I didn't think any footage of this classic fight existed but I came across this on youtube. It's clearly shot from in the crowd,from a fair distance away,has no audio and the quality is very poor but I reckon any footage of this fight is well worth a look. I'm interested if any of our more experienced posters like Bert Bienstock or John Garfield were at ringside for this and what their memories of it are if they were. It sure looks action packed from the available footage. Anyway I hope you enjoy:good [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i--Xggp7ZMI[/ame]
Whether footage is clear or not, I've seen enough to make my determination........ Graziano was a natural 154 pounder posing as a 160 pounder....... Zale was a natural 168- 170 pounder who dipped to 160 for practical purposes...... Graziano always said with Zale, it came down to who hit paydirt first...... A great trilogy....... 'Nuff said...... MR.BILL
Thanks YG for this snippet of their historic fight...Had to be seen to be believed. No, I did not see any of the 3 fights. Their first bout was in NY and the last two wars were out of town. But my ears were glued to the radio... I saw Rocky Graziano coming up from the prelims, to main events many times, including his bouts with a tough acquaintance of my father, Harold Green...I have posted this before, but it bears repeating, watching young Rocky Graziano fight to being witness to a street brawl..He was the most exciting fighter I have ever seen, without doubt..A Digitalis fighter ... Rocky was then called by some oldtimers "The Poor Man's Stanley Ketchel" One reason I believe the Zale/Graziano trilogy were so exciting was The fact that Tony Zale after 4 years in the service was was 33 years old and past his prime when he fought Rocky in 1946...The pre war Zale that beat Al Hostak, Fred Apostoli, Georgie Abrams etc, would have licked Graziano handily,without much trouble....But what battles Tony and Rocky fought!
Thanks Burt. Graziano was a tad right hand happy (but if you could whack like that with it why not?) but what an intense aggressive fighter.I've read that his 2nd KO of Freddie Cochrane was particularly brutal with a remorseless Graziano pummeling poor old Red for 7 knockdowns before rendering him unconcious. As Bill said he was someone who was better suited to Jnr Middleweight had it existed then but what an excitement machine!
Yes Griffo, Bill and you are right...Rocky Graziano was a NATURAL 154 pound fighter, having to fight in the middleweight division in those days..But so was Stanley Ketchel, a natural 154 pd, fighter..But the YOUNG Rocky had to been seen, to be believed....An authentic tough guy,street fighter with gloves on..b.b.
