If Marciano had fought on and beaten Valdez, who after that?

I feel that if Rocky had continued fighting somebody would have beaten him that he otherwise would have handled.

 

It would have been Baker. Marciano was going to meet Baker as his 50 fight but decided to retire for a multitude of reasons.

 

You would be wrong about Baker as he was chosen to fight Marciano and was booked for the Feb before Marciano retired (think Feb).
Side note Marciano made Hurricane puke in the ring with a body shot during sparring when he was a young up and comer.

 

He would make me do worse than puke.I would need to be wearing brown trunks!

 

GP, this would be news to me. I have an article in front of me from Feb. 2nd of '56 where Jim Norris - the boss of boxing back in the day - who was talking about what was coming up for Rocky and he said that he had the impression that Rocky wasn't going to fight again until September (we all know Rocky retired at the end of April) and was asked who would be the likely opponent. Norris said in order to come up with a suitable opponent he would match Floyd Patterson against Johnny Holman and match the winner against the winner of the upcoming Bob Baker-Hurricane Jackson fight. I would be curious as to who stated that they had Baker signed because the media didn't seem to know about this.

 

Pastrano was also looking possible.

 

Well, Tommy Jackson, Bob Baker and Nino Valdes (in that order) were the three 'logical' contenders in the National Boxing Association ratings in early 1956.

So, if Rocky fought Nino Valdes and won ... I don't think Moore or Patterson move up.

Archie Moore was still the Light Heavyweight Champion in 1956 and Floyd was rated #1. If Rocky didn't retire, I don't think Archie gets a rematch so he remains at 175, and Floyd probably stays at 175, too. So Floyd doesn't face or beat Hurricane Jackson and, instead, Floyd and Moore fight at light heavy in 1956 for Archie's title.

Since "Hurricane" Jackson beat Bob Baker twice in 1956 (and doesn't lose to Patterson in this scenario), Jackson seems to have the clear path to the title shot, unless Valdes and Marciano was close and Rocky offers Nino a rematch.

Other than Jackson and Valdes (2), Pastrano might have an outside chance of getting a crack. But I can't see anyone getting too excited about that one.

Side note: By the end of 1956, Eddie Machen was rated #4 and Ingemar Johansson was rated #7 by the National Boxing Association.

So, if Rocky gets past Valdes and Jackson in 1956, he could've been squaring off with Eddie or Ingo as early as 1957.

 

Thanks for the info mcvey.

 

I wouldn’t pick Willie to beat the Rock, but I’d give him a chance to maybe, just maybe pull it off with a clever boxing performance against a Marciano who went one fight too many.

Fighters often get old overnight and if Rocky slipped enough before a 50th fight, he might just be one step behind Pastrano all the way.

 

I don’t remember which book I read it in at this point. I’ve read many. I know I read it though (could be wrong about Feb date but I remember it being looked to be schedules for the early part of the year)

 

OK. I certainly don't doubt that you read it. But for the media to be unaware, I'm wondering if it was more verbal/promissory. As in, "Hey, Bob, your next!" type of thing. Would have loved to have seen it. Rocky's power against Baker's size, heft and combinations. I think it would have been a good fight before Rocky lowered the boom between rounds 8-10.

 

I think it’d have been cool to see him fight Harold Johnson or Joey Maxim for my pleasure and then Satterfield as a going away party - I wouldn’t mind one more fight with Moore for the road.