What if Rocky Marciano had fought on into the early 60s?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Nov 20, 2020.



  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    He wouldn't need to.

    He would be gone by then.
     
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  2. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You hate Scarlett? That's harsh.
     
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  3. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Rocky Marciano retired just as charges were being brought against the IBC and its leaders and the mobsters involved ... and boxers and promoters and managers were being brought in to testify against them (in some cases, to avoid being prosecuted themselves).

    I have always believed Marciano's retirement was not so much from a "bad back" (which is pretty broad) as it was the cases being prepared for court.

    Either the government (like in the case portrayed in the movie Quiz Show) said we don't need you to testify, but if you're still working for these guys when the trials begin, we will have to call you because the heavyweight champion of the world would be our star witness. So get out. Lay low ... and Rocky took that advice and retired.

    Or, which Sports Illustrated mentioned in an article before the trials began, the IBC asked Rocky to retire so their lawyers could deny they controlled the heavyweight championship.

    Either way, I don't believe Rocky was incapable of fighting anymore had he continued. Boxers retire for a lot of reasons. (Marciano literally had to have his nose rebuilt after the Charles fight.) But I never heard a single one retire with a bad back. When he was in his 40s, he lost a ton of weight and boxed a simulated fight with Ali. Guys who retired at 32 with legit "bad backs" aren't hopping around a ring 20 years later.

    All that said, if Rocky hadn't retired after Moore, that means the IBC was probably still in control. So someone like Floyd Patterson (whose manager wasn't playing ball with the IBC) isn't getting a title shot.

    I could see Rocky defending his title a couple times a year for a few more years, against guys like Bob Baker, Willie Pastrano, Brian London or Henry Cooper, maybe Nino Valdes or even Zora Folley around 1959.

    Maybe Pastrano goes 15 and it's close enough for a rematch and they fight a couple.

    And by 1959 or 1960, I see Marciano getting cut and losing or finally going 15 with someone he can't stop or outwork.

    I don't think he ever fights guys like Ingemar Johansson or Sonny Liston.

    I think it probably goes from Marciano, to maybe some boxer/puncher who manages to pull an upset (maybe by 1960 or 61 it is Patterson after he dumps D'Amato), and then to Liston.
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2020
  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I think he could have beaten Willie Pastrano after fighting Moore and might have beaten a young Patterson
     
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  5. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ingo sang a duet with Carol Burnett in 1960, he was a good fighter with a deadly right hand, Ingo Bingo, He even came out in a few American motion pictures. He was a champion that was short lived but those kayoes of Machen and Patterson were classics,
     
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  6. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    @AwardedSteak863 and @mr. magoo. I detest Johansson cuz he was a one-trick pony. Straight right hand and it's over. Other than that, he had nothing going for him, and some people treat him like an ATG. For heaven sakes, his jab was pathetic.
     
  7. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ya, detest isn't really the word for it. We'll just say I don't like him.
     
  8. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    did he beat Carol? lol
     
  9. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No, but if you think about it, he kayoed Eddie Machen in round 1, Machen was the no. 1 contender for champion Floyd Patterson back in 1958. Then on June 26 1959, he knocked Floyd up and down the ring to win the title. Many people lost to Patterson back then but Ingo's Bingo did the trick. So you must not like Leon Spinks, he also was a one hit wonder, like I do not hate Zora Folley for getting stopped by Ali and Sonny Liston.
     
  10. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Leon was a one-hit wonder, but a well-balanced fighter otherwise, and he was always fun too watch. I just hate how in fantasy matches people actually believe that Johansson could beat some really good fighters. He couldn't replicate the Patterson win, and wouldn't have done it against Machen either if they had fought again.
     
  11. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You know sometimes people such as myself do not care for trilogies, it is like watching a rerun on television. Rematches to me hold up progress for other worthy contenders to get a chance. I am from the opinion that if you cannot get it right the first time, you will never get it right.
     
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  12. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    He was admittedly one dimensional. But I don’t think there are many who view him as an ATG. I see him as a very good fighter. Never fought a man with a losing record and has two prime wins over men who are both in the hall of fame ( I think Machen and Patterson both are anyway. ) He was pretty tough and game as well. He definitely loses to prime Marciano.
     
  13. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    i think i have talked to a few who think Johansson is an ATG
     
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  14. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I can't agree. Too many great trilogies have proven otherwise.
     
  15. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I respect your opinion, but these trilogies have held up too many potentially great fights, I do not care for reruns, boring.
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2020
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