The argument that Rocky Marciano elected to fight older champions during his career, never ceases to amaze me, even though Iâve read, seen, or discussed it on a number of times in the past. Though the comment does have a lot of credibility on the surface, once you digg through the smoke screen, itâs close to worthless. Although poster Warlock touched on the topic correctly and said many things I would have bought up, Iâll just say a few more things briefly.
Itâs a common occurrence in boxing for young up and coming fighters to face off against the aging champions during their careers, not all ways but more times than not. Unfortunately Rocky Marciano seems to be the one who cops the blunt end of the stick when the topic comes up. But more on that soon. Until the days boxing selects fighters based on age as well as weight, it will be that way until boxings eternity. Most up and coming fighters confront the older fighters during their rise to stardom because they have a thing to prove. Almost every boxing fan will tell you that you must fight the champion in order to prove yourself. Well in the earlier years of boxing, the championship crown was a very admired and treasured prize for a boxer who earned it. It symbolized the fruit of his achievements. Therefore it was very tough for many fighters to step down from the top of the hill when their times were approaching. In other words, for a fighter to give up his crown by retiring was not only rare once upon a time, but also viewed as the incorrect thing to do. Iâm not saying this was always the case with Marciano, but it does apply to some of his bouts.
Rocky Marciano had three fights against so called boxers who were reportedly past their prime, which is always bought into discussions. First was the âgreatestâ heavyweight of all time (in my opinion) Joe Louis. Rocky made it clear before the fight in the dressing rooms that he did not want to fight Louis because of the respect and admiration he had for the man. He said that it could possibly be his last fight ever (which it was) and that he didnât want Joe Louis to exit boxing on such sad terms. Rocky had every intention of knocking out his opponents when he stepped in the ring. Itâs the only way he knew how to box. Louis who had come out of retirement for this fight was old, but still a master of the ring. It is believed Louis came out of retirement because not only was the purse impressive to eventually fight Marciano, but he missed being the heavyweight champion of the world. Hence my comments earlier. He lost by a decision in his first comeback bout against Ezzard Charles to re gain the heavyweight belt (he lost it automatically after retiring), and didnât want to stop until he won it back. He had 8 fights before meeting the up and coming Rocky Marciano, which he won all of them. Rocky Marciano knocked him out in the 8th round, which finally made Louis realize his best years were behind him and retired for good following the bout. Jersey Joe Walcott was the reining champion when they met, so that fight was unavoidable. He wasnât as good as he once was at the age of 37 (though many claim he was much older) but he still refused to retire his championship belt. Well like he did to Louis, Marciano put him into retirement first with a 13th round knockout in their first encounter, then a first round demolition job in their rematch the following year. And finally the last man who is always said to have been too old for Marciano to fight, Archie Moore. In 1955 Marciano was almost forced to enter the ring against light heavyweight champion Moore, a master boxer and veteran of the ring whose age hadnât caught up with him as yet. Not only did Moore demand for the clash to take place, but he campaigned for it publicly and vocally. Marciano never being the one to turn his back on a challenge, took up Mooreâs offer. although Moore did drop Marciano early in the 2nd round, Marciano recovered and knocked Moore out in the 9th. After this fight Marciano retired to leave behind an unblemished record of 49 & 0.
And just to finish of you would think Marciano was the only champion who received his title shot against an older opponent as many people will have you falsely believe. Let's take a little look at boxing history and see if anyone else beat up an old man to become the champion. Hmmm....
Marciano was 9 years younger than Walcott
But...
Dempsey was 13 years younger than Willard
James J. Jefferies was 12 years younger than Bob Fitzsimmons
Louis was 12 years younger than Braddock
Ali was 10 years younger than Liston
Holmes was 6 years younger than Norton
Spinks was 11 years younger than Ali
Tyson was 14 years younger than Trevor Berbick (WBC Champion)
Tyson was 12 years younger than James "Bonecrusher" Smith (WBA Champion)
Jim Corbett was 8 years younger than John L. Sullivan
So, the average age difference for these championship fights was 11 years. Rocky therefore had less of an age factor advantage than Dempsey, Jefferies, Louis, Ali, Spinks, Tyson, and Corbett.
Non-title fights:
Marciano was 10 years younger than Archie Moore
But wait....
Ali was 19 years younger than Archie Moore!!!
Patterson was 21 years younger than Archie Moore!!!!
Joe Louis was 9 years younger than Max Schmelling. (Max KO'd Joe and was later KO'd by him)
Louis was 12 years younger than Jack Sharkey
Ali was 8 years younger than Henry Cooper
Ali was 7 years younger than Patterson
So, if Rocky rose to the top by beating up older men, it's apparent that so did Ali, Louis, Tyson, Patterson, and Dempsey, to name only a few.
Just to change tones for one minute. My good friend Atilla contacted me earlier today and said something noteworthy. He said that many here may believe that I have newly signed on and without a formal introduction of myself, Iâm defaming and throwing insult the way of a great champion inMuhammad Ali, and many would be upset by my comments and I should either apologise or set the record straight with what my intentions are and have been. He knows where it is I'm coming from he said, but others that don't know you won't.Well Iâll go one better. Iâm sorry and Iâll explain myself. Iâm sorry if I have sounded like Iâm bagging the greatest figure in boxing history, but my intentions are far from that. My story from the first post has been that I do not believe Ali was the greatest boxer of all time. Ali was very good fighter, but not excellent if that word means he was the greatest. Itâs purely my opinion and Iâm sure Iâm entitled to it. I havenât come on and posted without backing my claims. I never wanted to upset anyone and slashtheir opinions and views of Ali which I do respect, and the fact that I have backed up my claims (Iâd like to think so and to the best of my ability) should prove that that was never the case. I never came on and posted some garbage about a very good fighter and icon, and then did the run never to be seen again. That would have indicated to all of you that my post was to rock the boat as well as sinking it. I may have rocked the boat with my opinions, but I havenât sunk this ship (topic). I have hung around and will do so until this discussion either dies or takes a immature turn, and defended my statements to the end. Mainly with my opinion, but thrown one or two fact as well. Like poster Warlock said in his writing, it's my story and view of Muhammad Ali, and I'm sticking with it.
Again sincerely, Iâm sorry if anyone took my comments the wrong way and I may have hurt them.
Javaman thanking you all.
