Zale Bypassed Lamotta & Took Graziano

Odd quote considering Hostak had been a professional longer than Zale, had as many fights, and more experience at the highest level than Zale.

 

Probably a case of "He’s never been out of Seattle" east coast attitude.

 

Maybe but Zale fought outside of Chicago barely more than Hostak fought outside of Seattle, Zale was hardly a world traveler either. It should be remembered that both comments posted on here originate with Zale who had a massive ego. He wrote a regular column for Boxing Illustrated in the 1960s and his penchant for self aggrandizing rivals only Tommy Loughran. The guy never thought he lost a fight and thought he could defeat anyone. He remember two particular articles, one in which he is discussing LaMotta, and another in which he is discussing Robinson, and in both he goes on and on about how he would have beaten them. Never mind the fact that he never came close to facing either one when both would have given their back teeth to fight him for the title.

 

The comments I recollect were Zale, Pian and Winch speaking kindly about Hostak.

 

"The guy never thought he lost a fight and thought he could defeat anyone."

How many other fighters could we say the same thing about?

I do think he really believed he could defeat either and the fact that he didn't face them had more to do with who his managers and men like Mike Jacobs and others wanted him to fight instead. I read that in the case of the selection of Graziano over LaMotta as his opponent Mike Jacobs was convinced a fight with Graziano would draw a larger gate.

 

Boxing is a business. Rocky Graziano was the greatest drawing card among non-heavyweights by a huge margin at the time. A great case can be made that Graziano was far from being the most formidable middleweight at the time and that fact figured in the equation for him to get a shot at the title over more deserving contenders. But the fact remains that Graziano was a very formidable fighter as Zale found out when he fought him. There have been far less formidable and much less deserving fighters than Graziano who got title shots throughout boxing history.

- Chuck Johnston

 

^^^ correct and

always nice to find level headed honest composed answers, facts and truth.

 

Recollect Art Rust Jr who was a pioneer in black sportscasting and the highest level expert on SRR-
relay to his audience the following conversation.

Gainford
"Lets fight Zale"
SRR "You fight him"

 

He shoulda wrote a book on SRR.
He had Charley Burley on his show back in the early 80s. Nobody knew who CB was!

 

Quick! What IBHOFers and world title claimants had LOW opinions of themselves, aside from Floyd Patterson and Gerrie Coetzee?

 

My point is that Zale, who had a ridiculously inflated opinion of himself, is the source for the story. And yes, all fighters have a high opinion of themselves but guys like Zale and Loughran took it to a level of hubris that is completely out of whack with reality. Im sure LaMotta (and others) have a different take on why Zale chose the least qualified "contender" over several people who would have been more difficult opponents. If we only take one side of the story over every one else involved its a pretty narrow view. Besides, I can see why Zale would say he didnt duck anyone. I cant see why his lifelong friend and former sparring partner who was present at the time of the events would lie and say that Zale avoided LaMotta.

 

Graziano was the guy that the public wanted to see Zale fight. After he upset Billy Arnold in March of 45 the press ate his story up. They started calling him the new Stanley Ketchel and one scribed said he was the deadliest killer in the ring since Jack Dempsey. After the Arnold fight, he KO'd Solomon Stewart in Washington D.C., and then knocked out Al "Bummy Davis", Freddie Cochrane (twice) and Harold Green in four appearances at Madison Square Garden and. He followed that up with two more victories in the Garden over Sonny Horne (UD) and Marty Servo (TKO). At that point, Graziano was the media darling and the guy that more of the fans wanted to see in action, regardless of whether or not La Motta deserved the shot more. Mike Jacobs was convinced he would draw the larger gate.

All I can tell you is that Tony always told Ted Zale (his nephew) that he followed the advice of his management when it came to the selection of his opponents. That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Tony preferred the idea of fighting Graziano over LaMotta as well. But, in terms of what made the most sense financially at the time I am convinced it was to fight Graziano over LaMotta.

I'm not familiar with Leon Thompson or how good of a friend he may have been with Tony. I spent the past couple of years working on a biography about Tony with Ted Zale and his name never came up although a number of other friends did. Ted say's he never heard of Mr. Thompson. I just contacted him and he said he will check with those that are still alive to see what they might remember about him. Ted said he'd also check with his older brother Joe (now 82) to see what he might know.