I was watching the final Marciano bouts on Ringside, with Brian Kenny, Bert Sugar, Lou Duva, and others. It is common knowledge that Marciano had a split nose vs Charles in the re-match. What I did not know is Marciano wanted a mirror in the corner to look at his nose in-between rounds, but Goldman said no. Then one of Marciano’s corner men, poured cement like substance into Rocky’s nose to stop the bleeding. The instant fusion convinced the ref to allow the fight to go on another round. Rocky, sensing he needed a knockout delivered one ( with the aid of a few rabbit punches ), which I suppose were more tolerable in the 1950’s than they are now. After the fight ended, Marciano finally got to look in the mirror. Marciano, a man with blood and guts to spare got his chance to look at his nose. He became weak in the knees and had to sit down. Rocky’s brother’s were interviewed, and they said his nose was somethinh they would never forget. After the fight, Marciano went to the hospital to get surgery to root out the cement, and stitch the nose together. A great corner man in boxing is like a great jockey in horse racing, Sometimes if the horse gets into trouble early, the jockey can push the right buttons, and guide the horse out. Much as Dundee likely saved Ali from TWO TKO Losses, I believe Goldman’s quick thinking and guidance helped save the day for Rocky.
Did you know Charles had won only 1 round on all 3 score cards leading to the fight. Did you know the Doc, who was the only one that can stop the fight said he was not going to stop it, reason, was not effected Marciano's vision. Sure Marciano was in need of a ko perhaps, but he was not in the dire trouble myth made it out to be. Still it was a bad cut.
A "nose-nectomy" should be an automatic reason for stoppage, especially if you have to use "Superglue" to hold it together..... doctors opinion or not.
ESPN classic, which has first hand testimolas from Marcianos corner man and his brothers disagree. In truth, the fight was close to being stopped. I credit Goldman here. Did you see the show?
It was not a bad cut in regards to fighting, I mean we had guys with there ears split open in today's era and they went on. Whats the big deal about a nose?
Suger is going by the myths in most of his ringsides. IE, that was a hell of a punch that Firpo hit Dempsey with. I dont count Goldman as he just sort of relly builds up on the myth. Rocky Marciano, Rock of his times, by Russell Sullivan. "Much of this is in fact legend. The cut was bad for sure, but few at ringside that night reported that the bout was in danger of being stopped. Even more significant, the man who had the authority to stop the fight, Dr. Alxandar Schiff, the ringside physician- revealed several days later, that he had no intention of calling a halt to the proceedings."I wouldn't have stopped it for the cut. This was a championship fight. Even though in twentynine years of treating boxers, I have never seen the nostril torn right through, I knew Rocky was not too hurt to continue with a cut of that type." Page 231.
Interesting how facts can change over the years, like the Ali spit glove with Cooper saving him from getting ko'd a lot of that was story. Rockys nose did look bad but in reality, I guess it would not be a danger, only to Rockys good looks, but I dont think they were going to use him to be a leading man in movies and Rocky would not quit if his nose was on the floor...what a difference with Hasim Rahman in his last fight with that scratch above his eye,and Rahman with his head swolen (scary) in the Holyfield fight wanted to fight go figure... Vitali had a real bad one vs Lewis and he was blinded but wanted to go on....now that one I could see stopping
