What boxers did Rocky Marciano consciously and deliberately duck, if any?

Running thru the division? When Marciano retired on April 27, 1956 at 49-0 with 43KO's...Liston was 14-1...wasn't ranked...and was on his way to prison! He wouldn't fight again until January 29, 1958. Do some research!!!

 

13 retirements...

 

Cockell was the British champion...and he was a test for Marciano's nose that had been split in half by Ezzard Charles in their second title fight in September 1954. He took a brutal beating...was sick between rounds....but he didn't QUIT ...(unlike some we could mention!)...

 

Rocky said in an interview that they were trying set up a fight for him in June 1956...but there was really no one left to fight...

 

It was sarcasm

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1205564186/nino-valdes-vs-rocky-marciano-classic

 

Just on Baker and Valdes,

Both lost while Marciano was champion not only to Archie Moore, but badly to Bob Satterfield. Baker via a one round KO. Valdes by a one-sided decision in which he was knocked down in the last round.

Why not Satterfield rather than Baker or Valdes if Marciano would have had one more fight after Moore?

But any fight after Moore would have been an anti-climax. Moore was clearly head and shoulders above the other contenders.

As for Cockell, it is a world championship, so I think there is something to be said for defending against a non-American, or a non-American based and controlled fighter, with a high rating.

By the way, Al Weill made a public push for Baker in the summer of 1955, but the press and public demanded Moore get the shot he had earned.

 

Yep. Poor Sam was hanging around AGES for that shot!

 

Shut up Graham.

 

He had a few names Qawi, Bivins... etc. Poor fellow was ducked by Louis and Marciano. Nearly beat Evander though.

 

Think he's Fury s next defence..

 

I think the above answers the question.

 

Kudos to the Mod that banned that troll THANKYOU!!

 

Be careful when you say Marciano retired 13 fighters. Another way to spin that is to say that Marciano fought all of these guys at the tail end of their careers when they were washed up. A person can make the argument that Rocky took up a full year (Weill had a schedule of accepting only two defenses per year) defending his crown against Charles who had lost two of his prior four fights before fighting Rocky. Charles lasted the distance against Rocky in the first fight in June, but the decision was not in doubt. Why shouldn't Charles have been required to earn the rematch by defeating another top contender like Dempsey had to do after the first Tunney fight? Then Rocky could have defended the title against someone else in September and met Ezzard in his first title defense in 1955. If Charles had lost to the top contender then that would have developed yet another challenger for Rocky to fight in 1955. All I'm saying is that Rocky did the bare minimum to establish himself as an all-time great champion by defending his title twice a year, especially when you consider that the two defenses against Charles occurred in the middle of his title run. Champions like Louis, Ali, Holmes, and Tyson were a lot more thorough in cleaning up the division during their title reigns than Rocky.

 

thats a fair statement. However It should be noted Marciano-Charles I was an all time classic, the sports writers of the day demanded a rematch because of the action packed war both fighters put on a show. Charles gained a huge amount of respect. The Charles rematch was the fight to make. It was a close fight not a shutout like Tunney put on Dempsey.

No one knew Charles would show up to the rematch 8lb heavier and softer and put up a stinker. Marciano dominated except for Charles landing a fluke elbow that split his nose. Too credit marcianos greatness, in the new book the official is quoted as saying he would not let Marciano continue after the 8th round . Marciano knocked Charles out with 23 seconds left. Talk about clutch!!! Charles survives 23 more seconds he’s champion. Marciano was always so clutch when he needed to be
“thorough”

idk Marciano beat every number 1 contender of his era besides Valdes …who actually lost 3 title eliminators! (I do think Marciano should have fought him instead of cockell)

But point being Marciano was very efficient in taking on best available. That said, he did miss out on some interesting styles of that era and it would have been nice for him to have been more active. However read his new book, his manager Al Weill didn’t want him fighting more than 2x per year, he liked keeping him healthy and fresh and maximized his longevity. Also Marciano was ready to retire early by 1955. He felt himself unable to train as hard physically and he didn’t want to end up like past champions who stayed one fight too long. He got himself in peak condition for a fight against the best of his era archie moore, destroyed him then retired