Marciano's Thoughts on Sonny Liston

Someone said something about this in a previous thread awhile back.

From what I know, Marciano didn't particularly like Liston. Suzie Q will say otherwise, though.

Marciano and Liston almost got into a fight in the early 60's. There's 2 stories accounted on what happened.

1 supposedly was that Rocky was interviewing Liston for his radio show and Liston was talking about what would happen if they fought. Rocky was being nice saying "I don't know, you're a big guy Sonny." To which Sonny abruptly cut him off to, "I'd crush him." Rocky said if he felt that way they could get in the ring right now and fight.

The other story, according to Lou Duva is that Rocky overheard Liston when being interviewed saying he "Hit harder than Rocky." Rocky was offended and said they could settle that and fight. Liston's handlers got him the hell away from Rocky after that apparently.

 

He seems to have spoken highly of Liston. He said that if he had ever had to fight Sonny Liston he would have worked on his defence a lot more.

They nearly got into the ring together once.

They were bot being interviewed and they were both asked in turn how they would have come off if they had fought.

Rocky said:

"I dont know he is an awfully big guy".

Liston said:

"I would have licked him".

Marciano took offense at this despite having just said exactly the same thing himselkf and challenged Liston to go four rounds with him then and there.

Wiser people intervened and seperated them.

 

I remember hearing from someone on this board of Rocky's comment on Liston before the Ali fight. He said something like he's tough and big but he's a bully and doesn't like being hit, beat, and backed down. He said something like "Once you broke his armor, he can be had!"

 

Marciano was a strange man.

He had a strong sense of politenes but if you disrespected him then watch out.

 

After that, Marciano and Liston never got along again. Marciano would later make the prediction if someone could stand up to Liston, that they would beat him, because Liston was a bully according to Rocky. Well, Marciano's statements rang true when Ali beat Liston.

 

Even in his 40s, guys like Liston and Ali could see that Marciano was an absolute monster in his prime.

Today we debate how he would have done against Bonecrusher Smith.

 

Marciano wasa smart fighter, not some unthuinking autotron moving forward and taking punches. Goldman taught him well and for the real idea of how great he was look up Dundee comments on him.:rasta

 

I wouldnt call that strange...thats being a man....

 

Yep. He said once you crack that thin bully exterior "He could be had."

I am probably one of the few people that honestly believe that Marciano would have beaten Sonny Liston.

 

Yes, but what Janitor is striking at is true. He had some weird inconsistencies that he lived by.

 

Rocky feared no one. Rocky was known to have said "to live a full life, you must live dangerously" Someone said of him "Rocky had no fear & pain never bothered him". Rocky respected the word "Courage"...courage meant a lot to him. He definately did not fear Liston.