When you compare the footage, Machen appears light years ahead; technically, his chin, speed, defence and Folley with his chin in the air, stiff as a board, decent jab and counters, but incomparable to Machen, Machen had so many more tricks up his sleeve, was slippery, he’d give a target, take it away and counter, could draw you on, change levels, was fluid, could fight on the inside, had better footwork, I just don’t get how Folley beat him. This content is protected This content is protected
Machen may have been more well-rounded, but he sometimes lacked fire & intensity, particularly post-Johannsson (admittedly, the Jones fight you posted is 1 of the exceptions to that). Conversely, Foley was more willing to let his hands go & mix it up, even if it ended up being to his detriment (such as in his loss to Jones).
Machen was an unlucky guy, maybe he was in his own head? - EM was locked up in an asylum at one point from memory. Patterson didn’t even want to hit him by his word - Against Liston he broke? his right hand in a fight he might’ve done really well in, that’d bother anybody to miss your chance with the best of the era… I didn’t and probably won’t watch much of him but what he did watch… I thought he could’ve done better then he did reading boxrec but I think his mind and misfortune was his barrier you’ve got to protect your mind even if you aren’t fighter, a bit of bad luck can kill your dreams If you aren’t strong.
Not a shocker. Overall Folley was just as talented as Machen. Folley was arguably the better boxer, but Machen was the better puncher.
Both guys were enigmatic which saw inconsistency and underperforming during their careers. I like Folley, good boxer. He was also one of those guys who didn’t always exercise a pure killer instinct - after hurting Ringo at the end of one round, see him catch Bonavena to prevent him from falling - displaying sensitivities akin to those upheld by Floyd Patterson. Folley still did, however, dump Ringo officially for an 8 count with a beautiful straight right hand. Yes, Ringo was green but a tough nut is always a tough nut - and Folley partially cracked that nut. Suffice to say, with better management and opportunities, both Zora and Eddie had the potential to go further than they did. However, Patterson’s dark reign of avoidance ran block on them when they were potentially at their best, with optimistic futures perhaps still in their sights.
The fight reports for Folley vs Liston describe Zora as really dishing it to Sonny early before Liston ultimately lowered the boom. Though ultimately fatal to him, gotta credit Folley for fighting to win - as opposed to an even better informed Machen, who really only fought to survive the distance against Sonny.
