 1
unknown KO 1
Joe DeAngelis L 3

Golden Gloves Tournament
Lowell, Massachusetts January 1948
unknown KO 1
unknown KO 1
Charlie Mortimer KO 1

Golden Gloves All-East Coast Championships
New York, New York March 1948
Coley Wallace L 3

Bob Girard L 3
Joe Sidlaskis KO 1

AAU Olympic tryouts in Boston
Fred Fischera KO
George McGinnis W 3
- according to my notes, Marciano injured his hand against McGinnis and dropped out of the tournament.

1948 U.S. Boxing Olympic Trials-Finals Boston Gardens:

Hvywt Class: First Round Coley Wallace KOs Art Saey,Univ of Miami.2:43 first Rd.

Qtr finals: Wallace KO Charley Norkus, US Navy second rd.

Wallace had to take nine counts twice in the first round,as Norkus floored with rights to the jaw. But Norkus got careless halfway through rd 2 and got staggered and hurt by Wallace. Wallace by KO.
2,311 on hand to view the Olympic trials in Boston.

Great historical research guys!

Go to the cyberboxingzone forums and see research questions that I bumped up for Marciano's amateur bouts,
and also to old timers forum
to see photo of Marciano-Wallace bout.
It looks almost like Bruce Lee against Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Coley Wallace and Charley Norkus fought an exhibition together in 1978. They were both honored that night as Boxing greats by the Downtown Athletic Club in NYC. (Same group hands out Heisman trophy)

In picture Bob Hammond (not Mike) played for NY Jets football team,Coley,Lew Eskine(Ring magazine writer of old), Charley,and Joe Pignatano (Brooklyn Dodger and NY Mets great).

A group shot. Names on photo. Coley on right side. How would you like be at this one,guys.