Tony Zale vs Carmen Basilio

Forget the black murderers row,

How did zale bypass lamotta for graziano?

Not only was lamotta a higher rated fighter than graziano, but he was from the same neighborhood as graziano and everyone knew lamotta was a huge draw.

 

Yes we do.
If you had been Tony's manager what would you have done differently?

 

You have an aging champion coming out of the War....it was an easy decision.

 

How was he allowed? You probably know the same names I do. Blinkly Palermo and Mr. Gray AKA. Frankie Carbo. Maybe Graziano's people were easier to work with.Sometimes it is just that simple. It's a business the lessh

 

Nothing, but I wouldn't be on here saying we never ducked anyone which a poster said which prompted my posting the ratings proving they did!Specifically Holman Williams, Charley Burley , and Jake Lamotta.

 

He never fought any of them before he went into the service,apart from Nate Bolden who beat him2 out of 4.

 

Just keep in mind that professional boxing has been a business throughout its history. Rocky Graziano was the greatest non-heavyweight gate attraction of his era and a less formidable fighter than a number of other middleweights of the time. As a result, it shouldn't have been a surprise that Graziano got two shots at the aging Tony Zale's world middleweight title. Moreover, it also shouldn't have been a surprise that Graziano made a title defense in a bout with Zale after the two fighters had a couple of highly lucrative bouts.

- Chuck Johnston

 

In fairness to Tony Zale, fighting Rocky Graziano three times wasn't easy, especially for someone like Zale who was on the downside of his career. Moreover, fighting someone like Graziano meant that Zale more than earned his money. But the fact remains that Graziano was not close to being as formidable as Jake LaMotta or Sugar Ray Robinson after the end of World War II.

- Chuck Johnston

 

QUOTE="robert ungurean, post: 19297869, member: 18695"]Look Zales management did what they did. I wasnt there but whatever the business was managers controlled things back then as far as I've read.
To insinuate that a man of Zales character and integrity specifically ducked fighters and I'll simply say to who ever feels that way is that your full of ####. Zale was a warrior and a gentleman of the highest order and conducted himself that way his entire life.[/QUOTE]
Lets just point out that while Zale was champion,and the year prior to him becoming champ when he was a ranked middleweight , the following black middle weights were ranked.
Charley Burley
Archie Moore
Ron Richards
Holman Williams
Kid Tunero
Jose Basora
Jack Chase
Eddie Booker
Cocoa Kid
Aaron Wade
Bert Lytell
Jimmy Edgar
Sam Baroudi
Lets also say that for 7 of the 8 years Zale held the title Jake Lamotta was rated in the top 5.Lets also point out that Zale defended his NBA title against Steve Mamakos in1941.Where was he ranked?
Did the NBA rank him?

 

Duplicate

 

I don’t know if he ducked anyone or not, I’m not accusing him, but do you have any logical reasons why he missed out on the following names?

Charley Burley
Jake Lamotta
Holman Williams
Jimmy Bivins
Ezzard Charles
Archie Moore
Lloyd Marshall
Eddie Booker
Cocoa Kid
Jack Chase
Aaron Wade
Bert Lytell


These were the best middleweights/165lbers of his era and most of them hall of famers. He didn’t fight any of them?

 

I love Zales body attack on film, he clearly was a great fighter... but man, wish he had fought Williams Burley or Lamotta...three hall of famers vacationing at the top of the ratings for years!