Here's a link to a peice on Johnny Arthur a late 40's and 50's heavy - much talk of MOB influence and corruption of Boxing in this and also mention (in paragraphs 9 & 10 I think) of "a fighter" who everyone feared who was supposedly was used to beat the living daylights out of anyone who was looking for a fight with Marciano - to soften them up for The Rock - does anyone beleive this story - does anyone know (or even have an inkling) of who this story might be referring to??? I'm particularly putting this question out to some of our older brothers who may have been around the scene back in the day - think John Garfield wasa regular on the gym scene at the time - maybe he might be able to confirm or deny - an interesting one anyhow http://www.***********.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233411
This is horse ****...but I wouldn't be surprised if the man they are talking about is Nino Valdes. Valdes made quite an impression on the european boxing scene with some devastating knockouts over their top fighters. He was a big guy too, at 6'3 215lb.
It was my understanding that the mob didn't think Marciano to be viable heavyweight contender and thus not worth their time. By the time this was proven not the case, it was too late for them to offer him enough to get their hooks into him.
This Boogeyman's news to me , R. I can only talk about Rock in the gym, in camp 'n my observations of his fights.
