Marty Servo beat Sugar Ray Robinson on the referees scorecard, and the crowd bood when the judges gave the decision the other way. Floyd Mayweather was ridiculed by many on here, and picked by pretty much no one when matched against Sugar Ray Leonard. Can Floyd Mayweather keep his unbeaten tag here, or does Marty manage to do to Floyd, what most people who saw his second fight with Sugar Ray, thought he did to the prime welterweight version of Sugar Ray Robinson?
Not a single person willing to take a plunge on this one? If Mayweather hasnt a hope in hell against sugar ray robinson 100% for certain according to some, surely he has the same zero chances against the man who actually beat Sugar Ray, according to many, if not most, people who actually saw the fight!
Robinson beat Servo soundly but he ran out of gas late which made him look bad. The crowd doesn't make the decisions though, newspapers had Robinson winning 8 rounds to 2 for Servo, two of the judges had him winning 9 to 1 and 6 to 3 with one even. Any analysis of a match-up between Mayweather and Servo would be simply speculation considering that there doesn't seem to be any film on Servo.
Marty Servo was a tough undefeated youngster,guided by Al Weill..Servo's promising career was ruined by a stupid decision by Weill..Weill foolishly matched Marty Servo with the young and eight pound heavier Rocky Graziano in 1946..Stronger Graziano gave Servo a terrible beating in two rounds...Servo,s nose was so badly damaged that he had to retire, and never fight again...One bad managerial decision ruined Marty Servo's promising career...
Is there any film of Servo? Seems like a stretch to make a call on this fight considering most woudlnt have seen him. I would hardly say Ray was prime either...Only 20 years old and only had a fraction of the experience he would soon have. Also was his 2nd fight in less then a month and he had already beaten Servo convincingly. I know what you are trying to get at Boiler but obviously those A beat B beat C therefore C beats A things just dont work. The only fair way to matchup hypothetically is to use examples of when both were clearly at their best...I truly dont feel Robinson was which ever way you look at it for this fight. He likely wasnt fully developed yet and from the sounds of it wasnt at very best physically, which you would expect once in a while when you are fighter fighting 14-15 times a year.
I am sure you know more than me, but didnt the referee score the fight for Servo? You are right on the crowd not making the decision, but let us not forget that in those days, unless i am mistaken, with no internet or tv coverage, the crowd was pretty much the only people who actually saw the fight and could make a judgment! The thread wasnt really aimed at the guys who have responded, more those who blindly to accept that Ray was an untouchable god. He had bad fights, he was troubled, and he was beatable (like anyone else). It isnt totally unheard of for a mayweather or another great to beat him
Very true. Though i must say i dont like to criticise managers for taking hard fights and giving fighters tests or challengers. If Servo had beaten, Graziano would this not have set him up for bigger and better things? Some might say Robinson's manager had the same issues by matching him with Monzon so often. Burt, am i correct in saying that if Servo had not gone up in weight and vacated the title, Ray would not have actually been the world champion unless he defeated Servo? (or have i got my dates and facts mixed up?)
Lamotta,not monzon. That would have ruined robbies career being matched against monzon while still a welter!
First off,when Servo vs Robinson first vfought in sept 25,1941,Servo was 22 and had about 45 bouts. Robinson was 20 years old and had about 25 fights, but loads of amateur fights...They next fought May 28,1942...Both contested decisions I recall. Both Fritzie Zivic and then Freddie Red Cochrane held the WW title... The title was frozen during wartime untilMarty Servo beat Cochrane for the WW title,Feb. 1,1946... Looking to make some big money,in an over the weight match Servo was destroyed by the 8 lb heavier sensation Rocky Graziano,in two rounds on May 29,1948,three months later....Servo was a small welterweight and was NOT looking for the middleweight crown held by Tony Zale..NO WAY.. It was for a good payday, but Graziano ended Servo's career,foolishly.. With the WW title now vacant ,Ray Robinson finally got his long due shot at the title,Dec.20,1946,against the tough Tommy Bell,winning in 15 rounds...Servo ,next to Robinson might have been the best welterweight at that time,but the nose injury by Graziano ,ended his career... Boilermaker, I hope I shed some light on that subject...b.b.