BoxRec

I thought it was time for the outstanding Lloyd Marshall to get another mention on this forum.

He may not have been the greatest fighter never to win a World Title but he was a much better fighter than many who have. Anyone who beats Jake LaMotta, Charley Burley and KO'd Ezzard Charles deserves respect.

He had three things going against him as a fighter, he was black, he fought during the war years and by all accounts was controlled by the mob. Yet still went on to have an outstanding career.



So fight fans what are your opinions of this fine and often forgotten fighter?

Laid a beating on Freddie Mills with just two weeks notice giving away ten pounds in weight. Mills was so bad his own manager apparently spat at him from ringside.

"I remember in the third round going down three times and all my swings seemed to be missing by a mile. When the end came in the fifth with me on my knees, for the first time I could accept defeat rather than carry on the fight. It was far and away my worst show."

That shows you the beating Marshall must have put on Freddie, who was used to facing off against heavyweights and was known more than anything for his heart and durability. Marshall was also on the downside of his career at the time while Freddie went on to win the light heavy title. All in all a hell of a fighter.

great choice of fighters KO,

Marshall is my TOP & favorite middleweight cum L-HW ahead of my other two favorites Jock McAvoy & Bert Gilroy. Lloyd Marshall was the business and for a period(early 40s), the great Charley Rose stated Marshall was one of the best MW's he'd ever seen and of course he was...

his destruction of Mills was beautiful boxing at work (I have the fight), and Mills was very nervous of Marshall not only could you see it before the fight starts, the commentator even mentions; " Mills doesn't look his usual 'composed' self"... Marshall's reputation had well preceeded him.

KOJOE, Marshall IS one of the greatest fighters never to 'hold' a world title, period... the greatest thing I learned while researching Gilroy's career, was you HAVE to look at the facts, the Real & Hard facts, Lloyd Marshall was CHEATED plain & simple, IF he would have gotten a title fight the 'likelyhood' of Marshall winning was greater than many others who did win world titles!

Lloyd Marshall IS a HOFer, a boxing Legend, ONE of the Best never to HOLD a world title and an All-time great Full Stop.

if your a young fighter and you'd like to learn the finer sweeter side of boxing get as many fights of Marshall as you can and learn...Jersey Joe Walcott too, pure "grace & poetry"

Great choice KO.

jimglen wrote:his destruction of Mills was beautiful boxing at work (I have the fight), and Mills was very nervous of Marshall not only could you see it before the fight starts, the commentator even mentions; " Mills doesn't look his usual 'composed' self"... Marshall's reputation had well preceeded him.

Hi Jim.

I would value your opinion on the theory that the reason in part that Mills looked so poor against Marshall ws that Mills was going through one of his 'depression episodes'. I say this with no intent to diminish Marshalls victory but having never seen the fight I would value your thoughts on this matter.

I seem to remember Mills being paralyzed with a Marshall punch early in the 1st. It was downhill for Freddie from there. You have to see the shot and Mills' reaction to it to appreciate the effect.

I don't think that Solomons (the promoter) or Mills were overly concerned with Marshall or his reputation prior to the fight. Solomons may have miscalculated when selecting him as an opponent for Freddie. He did say he would have paid a good deal of money for it (the fight) to have never happened.

Paul - email me if you want a copy of the fight in question.

Is this the sameguy Don cockell beat ?

icejack wrote:Is this the sameguy Don cockell beat ?

Yes.

I recently came across some images of his bout with Burley: the images of Burley being knocked down are quite surreal. Spurred me to pick up the Burley book through Amazon, which I am going through right now.

Would've never known Charles knocked out Marshall with a shot to the body without actually seeing the footage.

Would greatly be interested in the Marshall/Mills bout, & any help would be appreciated.