Is he below Stanley Ketchel? above Bob Fits? close to the great Sugar Ray Robinson?..... Where does he land in the middleweight rankings ?
I can't "be arsed" to make up a list either, except for 1. Monzon and 2. Hagler, but I would fit Zale near the bottom end of the top ten. His best days were before WW2 and his entry into the Navy, however, what he's best remembered for is his trilogy with Graiano, in which he acquitted himself quite well with a guy who he would have just blown out completely prewar. zale was hard as steel, hence his name, defied pain and adversity, and had one of the most debilitating body attacks ever, especially with the right. He fought at a fast tempo, was resilient, didn't have the best defense, but his offense took care of most of that. He had an indomitable will and would have gone after anyone with real purpose and intensity that he ever fought. Tough, tough man. Old school tough, that Man of Steel.
These were his prime characteristics. He would have given anybody he ever fought a tough as hell night, win or lose.
Maybe bottom of the top ten , there are too many names missing from his resume to place him higher. Not only skilled boxers could beat him, I would pick Lamotta and Tiger to do it as well. Fullmer would give him a tough fight and he doesnt make my rankings
"The first time he (Zale) hit me to the body I didn't know whether to crap or throw-up" -- Billy Soose
Something Rocky 111 posted on the old CBZ forum that I always liked (and concur): The eyes of a killer....Its something very few fighters have. Most guys have the ghetto stare, the bluff that theyve been taught. Let me add a killer, the most killer Ive ever come across-Mr. Tony Zale. He had the eyes of a WW2 experienced Russian combat vet. Used to killing so much that it was his whole purpose. No bluff, no act- Just him.
Zale was asked about," glass jaws ,"once, he replied, " I haven't seen too many, but I've seen a few glass hearts".