The Graziano rivalry is the stuff of legend but that aside im not as educated on him as some .. what are your thoughts on Zales ability & career overall? Where do you rank him?
The Graziano wins are his most celebrated 1s, but I don't think Rocky was necessarily his best opponent - I think Hostak & Abrams were better. I also think Zale's service in ww2 cut short his prime & deprived us of seeing his full potential play out. here's the only footage (afaik) of Zale during his pre-war prime - a non-title win over Hostak that set up a title-winning rematch, & a non-title loss to Billy Soose shortly after winning the title: This content is protected This content is protected
Thanks, i think he cited Hostak as his toughest fight.. this is a really good film on Zale: This content is protected
Nothing super profound. He was known to hang out in a bar in Georgetown, south of Seattle, The Georgetown Tavern, now gone. Rumor was he was part owner but not sure about that. I was already a big boxing scholar and part time fighter. I introduced myself and gave my respects. I ended up running into him three times and there was notable deterioration by the third time. I did once ask about Zale and Steele but got nothing out of him. But I can't tell you how cool it was just to meet a guy who was a true savage and a part of history.
I’ve met my own historic fighter it’s a different feeling ain’t it? You see the fights and here they are blood and bone. Thanks for sharing brother.
I rank him lower than most, #23 all time at MW. Allowing for slightly over the weight non title contests, he went around 59-17-1 at MW, including 5-2 in world title fights and reigned for 5.5-years and 3-months respectively. He beat Fred Apostoli, Georgie Abrams, Rocky Graziano (2-1), Al Holstak x 3, Nate Bolden (who he went 2-2 against), Ben Brown and King Wyatt, which is a decent win resume. I consider the following 9 x losses to be in and around his prime (not to be confused with at his peak, he clearly got better after the first 3 defeats I list) years - Roughouse Glober (aged 21 in Zale's 24th fight), Johnny Phagan (in his 25th fight), Dave Clark (aged 22 in his 26th fight), Manuel Davila, Nate Bolden (2-2), Jimmy Clark (avenged, Zale won their series 2-1), Celebron (0-1-1) and Billy Soose. It's a fine record and the losses I list against him are little harsh, as he improved relatively late on his career, but MW is so deep with top notch quality, for me he's not quite top 20.
Fights with some of those below would have told us more. Charles Burley Chase Booker Williams Basora Lamotta The war took Zale's prime,when he came back he was looking to his pension plan and you can't really blame him.
