Sure, just so long as you know schulberg was no athlete. A guy has to make it to competitive level at boxing to offer any kind of workout in sparring for real fighters. This is what qualifies somebody as a boxing person. A non participating matchmaker or coach actively involved in the sport also counts. But writing about the sport, being friends with fighters, putting your name to the management of a fighter, Having a photo in a ring with someone simply wont do. Boxing people are actively and primarily involved.
He competed in a wrestling match with Tom Jenkins, and his strength was said to be a match for Jenkins, only losing to Jenkins superior skill. IIRC the match was made after Sharkey did shockingly well in a contest which was simply supposed to be how long Sharkey could survive. A lot of the bareknuckle guys were successful in other sports, like Tom King and Jem Mace. Going back way further one of the 1700's bareknuckle guys who fought Jack Slack was also a Cricket player, Tom Faulkner.
This. Marciano was way too far gone at 39 years old to beat Liston or for that matter any of the top heavyweights at the time. Marciano coming back at 39 years would’ve ended much like Joe Louis’ comeback at 36 years old, which resulted in Louis taking complete beatings from Charles and Marciano.
Difference is, almost all of Marciano's major wins are over fighters who were past their prime. Ali still has wins over two all-time great heavyweights that were younger than him- Frazier (2 yrs) and Foreman (7 yrs). Norton, Quarry, Young, Bonavena, Shavers, and Bugner were also younger than Ali. The reason all of Ali's opponents (in the 60s) were older than him is because he turned pro at the age of 18 and became a champion at the age of 22. Patterson was 30, Terrell was 27, Mildenberger/Chuvalo were 28, Cooper was 29, Jones was 26. Ali's opponents weren't too old (most), it was Ali who was too young. On the other hand, Marciano turned pro at the age of 23 and became a champion at the age of 29. Walcott was 37/38, Louis was 37, Moore was 38, Charles was 32/33 but clearly past his prime. Marciano's wins over Walcott are comparable to Ali's wins over Liston (in a way). Both were seemingly old at the time but they were also heavyweight champions. Walcott had beaten Charles twice, Liston had beaten Patterson twice. Marciano also has a top-heavy resume. If we look past his wins over the top 4, he only beat 3 other ranked fighters- LaStarza, Cockell, and Layne. None of them were great contenders. Liston beat Folley, Machen, and Williams. Some of the best heavyweights that weren't champions. Nah, Layne was definitely better but I don't know about LaStarza. Chuvalo has wins over ranked contenders like Miteff, Cleroux, Jones, and he also knocked out a prime Jerry Quarry. LaStarza fought way too many cans.
The best version of Marciano gets clowned by Liston. Louis' decrepit old jab bruised up The Rock's face. Liston's would mince, tenderize and fillet it. Too much man.
There was a story that they almost sparred in a gym when Sonny was talking trash. Rocky told them get me gloves when Liston said he would’ve knocked him out supposedly Listons handlers rushed him out
Remember at that time it still was uncommon for a champion to comeback. Sugar Ray was the 1st one to pull it off and own camp didn't think he was gonna do it. Rocky probably did the right thing unless he could have gotten $1 million or close to it.
That's fair but those were great fighters. They fell off but we're still quality defenses. Walcott for example was fighting great. He was a late bloomer like Hopkins but for a different reason.
Sonny Liston almost got his ass kicked for talking that mess to the Rock. Sonny should've thanked those guys that advised him to take off. Meanwhile Rocco was standing him the middle of the ring just pacing back and forth waiting to get a piece of Charles Sonny. Damdest thing i ever saw.
