BoxRec

Undefeated (49-0) world HW champion Rocky Marciano has arguably the most famous record in all of boxing/sports. Well, he must be the best ever then, right? That’s coming at a later date.

Let’s take a close look at that ‘record’; now, who says that he only fights older boxers?

I see an 8-0 up and coming HW named Bobby Quinn; Marciano KO 3 Quinn (now he’s down and out; bye Quinn).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... obby_Quinn

Next up is the 15-0 Canadian LHW (oh no) Eddie Ross; Marciano KO 1 Ross (well, what do you expect from a LHW, SD 15? So long Ross).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... Eddie_Ross

About a dozen bouts later is the two years younger, never stopped Canadian HW (hmm, let’s try this one with a real HW) Don Mogard; this lumber jack turned Royal Canadian Air Force physical instructor becomes the first boxer to go the distance with Marciano; Marciano UD 10 Mogard (well, I told you that he is never stopped didn’t I? Later Jack).

Several bouts later in a match that Rocky calls the “toughest fight of my career” is the once defeated (by points), fellow Italian-American Carmine Vingo; tragedy strikes as Marciano ends Vingo’s career via a vicious stoppage (KO 6); luckily, Vingo recovers.

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... mine_Vingo

In his next bout, the ‘Rock’ faces the nearly four years younger, undefeated (37-0) top HW contender Roland La Starza; Roland is down in the fourth, Marciano loses a point in the eight (low blow) and the bout ends in a ‘draw’ – requiring ‘supplemental scoring’ to award a (SD 10) win to Rocky.

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... d_LaStarza

You like tough, hard fought split decisions – check these out:

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Joe_L ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Gene_ ... _Fernandez

Ten bouts later, Marciano suddenly finds himself the underdog (5-9) against the nearly five years younger, once defeated (by points), top HW contender Rex Layne; some folks think that Layne will be the next Dempsey; Marciano KO 6 Layne (hey Rex, you can still be a sugar beet farmer in Salt Lake City).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rex_L ... y_Marciano

Former HW legend Joe Louis is just two bouts away; Marciano ends Louis’ career via a stoppage (TKO in the 8th); many wonder how a younger Louis would have fared (well, he couldn’t have done any worse now could he - later date?!).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... _Joe_Louis

After disposing (KO 2) of the underrated multi-division marvel Harry Matthews in a HW title elimination bout, Marciano recovers from his first career knockdown, rallies from behind and stops (KO 13) world HW champion Jersey Joe Walcott with a powerful right (and don’t forget to hook left when he’s down – how does he always get away with that as the five years younger British HW titlist Don Cockell will later ask???).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... 9_Matthews

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jerse ... meeting%29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9msELiZKyU

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... on_Cockell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QWAbm_zAMY

A rematch with Walcott follows; Rocky drops Jersey Joe in the first round, Walcott looks at the referee as he counts to ten (forgetting that a ‘10 count’ means out) and Marciano celebrates his easiest championship win (KO 1). It is Walcott’s final bout (when you forget that a ‘10 count’ means out, maybe it is time to go – Jersey Joe); thanks for the memories and many still think that you win your first bout with Louis (in December of 1947).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... meeting%29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yElVvd1_BdQ

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Joe_L ... meeting%29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gB09VEEZvM

After a rematch with La Starza, where Rocky (in Ring Magazine’s 1953 “Fight of the Year”) becomes the first to stop the tough challenger, Marciano then has two bruising battles with the only two years older, former world HW champion Ezzard Charles; the first bout is a standstill battle for ten rounds with Rocky pulling away slightly in the final rounds (UD 15). Gaining confidence from his losing performance, Charles reflects back on the article that he writes for Ring Magazine titled “I Believe” (that he can beat Rocky); the result of the rematch – Marciano KO 8 Charles (after Rocky’s corner ‘glues’ his nose back together).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... meeting%29

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo ... se?popup=1

Marciano then battles the (ten?) years older, reigning world LHW champion Archie Moore; the bout is much tougher than expected as Moore drops Rocky in the second round and only after Marciano scores five knockdowns (over the next eight rounds) is Moore finally counted out (KO 9); seriously Rocky, an old LHW – maybe, you should retire….and he does. Even when Olympic MW gold medalist Floyd Patterson and Olympic LHW silver medalist Ingemar Johansson take ‘turns’ as world HW champions, Rocky still says “no”.

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rocky ... chie_Moore

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Floyd ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ingem ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Floyd ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/File:59Nov.jpg

A decade and a half later, Marciano participates in a (live action) computer bout vs. Muhammad Ali; sadly, Rocky is killed in a plane crash just weeks before the film is released (Marciano KO 13 Ali); hmmm, you almost get it right.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Super_Fight

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_S ... ._Marciano

About a decade and a half later, 7-year world HW champion Larry Holmes goes 48-0 before losing back-to-back bouts to LHW Michael Spinks (Rocky KO’d his LHWs).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Larry ... meeting%29

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Larry ... meeting%29

Now, if most fight fans know/respect boxing history, they would know to expect a ‘counterpart(s)’ of Marciano to eventually appear – just as Rocky is a ‘counterpart’ of a previous durable puncher HW champion who retires early (and undefeated); that’s right – James J. Jeffries (if only farmer Jim had said “no” – folks would not only talk about Marciano).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jack_ ... ._Jeffries

A durable puncher HW champion who retires early (and undefeated) – who’s that and did you say counterpartS? The first one is never noticed and is aptly named Horace Notice - (a CW/HW) British titlist who retires early (and undefeated) because of a detached retina; just how great was he and could he have been (you’ll have to wait on that)?!?!?

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Horace_Notice

The second durable puncher HW champion appearance looks far too obvious – and it is for it is NOT David Tua (not undefeated and stays on far too long) but the man who first defeats him – Ike Ibeabuchi; Ike dominates and is highly feared/avoided but has to retire early (and is unbeaten); the details are not suitable for this ‘family’ site (but you can easily look it up – if you don’t already know).

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ike_I ... _David_Tua

Now, the boxing world will have to wait another generation (or more) for the next Jeffries/Marciano ‘counterpart’ (an undefeated, durable puncher HW champion) to appear – and then quickly disappear…..

P.S.

Sorry, folks, neither undefeated WBU HW titlist Georgi Kandelaki nor undefeated NABF HW titlist Joe Mesi fit the Jeffries/Marciano ‘counterpart’ mold for reasons that will be indirectly explained in the book; the overprotected/overrated Kandelaki and Mesi are both forced into early retirements for medical reasons – although, I’m not sure how (or why) Mesi returns?