Russ Anber on Marciano.

I don't have sound on my PC so unfortunately I can't hear the commentary, but here's my 2c...

Charles was more or less hand picked for Marciano. After the LaStarza fight, Rocky's camp were looking for an opponent less demanding. Charles was seen as the right choice because although still a big name and a good fighter, he was seen as someone on the slide.
The irony is though, that an unexpectedly spirited Charles showed up and gave Marciano a tougher fight than LaStarza did. Maybe the fact that Charles was the number 1 contender is incidental...

By the way, Cockell was also 'hand picked.' He was seen as a test run for Marciano's nose, which had been split in the 2nd Charles fight.

But saying hand picked makes it sound like Rocky was fighting bums, which wasn't the case. Let's just say he picked two opponents who were deemed 'safe' at the time. Most champions do it, it's no big deal. In fact, it's good management.

 

Most of the other heavyweight champions and incl. the greats LOST to at least one of their "safe", "low risk" or "handpicked" opponents.

Louis did, against Schmeling.
Liston did, against Clay.
Ali did, twice.(Against Norton and Spinks)
Holmes did, against Spinks.
Tyson did, twice. (Douglas and Holyfield, both "low risk" and "handpicked")
Lewis did, twice. (McCall and Rahman)
Foreman did, against a "low risk" Muhammad Ali.

 

Well, for sure Moore wasn't hand-picked. Moore earned that one.

By the way, I'm just relaying what I've read about the Charles fight. Don't shoot the messenger. The book was Russell Sullivan's work on Marciano called 'The Rock Of His Times.'
Read it if you haven't already.

 

What else does this Russ Anber guy say about Marciano, by the way? I'm curious now.

PS-I agree that Charles was deserving of a shot. I do think the reason's given by Sullivan as to why it actually happened seem plausible enough though.

 

Charles might be seen as someone on the slide, but where was he sliding from? Charles was arguably at one time the best or one of the best p4p fighters in the world. Valdes had been a preliminary fighter who lost four straight fights earlier in 1953 before upsetting Charles. Charles simply could be sold to the public.

Charles came into the Marciano fight with an impressive ko of Satterfield, who in turn would later beat Valdes decisively. The IBC wanted Valdes to fight Charles, the winner to get Marciano, but Valdes balked at fighting Charles again and opted to wait his turn.

I think it is valid to criticize Marciano for fighting Cockell rather than Valdes. To criticize him for fighting Charles is captious and rather ignorant. To criticize him for fighting Moore is beyond ignorant.

 

Not True, Charles was never handpicked. Rockys management in 1953 were deciding whether to fight lastarza or charles, and they chose lastarza FIRST because he was viewed as the easy less dangerous challenger. So Weill in essence put charles off until 1954. In early 1954, Charlie Goldman went to Weill and asked him to set up a fight with nino valdez as a TUNEUP for the fight with charles in the fall, but weill declined. thats how much goldman thought of charles compared to valdez. Valdez certainly was a good fighter though from the film I have of him. Charles with his knockouts over ranked contenders big punchers coley wallace and bob satterfield firmly secured himself back into the # 1 ranking(when valdez refused a rematch with ezz) and his promised title shot by the IBC(IBC wanted to help charles out because he had been so good about defending his title so activley during his title reign)......but Charles earned his shot in the ring.



The only handpicked fighter marciano took on was don cockell. I really dont see how you claim charles was handpicked, yet moore was not?

 

Yet charles was handpicked?? how does that work despite his wins over ranked punchers rex layne, coley wallace, bob satterfield, or his highly controversial split decision loss against harold johnson(who shut out valdez 10 rounds to zero). Going into the marciano fight, charles had won 11 out of his last 13.... 4 wins against ranked contenders, with one veryquestionable loss. whats the difference between moore and charles?

 

Btw Russ Amber does not know what he is talking about. He claims marcianos camp refused to fight valdez in fear of getting knocked out. This is ridiculous when you look at the fact Valdez-Marciano fight was scheduled to take place in Miami in the winter of 55 where it would draw there, but valdez lost to moore in the title eliminator ruining his chanes. Valdez was going to get his shot. Also Russ should take into consideration Valdez lost to 5'10 182lb bob satterfield, 5'11 180lb archie moore, 5'10 177lb harold johnson, and was given a gift over 5'11 185lb archie mcbride. Surely, I dont think marcianos camp would be scared of 5'11 185lb marciano getting overpowerd manhandled by valdez size power alone based on valdez results of fighters similiar size. Especially after seeing what marciano did to a 6'2 214lb joe louis. Valdez vs Rock would have been a good fight, maybe a battle......but stylistically rocky has more of the edge and he would break valdez mentally and physically and get him out before the 10th.

 

Marciano would have stopped Valdes IMO.Too much is made of him ,there is no credible proof that Rocky ducked Nino,Valdes blew it when he lost to Moore twice.

 

How exactly do you hand pick the No1 contender e.g. Charles?

By definition he has a better claim to fight you than enybody else you could pick.

That is why he is called the No1 contender.

If the No1 contender happens to be sombody you think is a safe oponent then that is simply good fortune.