This content is protected The fight has literally just started and Mauriello staggers Joe with a left-right that sends Louis into the neutral corner. However, ole' Joe was quick to counter back and a flurry ending in a lef thook dropped Mauriello on his rear. Joe pursued after that, with Mauriello doing his best to tie up and to spoil. It did take some of the umph out of Joe's attack, but clearly was not enough. Shortly before 3: 05 of the video Joe already had Mauriello hurt, but lands the big one at 3: 05, a right hand and Mauriello begins to crumple, and a few punches thrown in for good measure send Mauriello on the way a young man ought to go. Mauriello got up too late. Verdict: I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It was a surprisingly good 1-rounder, with Louis decking Mauriello just seconds after being badly staggered. What I'm puzzled about is whether Louis looked good or not. On one hand, he had the power he did before the war, and he showed quick recovery time in flooring Mauriello the first time. On the other hand, it's not like Joe to let himself get hurt that badly by someone of Mauriello's caliber that early in a fight.
Joe was cold and got caught by a terrrific punch early. Shows the caliber he was, to weather it, and not even let the opponent finish the round
"Mauriello's caliber" Mauriello KO'd 60 men in 96 fights and there were a lot of top men of the era among his victims. He seems to have had a dangerous overhand right. Mauriello is among the ring's greatest prodigies. He lost a close split decision to Billy Soose at 17. He beat Steve Belloise at 17. He almost won the light-heavy title against Lesnevich at 18. He drew with Pastor and had two close fights with Bivins while still a teenager. He didn't age at all well, though. Perhaps the extra poundage after moving to heavyweight did nothing for him, only slowing him down. It might be he just wasn't into training and dissipation drained his potential. Perhaps he feasted on inferior competition during the war. On balance, it is very hard to say what quality of fighter he was. This was his only film I know of and he doesn't look good after one sharp opening right. As for Louis, he had regressed since 1942, but he still was a most dangerous puncher. He reflexes seem to have slowed, though. It is certainly possible though that he would have also been hit by that quick right before the war. As is usual with Louis when he was staggered or knocked down, he didn't really seem hurt and in trouble and bounced right back.
Ok, I didn't know those details about Mauriello. He did sound pretty good there for a while. But one of the ring's great prodigies? You seem to be taking it to the other extreme Jase, if I may call you that.
Almost becoming a champion at 18? Fighting Bivins on almost even terms at 19? I think he got very good at a younger age than almost anyone. But he peaked as a teenager. What I mean by prodigy is that he was exceptionally good when very young.
Outweighed by 19 pounds...basically a CW vs a HW. And the weigh in was 6 hours before the bout so those weights are at the level they were fighting, not a rehydrated 15 pounds. The big shot that Mauriello lands may have looked like the one Flynn ko'd Dempsey with: a quick, early shot before they were warmed up.
Just sat down and watched this one quickly - can't really watch it slowly, can you - and I thought it was pretty good. Hardly Mancini-Frias in terms of a great first round, but solid nonetheless. I don't think Louis was actually that hurt, though. He seemed to take it while stepping backwards, recovered in about three seconds and the punch, itself didn't look particularly nasty. If Louis was hurt, it undoubtedly the result of just being caught cold.
