Marciano vs LaStarza 1, Marciano-Layne were 2 of these fights, Tua vs Ike was another. Lennox vs Rudduck not quite but close....Can you think of other tough matched fights between top contenders with good records or unbeaten fighting so tough at this stage of their careers?
In regards to fighting tough opposition as a professional boxer at the beginning of one's career, take a look at Fidel LaBarba's record. He fought Jimmy McLarnin (three times) and Newsboy Brown (one time) in addition to winning the vacant National Boxing Association version of the world flyweight title in a bout with Frankie Genaro during his first year as a pro. He also fought regular main eventers such as Young Nationalista (one time), Georgie Rivers (two times) and Teddy Silva (one time) during the same year. - Chuck Johnston
I suppose as you go back aways, with less multiple baubles about "Ëlimination bouts " were usually a hurdle to be broached in seeking a Mandatory spot, with "Final Eliminators" being the last hurdle, to a title shot, avoidance and awaiting your turn on the merry-go-round was not really an option, albeit champions could engage in a non-title fight or voluntary defence on occassion, I like a lot of people was rather looking forward to a Holmes Vs Norton II match but he had to come through an Eliminator with Earnie Shavers first. a tough Ask as the case proved.
Yes Bummy. In 1949, the undefeated out of town Rocky Marciano of Brockton, Mass, met a young bigger ko prospect from NY, Carmine Vingo who towered over Marciano. Vingo was kod and was hospitalized with a brain bleeding disorder and was in a coma for a long time...My dad and I were praying for the unconscious Vingo as they carried him on a stretcher to a hospital a few blocks away from old MSG. SAD...
CP,with all the screaming from the crowd, though we had close seats to the ring,we could hear nothing of Marciano's thudding punching. But, on a later occasion I watched Marciano train at Grossinger's ,Sullivan County, where I sat about 2 feet from the ring. He sparred with 3 or so guys and his punches were hellacious thuds against any part of his sparrring partners bodies... Powerful thighs and arms propelled Marciano like a battering ram....Rocky broke blood vessels on his opponents arms and torso...
My uncles thought very much of Vingo and both guys were green at the time but were matched up well, I heard Vingo was a banger but did not possess the finishing skills at the time but had great potential...its a shame what occurred but with the prayers of many including the Marciano's and the Bienstock's, Carmine lived on. LaStarza was another guy that Marciano ruined and Roland was a very skillful guy In light of the Perez -Mago aftermath I started this post prior to, It was a great fight where both men gave there all and both men could have taken an easier path....I hope and pray for a healthy recovery for Mago
Good question. In answer to the thread...John Tate sure did fight a lot of tough matches before he won the title. And he often fought in the other guy's backyard. A lot of those fights he should never have been in and there weren't any other heavyweight managers throwing their guy in the lions den with their guy like that. Ron Lyle fought some real advanced seasoned pro's as well. Interestingly, he was matched with the tough to ko guys--which the hitters seldom are. Usually it's puncher vs a guy with a history of being stopped. But at that advanced age and such a late start, there wasn't really another path to take at a time with those popular champs in Frazier/Foreman and Ali. Not exactly optimal timing. Another journeyman type guy from the late 70's seldom mentioned anymore was Stan Ward. He was another guy matched tough and very early from the start. And prior to that he made his name as a Foreman sparring partner which was no easy assignment either. My favorite though might be Kostya Tszyu. Man, from that olympic pedigree to some tough names early on. But you could watch him improve, as opposed to the others which seemed to take a pretty good sized toll. DLH was similar to Kostya, but I always thought he hand more handpicking at his disposal with those opponent selections. But the guy kept showing improvement, and had a lot of big fights early on. Mention should also go to Muhammad Ali. Just think of what manager in recent times is putting his young 21 year old in with a top ranked left hooker? And then fight that guy in a foreign country in front of 45,000 fans? And he fought lots of other good solid opponents early. Man, that Angie Dundee sure did know how to guage his guys and match them tough, but not tough enough to lose. What a wonderful skill.
