Marciano's Thoughts on Sonny Liston

Would love to hear about that. Care to elaborate McGrain?

 

I think it was in the The Rock of His Times...

It was said Marciano was considering a comeback after Patterson dropped the title. He said something to the effect of "I can lick Liston, I'm not scared of him like Floyd, and I know how to get under his jab." He was very confident he had the tools to get the job done even after his retirement.

 

He was right...Rocky was not a bully he was a humble like his hero Joe Louis....Liston was a hero to Foreman but they were humbled

 

I could see it. Marciano was untested agaisnt a heavy of that size and reach, but Liston was a bully, and I may get some **** for this, but I always thought he was one of the most overrated. Several of his toughest opponents accussed him of cheating with the ointment- Folley, Machon, Willams and Ali. A great fighter does not have to resort to that.

I could easily see Marciano winnning a decison by just outlanding him with the big volume he threw.

 

:good:yep:yep Thats exactly what i thought when i read that post.

 

The upcoming prospect Liston retired Marciano in his training camp.

 

Iono about Marciano managing Liston, but I do know for a fact that quite a few lucrative offers came Marciano's way to fight Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston---even in the early 60's there was an article done in Sports Illustrated of a millionaire wanting to offer the aging Marciano a multi-million dollar purse to fight Muhammad Ali. Of course, Marciano turned down all the offers---the closest ever coming out of retirement was the month or two he trained for a possible show down against Ingemar Johansson; had Ingo defeated Patterson in the rubber match, there may very well have been a comeback. SusieQ (Brockton) may disagree with me on that, as he says Marciano simply did not pursue it because he realized the inactivity and fast paced life style after boxing ruined him, but according to Lou Duva the deal was signed and Marciano was serious.

Who knows for sure whats the true story, but man oh man, what I would have given to have seen Marciano against that trio, Patterson, Johansson and Liston---certainly they would have been the only three capable of generating the money and intrest Marciano was always hoping for during his title reign that never quite came. I recall Marciano being asked by a group of kids whether or not he could have beaten Patterson, Rocky ever the gentleman said this, which made alot of sense:

"If I said I could beat him, you would think I was bragging. If I said I couldn't, then I would be lying."

H2H, prime Marciano, imho would have defeated Patterson in the manner he did Moore. Had he not retired in 1956, he could have closed out that year against Patterson or Hurricane Jackson. It would have been interesting to see what would have transpired, had it ever taken place.

 

good lord I hope you are being facetious. Marciano retired due to back problems and managerial dissagreements, both of which made it unenjoyable for him to fight.

 

you are 100% correct but i couldn't ever see marciano lasting very long,let alone beating liston.

 

You mean the same problems Joe Louis had when he faced Marciano? :think


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdjblkRkoPU[/ame]

 

Lets not let this turn into a dispute over the boxing condition of Louis or Marciano, but to the subject at hand, Marciano's opinion/feelings on Sonny Liston. Otherwise we'll just go through the same old BS with people exaggerating Louis' age and ability when he fought Marciano, and over look Marciano's growing hatred of Al Weil---the back problems, imo, were bull****, it was just an excuse to get out of contract with Weil. Marciano figured if the contract was null and void he could return and be a free agent, and that Weil or nobody could take any more money from him; unfortunately the opprotunity to make a comeback seemed pointless, the drawing power Marciano required from a 'would be' opponent to make it all worth while just wasnt there until Johansson came about. When Johansson lost the rubber match to Patterson, Rocky's chance disappeared, the money was there, the title was there for the taking, Johansson's brawling style would have suited Marciano greatly---as he wouldnt have to chase down the big Swede, as he would come right at The Rock. Anything else Marciano still had was power, he had a puncher's chance, even at 45 he was still strong during the filming of the computer fight with Ali, so it gots to show you that back then Marciano, only a few years removed from the title, would have still been dangerous.

 

I love this scene.

 

And again, I understand but complteely see it diifferently.

Liston was accussed of cheating with the ointment with Williams, Machon,F oley and Ali. I consider it extremely unlikely all of these fighters would have complained about ointment in the eyes unless threre was indeed ointment int he eyes, and thus, I consider Liston a cheater. Great fighters don't need that kind of help, and thus, I consider Liston overrated.

I concede that Marciano never faced anyone as big/good as Liston, especially with that great reach. But again, to counter balance that arguement, isn't it at least feasable that Marciano simply outpoints Liston simply on the fact theat he threw an incredible volume?

I would concede that it is a toss up based on the fact that Marciano never faced a big guy like Liston, but hell, its at least a toss up.

 

Any more info on Liston using ointment with other fighters, hadnt heard of all of those saying that, just Ali and 1 other

 

As far as menthol getting into anyone's eyes, I remember Marciano too had this happen to him in the ring. People go on about Ali's bravery against Liston blind for a few rounds, but Marciano was blinded too against Walcott. The Rock fought with blurred vision in the late rounds, getting chopped up by Walcott, but he still made it through and won the championship.