Educate me on Nino LaRocca

Larocca gets a little underrated at times.He beat some decent fighters like Bobby Joe Young,a faded Pete Ranzany and such.He got destroyed by Curry who at that time was the best boxer in the world.

 

I don't believe he was overrated. He was a gatekeeper with good skill and above average speed. His average chin and power kept him out of the b ig leagues

 

I saw him school Bobby Joe Young on TV and Cosell was announcing. I thought he was the real deal based on that night. Then Curry snuffed him out as bad as LaRocca schooled Young.

 

To be fair, LaRocca fought in the European circuit. & dominated the competition there before coming to America. He fought a couple of american contenders, but wasn't ready for true World class competition. He was called "The Italian Ali" because he moved & boxed strikingly simular to a young Ali. The fight with Ranzany was pure poetry. LaRocca moved perfectly & dismantling Pete. But these fighters were a far cry from the skills of Curry. & LaRocca wasn't ready, He was beaten pretty bad & it ruined the rest of his career.

 

ranzany was shot when he fought Nino.

I don't think Larocca was ruined by Curry.He just didn't have much stomach for a tough fight and fought the same way before and after that bout.

He avoided most of Europes better Welters at the time like Jones, Rosi and Honeyghan who would have exposed him before he got to Donald.