If Rocky Had Lost To Lastarza ?

In fact, Rocky would be rated higher by many of his haters. Many people dislike Rocky only because he has no defeats. If he had one, it would be different story.

 

I think you're right.
Since their favorite had some defeats, they have to try to make Rocky's undefeated record seem tainted- old fighters..etc.

 

Some felt LaStarza edged Marciano in their first fight. Even MArciano's own brother says this was a close one.

In the 2nd fight is on film. Lastarza took an early lead in rounds. Marciano landed a mean hook on a break, and followed it up later on with a low blow. A point was taken away, but these two fouls were the most damaging punches Rocky landed up to that point in the fight. The fouls took the steam out of Lastarza, and Rocky took over.

 

Marciano is not great either way. all of his best competition were washed up and way past their prime, and despite having every advantage possible it took him life and death to escape Moore Charles and Walcott. Even weak competition like La Starza gave him massive problems. Lucky for him he never had to face a top quality opponent in their prime, and now people act like he was some great heavyweight

 

Shut up idiot. Go jizz in your Klitschko threads.

Rocky was off-kilter in the first fight because he had just come off the Carmine tragedy that nearly forced him to quit the sport. His head wasn't in it , it had nothing to do with Starza being the better man.

Stazra began to gloat after that fight that gave The Rock back his fighting spirt.
He promised to crush Starza and after he warmed up he leathered him to the body, ribs , arms and head. One body shot nearly lifted him off the canvas.
Starza got out boxed and destroyed. Take your fouling excuse , shove it up your hole and **** off while you're doing it.

 

My uncles all saw that fight and were rooting for LaStarza (Bronx NY) and rooting against Marciano because he beat there boy from Bronx NY Carmine Vingo. They all said Marciano landed the harder punches and dropped LaStarza, Roland was tough but admitted that there boy lost. They did not like Marciano especially because of the baseball rivalry with the Boston Redsox vs the Bronx Bombers (Yankees) but they said they never rooted against Marciano again, they said he was special

 

Had his career followed the same trajectory that it did in actuality, I think he would still be highly regarded. His undefeated record made him unique from other champions which is the corner stone of his greatness. But at the same time, there is also a huge fan appeal for men who lost a fight to a tough foe then came back to redeem themselves later. Rocky's resume would still have plenty of substance in addition to the claim of being able to avenge a loss.

 

I think a loss may have helped him in the eyes of those who think his only attribute is an undefeated record. Marciano lost for 12 rounds against Walcott and was behind starting round 3 against Moore. People now are picking hairs on his fights that were close and holding on to hairs so an undefeated record sometimes has its own negatives. Louis lost (not too often) Ali lost yet we rate them high, Tyson and Dempsey lost and Frazier, Lennox Lewis had some bad KO losses and so did Foreman

When Joe Louis was asked about Billy Conn becoming Champ Joe said something to the effect of " He could not hold it for 13 rounds"

I think it took a lot of will power and smarts for Lennox Lewis and Gene Tunney to know when to leave the game and although Marciano had a vacant list of money fights ahead of him and the management situation and the back excuse I think he knew his style demanded extreme conditioning and wear and tear and I give him credit for not wanting to compromise on that work ethic. He walked away on top, with one of the better records of fighting the best and rematching tough fights and always finding a way to win.......and that is now written in stone

 

Magoo pretty much summed it up for me.

 

If Rocky had lost to Lastarza, he wouldn't have retired in 1955. He would have stayed on longer, probably beaten a few more contenders and actually have improved his resume.

 

Yes and Wiley Weill :good

 

Bummy,

What did your uncles think of Vingo's punching power?