Charles at the time although won two in a row had dropped two previously and was on the beginning of his down slide. Maybe like Holyfield v Lewis. Moore was on the best streak of his career. Cleaned out the division. Charles was better p4p just not at the time they fought Rocky imo
I would say that the Walcott of the first fight, was the best opponent that he ever fought. Despite his age, Wacott really played a blinder in that fight. His toughest fight was probably the second Charles fight, because that is the fight that took him closest to the brink of disaster. For all that I don't think that Charles was as good as some of his other opponents, at this stage.
This. Back when I was in high school I seen a short film of the first fight. Lowry had a really sneaky right hand that kept finding Rocky, but fortunately for Rocky’s sake Lowry’s right hand lacked Walcott’s power.
Lowry fight was never filmed to my knowledge. Lowry was a skilled opponent who took on The Who’s who of the time. More of a stepping stone guy though.
He wasn't. Charles vs Rocky 1 was a war! Brutal. I'm surprised fans don't talk about it more. There was a point in the fight where Charles who was a tough fighter, had to yield to Rocky's non stop aggression. "It was as tough as my first fight with [url]Jersey Joe Walcott[/url], maybe tougher," said the 29-year-old unbeaten Marciano, who went 15 rounds for the first time in his career. Rocky came from behind to pound his way in a give and take action fight. You don't see ones like this today.
It was and there was even footage for the rematch, but I’ve never seen that footage myself, but my Coach’s son was personally at both fights and said Lowry deserved the decision in the first bout while Marciano deserved the decision in the rematch. Also, quite a bit of late 40’s and early 50’s fights were filmed, but are mostly in private collections. My deceased football coach had a lot of film for this time period. Jimmy Carter, who was good friends with my Grandfather also had a ton of footage for the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, but even he couldn’t find any footage on Al Gainer, who was is favorite fighter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if an old collector has some footage of him. Cameron Diaz’s father Emilio Diaz also had a huge boxing film collection. He was a huge Jack Johnson fan and had a lot of Jack Johnson footage that I’ve never seen anywhere else and even had footage on Monte Munn. When he used to sub for the film classes he would bring in old fight films or Vaudeville footage.
My Coach's son died last year, but his daughter said she would let me look at the films and even transfer some of them, since they belong to her now, so If I manage to transfer anything I'll post it on here. I used to see Jimmy a couple times a year back in the late 80's and early 90's, but when his health deteriorated around 1992-1993 my family gradually lost contact with him. Knowing Jimmy's wife she most likely donated his collection or sold it. As for Emilio Diaz I know he died over 10 years ago, but his wife was as big a boxing fan as him, so it wouldn't surprise me if she still has his collection unless he left it to either of his kids.
I think very highly of Walcott and He was Champion so he really fought hard in the first fight but Charles 1 was a great fight and Charles was still strong - both men still had excellent skills and far greater experience as Rocky but they were not the same in the rematch, despite the split nose elbow (many fighters would have quit) Marciano pulled it out strongly but needed to. Archie was crafty, skilled and brilliant ring IQ but took a horrific beating Credit to Moore he fought on but that Rocky fight took much out of him- to his credit - he was on almost a 50 fight win streak when he fought Rocky but fought to like 38-4 post Marciano I am going to watch Marciano-Charles 1 again - Great battle
