Rocky Marciano, The Groucho Marx Show

[HomicideHenry]

Four years after his retirement he appears on the show and makes some remarks about Al Weil stealing his money (plus the IRS taking money) and made remarks about Ingemar Johansson: "If I said I could (beat him) you'd call me a bragger. If I said I couldn't then I'd be a liar." He also hinted that he wasn't in too bad of shape either which seems to indicate that it wouldn't take much for him to make a comeback.

[APerno]

I knew Rocky hated Al Weil but I never thought he was so public about it. A William Nack (SI) article some years back claimed that it wasn't uncommon for Rocky to show up as a (paid) guest speaker, say for two grand, and tell the sponsor he would rather have $500 in cash than the two thousand by check. Rocky was willing to give up $500 at his end just to make sure Al Weil got nothing (didn't get his 50%).

I wonder if Rocky's situation and willingness to complain publicly about it, had anything to do with the current 33 1/3 limit that applies to managers today?

This is the second time I have seen Rocky in an extended interview (the first was an analysis of Ali-Liston II) he comes across bright, although I think the Johansson line was a prepared remark (that's why Groucho gave him shit about having his own quiz show.)

I am embarrassed to say I didn't know his name wasn't Rocco.

[HomicideHenry]

I know Marciano was called to testify before the feds when they had a full scale investigation of the sport, particularly the IBC that Cus D'Amato had over a barrel. His testimony, along with others, helped change how the business was done from that point on until the Ali Act, so it wouldn't surprise me if his word alone changed the management side of things.

As for the remark at Johansson, he said the exact same words about Floyd Patterson some years before. So that's why it sounds rehearsed.