If Patterson had faced Zora Folley in 1959?

According to the Fort Scott a Tribune October 16, 1958

Damato turned down $ 300,000 guarantee for a December 5th 1958 date at the garden against Nino Valdes. The bid came from the national broadcasting company on behalf of Gillette, sponsors for IBC

 

He should have got a shot over the charles rematch, but that fight first Charles fight was so good nino got bumped. From there until the next time Rocky fought, Archie Moore who had knocked out Baker, a guy who had beat Nino, was more of a threat but they took Cokkell over nino who they decided would sell better on the west coast. I guess nino was not standing out enough. Probably, Nino could have got a shot ahead of Don, but he was just a Cuban guy so far as fans thought. Cokkell and Mathews were in bigger money fights. After Archie Moore It was just a flip of the coin knowing who was better among Marciano contenders. Cokkell was right up there.

 

Summer of 54’ Marciano beat Charles, Valdes beat Jackson, then Marciano fought Charles one more time. Marcianos next fight was Cokkell in May 55.

Moore had begun to eclipse Valdes. Cokkell was one place behind Valdes But was selling well on the west coast. Nino wasn’t making money with the two fights he had since beating Jackson. Only a thousand people watched Nino beat 20-16 Jack Flood in radio arena Huntington West Virginia. Don was selling out Sticks Stadium Seattle and Earls Court in London.

interest faded in Ninos win over Jackson the previous summer.

After Archie Moore, the contenders were not seen as having much between them. It was no biggie to take Don over Nino.

 

Stop making excuses. Valdes was rated higher, had beaten better fighters, and was a far bigger puncher than cockell was. He should have been chosen over cockell. Marciano management slipped up

The New York press laughed at Marciano when he chose cockell as an opponent. They called him a “fat doughboy who had no chance”

 

Cockell wasn’t even world class for 1955. He was British level. He wasn’t even good enough to win the euro title let alone fight for the world heavyweight championship.

****, Valdes could have padded his record taking on soft opposition like over the hill Lastarza beshore Ancient Farr and Matthews


How would fat boy don have done with Valdes opposition?

Don vs

Moore 2x
Johnson
Charles
Baker
Jackson
Neuhaus


Don loses to everyone there

 

That’s another of the views from hindsight. Sure in 1954 Valdes was a reasonably strong contender. But Cokkell also looked a reasonably strong contender too. With a 1955 perspective I’m not sure anyone outside of Nino cared much one way or the other which of the two of them Rocky fought. Valdes certainly had not rematched Baker or Moore who had wins over him and a rating each. Don had good wins over Lastarza and Mathews that more than qualified for his position. The win over Jackson was last summer and yesterday’s news. But you can’t see that because you use hindsight.

 

Good wins over lastarza and Matthews? How were these good wins? Lastarza was washed up when they fought , he got knocked out by Julio Mederos that same year and lost to Charlie norkus. Even in his prime, Lastarza wasn’t that good. He lost to rocky Jones then Jones was ordered by the mob to be on the cuffs for the rematch so he wouldn’t ruin a Lastarza Marciano rematch. Matthews? A overhyped overprotected light heavyweight who did nothing as a heavyweight


Valdes beat Charles Neuhaus and Jackson. Much better wins

 

Recently Valdes beat Jack Flood. The Jackson win was last summer by then.

Lastarza and Mathews obviously meant more on paper than Neuhaus and Jackson. Maybe if it was Valdes who beat Lastarza and Mathews he might have been picked. Who knows?

What I want to know is who was screaming for Valdes over Cokkell, Moore and Baker? Who were those people?

 

If wins over lastarza and Matthew meant more on paper.....

Then how come Valdes was rated above cockell on paper?


the RING February 1955


Rocky Marciano, Champion

1. Nino Valdes
2. Don ****ell
3. Ezzard Charles
4. Bob Baker
5. Earl Walls
6. Heinz Neuhaus
7. Rex Layne
8. Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson
9. Charley Norkus
10. Jimmy Slade

Who was screaming for cockell over Valdes besides an IBC promoter who wanted to protect marcianos nose from the hard punching Cuban

 

I don’t even know why I engage you anymore. Mcgrain has you on record saying you only joined the forum because you are a hater of Sonny Liston and his opponents......


Troll

 

Pittsburgh COURIER July 24, 1954-

Hurricane Had Color, Nothing More . . Approximately a year ago, Nino Valdes, the Cuban heavyweight contender, was hailed in fistic circles as "the him as the "most likely to succeed." He then went on, to the delight of the prognosticators, to beat Ezzard Charles, proving to one and all that he was no flash In the pan; about as good a heavyweight as you will find these days. . Last week! Nino, who speaks much Spanish and very little English, established himself as the leading candidate for the most cherished award they give out in boxing. He did more for boxing in 1954 than any other boxer - when he knocked out Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson in 2 "minutes and 35 seconds of the second round. ' At the end of the year, Nino will receive our vote as the individnal who "did the most for boxing in 1954."

Hurricane Jackson had to be disposed of . . . and Valdes . was equal to the task. That does not mean, of course, that the Hurricane who was just a breeze for nino should have his citizenship papers confiscated; that he should be put on a barge and shipped out to sea. Jackson definitely added some color and drama to the sock scene before, he ran into trouble . Valdes, to be specific. n : . Jackson never has been a fighter of - championship caliber, despite the fact that he disposed of Clarence Henry, Charley Norkus, Dan Bucceroni Rex Layne, But he did get the tub thumpers to beating their drums and excited - some people in a mild manner because he possessed the one thing so many fighters lack today that indefinable thing they call "color." He was an unorthodox campaigner." He reintroduced the "double" uppercut and baffled inept opponents by leading with his right, and, also, gave us a new version ot the old "Jersey Joe Walcott shuffle." Yes, indeed, he was colorful . . . but the scholars of the prize fighting business knew all along that he couldn't fight; that eventually he would run into a guy like Valdes and get flattened.

In a way, It is too bad that Jackson can't fight. If he had all the necessary qualities, Hurricane could definitely add some excitement to the drab heavyweight picture. Instinctively, he is a. ham at heart. Tommy loves to be in the limelight, thrives on publicity and public adulation. He should be a bona fide member of the Actors' Guild. ' - . He has a knack of coming up with delightful expenses after suffering defeat. Following his loss to Willie Troy, for example, he growled: ; "You can blame this defeat on my mother, not me. My mother is the cause of it. I wanted to go out with .girls. She wouldn't let me, made me stay at home. That upset me, caused me mental anguish. " How can a - guy fight if he can't go out with girls?" The answer to that, of course, Is . . . how can a guy fight if he does go out with girls, especially before a fight? . . . No one would be so blase as to reprimand the Hurricane for wanting to go out with girls. That is dandy recreation. But you don't do it before a big fight. Some how, girls have a way of distracting young men who should have their minds on future business. In this case, Hurricane's future business included a champion by the flame of Rocky Marciano. But that was Jackson's excuse for defeat girls. That was the most far - fetched explanation for inglorious defeat any athlete, or fighter, has ever given out In the entire history of the sports world. There were those, however, who were willing to accept it. They decided to give him a real chance. . He was matched with Nino, a big heavyweight who does not hold the feminine portion of the population in such exalted esteem. Valdes belted him out in less than two rounds. Jackson couldn't blame that on his mother or the girls. Before the fight they shipped him up in the New York mountains and made sure that he was trained thoroughly. He was in perfect physical condition when the bell rang. There was only one thing wrong with the Hurricane he just couldn't fight. Valdes Could Give Marciano Trouble ... That victory made Valdes only logical contender for heavyweight title. The International Boxing Club hopes to match him with the winner of the Marciano - Ezzard Charles return bout in September. All Nino has to do now is sit around and ignore the girls, wait for his big opportunity. He insists that he can beat Marciano. "I'll knock him out inside of four rounds," he said after disposing of Jackson. "Marciano can't take my punch." That, of course,, is the prediction of a fighter flushed with victory. After belting Jackson out, Nino was of the opinion he could beat anyone in the house, like the great John L. Sullivan. , But it won't be that easy.Marciano has Charles in the impending return bout which is considerably tougher and dangerous than the likes of Hurricane Jackson. But Valdes is the kind of fighter who could give Rocky trouble. He Is big, takes a good punch and can throw bombs well. He could be the man they have been looking for!

It isn't likely that Charles will beat Marciano in September, or any other month, for that matter. Ezzard lacks the heft and power. As a, boxer, he has the edge. But boxers are Marciano's meat. - Valdes, on the other hand, is a puncher. No one knows right now how good a puncher, but he is definitely a member of that school. He is tall and could keep the ever - charging Marciano off with his stiff left jab. Meantime, Hurricane Jackson should take stock, decide' that perhaps his mother isn't to blame, after all. In other words . . . there's no place like home, Tommy.

 

I don’t know why you keep bringing it up when I have answered you on it each time. Is it in case somebody reads this who hasn’t already seen me answer you? Everyone has.

It was BS then and it is BS now. I have refuted the accusation many years, nobody can quote it because I never said it.

The next time you get stumped by my plausibility you will bring it up again though...

 

Joe Brown didn't fight Duilio Loi who was his top contender at times, I think. Loi later fought and beat Carlos Ortiz two of three for the junior welter title.