Why didn't Marciano look to get one more win?

I think at the time of his retirement Rocky had lost his desire for the game. That plus his back problems and battles with his manager led him to call it a career. Fighters of Rocky's ilk aren't designed for longevity anyway. The "have to take 3 to land 1" method can only last for so long before it starts to take it's toll on you. Rocky had to live like a monk during training and he probably got sick of it. It's also possible that Rocky may have glimpsed what was on the boxing horizon and realised that maybe it was time to get out wiyh his perfect record intact forever.

 

Perceptive post .:good

 

there was nothing on the horizon to fill a ball park at that time. marciano was only available to fight on the east coast between may and September, he knew if nothing came up by April it would be too late to be ready for may. if he missed a may date he would be too rusty to fight in September -a whole year since he last fought.

In actual fact marciano genuinly cleaned out the division since his top ten was awash with contenders he had already beat or guys his victims beat. The only contenders who had a rating who had not been defeated by marciano or a victim of his at that time was Willie pastrano and I think young jack johnson -two indoor fights if ever there was!! Floyd was still a light heavy UNTIL marciano announced his retirement.

 

I dont think Marciano can see the likes of Liston coming up a good 6 or so years AFTER he retire. Marciano was not a physic.

 

If anything the opposite is the case.

Rocky Marciano did not have a crystal ball, so he had no way of knowing which contenders would turn out to be the real deal and which would be busts. You have to try view the heavyweight division as a spotlight shining on fighters records up to the date of his retirment and darkness beyond. In this context the heavyweight division would have apperaed more barren than it was, with no standout challengers.

 

this is exactly what was said at the time. nobody looked a worthy enough test for rocky. it was either a rematch with moore who rocky already knocked out or bob baker who satterfeild (who charles knocked out) and moore had already knocked out.

 

The fighters Rocky beat were not head and shoulders above the other challengers. They lost as many as they won against the other top contenders. The exception was Archie Moore. It was not a great time for heavyweights. I was disappointed Rocky did not fight Jackson or Valdes.

Floyd Paterson remarks are poor, Floyd was 21 when he beat Archie Moore a year after Rocky retired. Floyd was basically a light heavy as was Archie in 1956. In 1954 Floyd was looking like a middleweight.

You can argue Rocky retired seeing Floyd arriving on the scene if you want. However Rocky had retired time Floyd fought his heavyweight eliminator. given the contest would be against Archie for the heavyweight title who rocky had just beat I think ducking is unlikely. Floyd had only fought 5 heavyweightas time he fought Moore and was 21, so holding him back to avoid Rocky is crap to.

 

I don't think that Valdez or Baker had a better claim for a title shot than the guys that Rocky Marciano fought.

Everybody except Cockell was the curent #1 ranked contender at the time of the fights.

 

He was afraid of Floyd Patterson.

 

The only time marciano could have fought valdes was over charles the first time. charles was a bigger draw since he was sensational against walace and satterfeild and had not been beaten decisivly as a heavywieght other than the one time by walcott a man he beat twice and almost a third time.. valdes was a big guy but his rating was based on a close home points win over charles (who he never faced again) after a losing streak. jackson was still a novice. flatened by valdes and was but a sparring partner to rocky. agreeably don cockell was no more worthy with hindsight but he had a title and was the first guy to beat lastarza and stop kid mathews since rocky. saying "I was disapointed rocky did not fight valdes and jackson" is not saying much when there was bigger fish to fry. Its not like saying "i was disapointed holmes did not fight page or dokes".

 

I don't normally swear on here but this statement is utter bollocks...unless you can provide evidence to the contrary. You say this as if it's fact - prove it.

These kind of comments about Marciano really pee me off...heresay passed off as "fact". Do you honestly really think that a man of Marciano's bravery and warrior mentality was scared of Floyd Patterson? Do me a favour.

Coming out with a comment like this indicates that you don't know much about this sublect at all.

 

Why do people even assume:

A. That Rocky Marciano had necisarily identified Floyd Patterson as the most dangerous prospect at the time.

or

B. That his next title defence would necesarily have been against Floyd Patterson.

Either would imply a lot of foresight on his part.

 

Had Marciano went on, I dont think Patterson would have been next in line, perhaps Jackson or Valez would have goten there chance before Patterson.

 

Pastrano might be a fair pick.