BoxRec

Lamotta admited going in the tank in his fight with Black Jack Billy Fox in order to get a Title shot. How badly do you feel this hurt his legacy,and do you feel he should be in The Hall of Fame.

He would have never gotten a shot at the title had he not done business. He was offered a substantial bribe to go along with the title shot but turned it down stating he wanted only the title shot. Had he been given his chance when he deserved it he would have taken it from Zale.

Taking into account the way the game was run in those days I wouldn't hold it against LaMotta's "legacy" that he went along with the fix in order to get a long overdue title shot.

And of course if he hadn't managed to win the title he'd be as well known to the general public today as say Charley Burley and other great fighters who never got to be called "champion"

J

..of course he should be in the hall of fame. fritzie zivic is in it, for god's sake!!!

He did it and came clean about it. I don't blame him. It's the system that's wrong. Jake had to do what eh could to get his chance.

klompton wrote:He would have never gotten a shot at the title had he not done business. He was offered a substantial bribe to go along with the title shot but turned it down stating he wanted only the title shot. Had he been given his chance when he deserved it he would have taken it from Zale.

possibly.....as possibly could many others who were never given the chance at zale.

LaMotta's legacy is untouched by the Billy Fox incident, whatever that legacy is (overrated IMO). Faced with the choice of never receiving a shot or tanking one fight in order to get it, what would you do? In those days the title was everything unlike today

Saw a doco recently on this and Lamotta said that at the time he testified honestly at the commission into organised crime, because he was a afraid of no-one. He then said had he been mature anough to fully realise the possible consequences he may not have been so honest