Aging Marciano afraid of Patterson ...

I don't think Rocky was afraid of anyone but I do reckon that he knew that with his age and crumbling back, he was likely to lose this one. There was no way he would go into a fight feeling like that.

 

I heard it was because Rocky was losing all his hair and he didn’t want to go into the ring with his bald head or have to wear a toupee. Imagine if Patterson had knocked his wig off. Rocky would have to leave town and go into hiding.

 

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I can hardly imagine that either. Patterson won his first big fight at HW against Tommy Jackson just by SD after Rocky Marcianos retirement (elimination fight). Before, he fought just some mediocre fighters at HW. If I remember correctly, Marciano also indicated his retirement some month earlier (already 1955). Though, I don`t know the reasons exactly. Once I heard, because of disputes with his Manager Al Weill, another time. because of he had not enough time with his family and health reasons...

 

Actually, I heard just the opposite. Rocky considered a comeback just to fight Paterson. He realized his heart was no longer in the amount of training he was used to doing. Reports say he went into to training for about 2 to 3 weeks but decided to stay retired. The hunger was no longer there and he was enjoying retirement.

It was Floyd that wanted nothing to do with Marciano. He says so in his own book

Patterson admitted in his book “*Victory Over Myself,*" that D’Amato’s plan was for them to wait till Marciano retired, then fight for the vacant title, which they did against Archie Moore.
“Cus believed I had no chance with Rocky, so he decided we would just wait till Rocky retired, which was fine with me.” - Floyd Patterson

Prime for Prime Rocky beats Patterson. Liston and him would have had quite the battle ( I favor Marciano)

 

I find it hard to believe Marciano was ever afraid of any man.In an old magazine he recalled his retirement and said he would have had to wait a year for Patterson,to make it a viable proposition, and by the time Liston hit the top he wasn't tempted, as he knew he was too old.
ps Love the Avatar.Red Rag -Bull lol.

 

I heard it was Cus D'Amato that went to visit Rocky. Told him to get the hell out, give up the title and let his man fight for it against old rocking chair Archie!
Marciano took one look at Cus s bulging eyes and curled lip and said "OK Cus, whut ever you say! It's yours, all yours ''!
True to form, Marciano never fought again..
True story..

 

Source?

 

Nat Fleischer's editorial in theSept/October 1959 Ring included this snippet.
Reports of a training camp schedule mapped out for Rocky Marciano to make a come back are true only in so far as the training is concerned,but you can take the comeback story with a pinch of salt,If the word of the retired undefeated heavyweight is to be accepted .Said Marciano;"Yes,Im going into training but only to condition myself.I have to reduce many pounds if I am going to keep my health during an exhibition tour.
Vic Marsillo has arranged for me in the leading cities of Europe.I scale almost 220lbs am flabby and couldn't do justice to such a venture without hardening myself and reducing."

 

He Grant what in the literal hell?

You been coming here for a decade or more and was largely involved in countless Marciano topics, you've seen this topic 100 times, debated it even. You know very well...Marciano's next opponent was scheduled to be the Baker vs Valdes winner. Both were Moore victims and neither impressed enough in their eliminator.
Cus was keeping Patterson at LHW until Marciano retired.

I can't imagine why sone one would come here and start a topic they have been told is false and even been linked articles to multiple times over the years. End the cycle, Save your soul.

 

This is false. He was actually going to fight Baker in his last contracted fight with Weil. Not sure anyone let alone Marciano was scared of Patterson at the time.

 

Classic response, lol. Thanks, Jack. Good one

 

Marciano had his last fight on 21stSep 1955, and officially retired on April27th 1956. Patterson was not ranked in the Ring's top ten whilst Marciano was an active fighter.ie up to 55.