Do you give Zale a pass for fighting graziano over number 1 rated Lamotta?

Of course.
Graziano was the bigger draw. The money was bigger.
The promoter who ran boxing wanted Zale-Graziano. The fans wanted Zale-Graziano.

Also, LaMotta, Burley .. who perhaps were rated ahead of Graziano, hadn't actually faced each other or faced Graziano, so there was no convincing reason for Zale to pass on Graziano on any grounds whatsoever.

 

At that stage of his career yes.

 

And ... nobody cared.

Zale-Graziano 1 drew almost $350,000, a considerable amount for a middleweight fight. And the fans were not disappointed, setting up a return match the next summer.

Burley would have drawn miserable amount in comparison.

Also, Graziano was the betting favourite, so he was not considered a "soft touch" for the comebacking Zale at all.

 

They do it all the time.
Especially if #3 is the money fight.

Only an idiot would fight the 'tougher' opponent for less money, and against the wishes of the fans.

 

Nobody cared.
Graziano was considered a legitimate threat to a champion who had been out for 4 years during the war.
He proved to be too.

Your criticisms make no sense. Zale fought the fighter people wanted him to fight. Zale accepted the fight that brought in the big money.
He was a professional. Boxing was his job.
So what should he have done ?

 

Can you just remind me the name of that group of fighters again Suzie? :roll:

 

Only against your constant ridiculous attacks. I'm telling you where you are wrong.
Most of us are bored of you. I won't waste much more time on this.

I don't have an all-time list at 160.
Zale was a decent champion, a good one even. Also, regaining the title was a great achievement.

I haven't seen most of those fighters. Have you ?

 

You asked a specific question, I answered it.

You've mentioned Lamotta. Jake won the title in June 1949, the number one challenger at the end of the year was Robinson ,Robinson was the number one challenger for 1950 too yet Lamotta didn't fight him until Febuary 1951?

Are you ok with that? Does Jake get," a free pass for that"?:think
How about Lamotta not defending against Dave Sands who was the number 2 contender in1949, and number 3 in 1950?
How about Jake having 4 over the weight fights after he won the title? Yet not defending it until the next year when he fought Tiberio Mitri in July, a full 11 months later ? You seem somewhat selective about whom you castigate to me.:huh