Rocky Marciano - The Man, The Myths & The Mafia

A discussion of Rocky Marciano fighting "old men", his alleged ducking of contender Nino Valdes and whether or not he was mob-controlled.If you wish to donate/support the channel please click here:
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[@waynegilchrist1596]

I'm now over 70 but in my prime years I had some healthy punches and was known for my speed as well. I was in quite prime condition at 27 and during a workout session I was challenged by an "old man" nearly twice my age. My mentor and coach advised me not to accept and that if I did go through with it, I was told not to dare take it easy on him. I always listened to this man we affectionately called, "Bull"! My first realization that I shouldn't have accepted the challenge was how slippery the old guy was and the biggest surprise was how fast and how hard he knocked me to the canvas! I was in a fight for survival in three of the toughest rounds I can ever remember. I wish I could say I eventually bested the old geezer, but I would be lying. Point is, I would have great reservations about calling some of these men, "old" or over the hill. My dad would take me with him to watch Rocky fight on the "Gillette Friday Night Fights" and not only was he the real deal, he was a joy to watch. I have never rejected or accepted the computer generated outcome between Marciano and Ali. I am not fond of comparing two different eras of fighters because it's not going to happen and we can't prove one way or the other and it just doesn't matter. Too many variables and Mike Tyson is an example; I was shocked when he had his first loss but it happened and anything can still happen.

[@tommcg7564]

Not the same thing. Elite boxing vs (what was it) amateur boxing.

[@dannyburch2122]

Well said Rocky was the best prize fighter that ever lived what made him so Dangerous is he threw punches from all angles an had stamina in buckets also he started his career believe he was 25 witch is old in boxing the guys Rocky fought we're very good fighter's and relly had a vastly more experience than Rocky but he was just a pure WARRIOR!

[@johnpritchard1345]

Ali said himself i don't know if I could of beat him,probably not rock by name rock by nature,skill wise worst boxer ever,but heart stamina was phenomenal

[@discernment8963]

I feel very similarly, I've also got experience inside the ropes. Mike Tyson in many ways physically was an "evolved" version of Rocky Marciano. If he'd had the mental strength and mind set of RM, I've always believed he pretty much could've been champ as long as he chose be. Mind set includes knowing the "when 2say when" age/wear n tear wise part also.

[@mbrawthen]

Yo Wayne; You , me and everyone else on here cannot answer the question; who would have won the fight between Ali and Rocky!!! We can, however, Take it from Ali himself. On a question about a hypothetical fight against Marciano, and upon great consideration and explanation on the question! Ali’s reply, his answer was: “I don’t know if I would have beaten him!”(Meaning Marciano)!

[@artisaprimus6306]

I find it sad that a great fighter like Rocky Maricanio has to be defended. I've had several discussions with people that are determined to discredit Rocky. I'm not sure what they have to gain. Rocky is my boxing hero and always will be. He was an honorable and ethical man from I can tell. He respected his opponents in the ring the ultimate measure of a fighter is the win/ loss record. Rocky is unmatched at 49-0 , retired undefeated. No other heavyweight has matched his record. Not Ali, Foreman, Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury. Only Larry Holmes came close.

[@leetlbt]

Seams to be loads of people hating on rockie I think it cos he's white,rockie was a real nice respectful man like all that generation me granda was from that generation a ww2 hero and I never ever heard him swear they were a dieing breed,rockie is my boxing hero just because he was such a gentleman a real good role model especially for this and coming generations and I just found out he didn't start until he was 25 he was old when he began.

[@frederickanderson1860]

He hit his opponents on their arms and came in head first. He had no finesse like sugar ray Robinson. Charles & moore were natural light heavyweight,they moved up a division to earn more money.

[@marsicogodofwar9280]

Because he's white

[@Yahweh430]

U do know he was 31 when he retired rite

[@MrBruce5437]

​@@leetlbtsetts Rocky Marciano haters...them delusional... Rocky Marciano was a legendary genius, unmatched, unstoppable, can never be beaten...he retired undefeated heavyweight champion 49 and zero losses..43 wins by knockout... the man who trained Rocky Marciano was a professional legendary genius boxer himself Charley Goldman

[@bernardqblack]

Rocky STARTED at 25...he fought for champ at 32. cmon. He beat everyone who came in front of him. All anyone can be asked.

[@mthokozisimasondo2909]

That is quite true he beat anyone and everyone that his era brought before him. He cannot take a blame for what and how his era was. He remains one of the greatest heavyweights to win a world title.(2022.08.27-13:35-socalled South Africa)

[@Nada11488]

And the moon landing was real.

[@MrBruce5437]

Rocky Marciano started at aged 23, not 25..stop misleading people here

[@connshawnery6489]

I’ve long heard that Marciano retired in order to cut ties with Al Weill who took a staggering 50 percent of all purses up to that point. Marciano almost decided to make a return to boxing later when Floyd Patterson had become champion, but ultimately decided against the idea and stayed in retirement. Stories about bad money investments involving loan sharking and keeping large amounts of cash hidden in his home were among the existing folk lore that surrounded him.

[@123macks]

The mob stop him going for 50

[@constantine7382]

@@123macks Why would that matter?

[@louisj.marciano2562]

@@123macks Not true at all….

[@123macks]

@@louisj.marciano2562 oh yes it is FACTS y did he do a full camp 🤔🤔 U obv no nothing about boxing go do a wee bit of research 🤟🤔

[@orhanemiratlgan9478]

He had trained for a month when he was planning to a come back. But he decided that his time had past during this period of 4 weeks of training . Considering his intense workout regime, I cannot blame him for it.

[@MackTheGovnah]

Marciano was not involved with the mob. They loved him and had too much respect for him. Rocky was clean inside and outside of the ring.

[@johnferro6214]

absolutely True. One fighter they stayed away from and were told too, was Marciano. They wanted him clean.

[@MackTheGovnah]

@@johnferro6214 Amen!

[@scottodonnell7121]

Are you sure about that? It is well known that he was tied to the mob after his career, and the London mob as well. Loansharking was the business he got into. His death had some suspicious overtones also. A mob hitman, on his deathbed, said his death was a hit, and he was killed and decapitated on the flight. The crash was an accident, of course. Also on the flight was the son of a Made Man from Cleveland. Rocky was a lousy person.

[@cipherP9]

Doesn’t really matter if he was involved or not, the mob was heavily into betting circles around this time and they could influence a fight whether a boxer supported them or not.

[@MackTheGovnah]

@@cipherP9 so what are you implying?

[@joseyeastwood]

Competition was fierce back then and there wasn't so many "titles" like it is now.

[@wanderleismith2539]

4 belts per division these days. Plus more weight classes, so if you're a middleweight and want to duck a guy, just go up 6-8 lbs.

[@brettpaterson8042]

Congratulations Rich for explaining to the Marciano critics.. Marciano was one of the greatest boxers ever, that’s evident in his record and achievements. I’ve had a few heated debates (All be it with uneducated boxing fans) about Marciano and I often point out that the amazing thing about him is that he took up the sport relatively late (Not until his early twenties I think) and that apparently he looked awful at first. Charley Goldman must be credited with being a great trainer for moulding Marciano into an unbeaten champion. What Marciano lacked in natural athleticism he more than made up with shear determination and grit. He possessed the 4 main abilities that’s required, Punching power, the ability to take huge punishment and fight back, incredible stamina (His training camps was apparently legendary long and arduous) and the will to win. As for avoiding fighters, unlike today where you can use social media and talk yourself into a title slot without having to go against any other contenders back then you had to a lot more active and earn your shot at the title, Charles and especially Moore were veterans but they got there shot because they beat contenders in elimination fights. Lastly, as for any link with the mob, as you have explained, there is no evidence really, plus boxing was virtually mob controlled. Like King & Arum in the 80s & 90s and now with Hayman & Hearn boxing will always have some sort of underhand dealings of some sort (Obviously not gangsters like the mob) but promoters and so called advisers. One more aspect (I could go on though) about Marciano, he always beat his opponents in rematches easily, Walcott apparently said he was in shape and fired up for the rematch until he took the first punches from Marciano. He said with any other fighter after going the distance after a couple of weeks you were recovered, with Marciano it took a couple of months. That’s my rant over with, all the best Rich and again many thanks.🥊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Brett. Good point on the Rock's record in rematches.

[@Dracbrewer]

Sonny Liston was 12-1 when Rocky Marciano retired. Is that avoiding him? Seriously not. I enjoyed the video presentation here, it does the man some justice. I have one thing to say about Rocky Marciano. His mind set in every fight was humble- & I am gonna keep coming and if the other guy can stop me, he will, if he doesn't I will win again, because I am gonna keep coming punching & landing everywhere with my power. NON-stop approach - determination and sure Will power, with Heart. The only fighter I ever see giving the Rock any problems in the ring would be Evander Holyfield because of that Will warrior power to win. That's what I have to say: Rocky would keep coming, If you can stop him then you conquered a Mountain. I could say more but I will leave it like this: Rest In Peace Champ; You Deserve It!

[@marcalampi5036]

Amen! The Rock!

[@RAHEEMMILLNER34]

Marciano ducked several black fighters like Charley Burley, Lloyd Marshall, Holman Williams, Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Lewis Hardwick, Jack Chase, Eddie Booker, Aaron Wade, and Bert Lytell. Please don’t argue caught weight because these “heavyweights” aren’t even heavyweights.

[@Dracbrewer]

@@RAHEEMMILLNER34 MARCIANO NEVER DUCKED ANY FIGHTER... BLACK DISRESPECTER... MARCIANO WAS THE BEST OF HIS ERA, PERIOD.

[@RAHEEMMILLNER34]

@@Dracbrewer Marciano “Larry Holmes got himself into trouble by claiming Rocky could not carry his jockstrap.. Holmes was refering to Rocky apparently padding his record by fighting his brother `Peter Marciano on at least 4 or 5 occasions so as to boost his record, his brother fought under alias names.. this has also been mentioned in various books.. can any of you anoraks add anything”

[@vinniegoes1733]

@@Dracbrewer Joe Louis, Jersey Joe. Older yeah but still at the top of the pecking order at the time.

[@bernardqblack]

Rock was NOT mobbed up. He didnt fight old men. He was OLD when he fought

[@bernardqblack]

@Michael Lee Marciano perished in a plane crash near Newton that also claimed the lives of two men from Des Moines: pilot Glenn Belz, 37, and family friend, Frankie Farrell, 22. So....mobster?

[@stuartperry1047]

Rocky's manager, Al Weill, was an associate of Bernie Carbo, who controlled a lot of fighters and managers in boxing during the 50's and early 60's. That being said- I think all of Rocky's championship fights were on the level. The mob didn't mess with him. Now there is some controversy concerning Rocky's first fight with Ted Lowery- a fight many people thought that Lowery won. But that was before he became champion.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I've heard the complaint that Marciano only fought old fighters when he was champion. Here is the average age of fighters these heavyweights fought while champions:. Joe Louis - 27.5 years old Rocky Marciano - 29.8 years old Sonny Liston - 28.3 years old Muhammad Ali - 29.3 years old Joe Frazier - 27.6 years old George Foreman - 29.2 years old Larry Holmes - 28.5 years old Ken Norton - 28.7 years old Mike Tyson - 29.9 years old Evander Holyfield - 31.1 years old Lennox Lewis - 30.3 years old Riddick Bowe - 29.7 years old Wlad Klitschko - 32 years old Vitali Klitschko - 31.3 years old Anthony Joshua - 34.6 years old Deontay Wilder - 35 years old

[@johnluongo4230]

Great stats, nice work.

[@stuartperry1047]

Rocky had 6 title defenses. Walcott was 38 in their rematch. LaStarza was 26. Charles, who he fought twice, was 33. Don Cockell was 27- and Archie Moore was 40. If that is correct- then his opponents average age was actually 32.8.

[@johnluongo4230]

@@stuartperry1047 and Rocky retired at 32, which would put him late 20’s, early 30’s in title fights. Aaaaand, their are those that said Tocky was actually 25 when he turned pro, which would add a couple, but I’m sure you could figure that out. People love to knock the Rock. Fine. Have at it. My point is by knocking Marciano they knock truly great fighters. Walcott lasted that long for a reason. Charles? Charles is simply on everyone’s p4p list, everyone that knows what they are talking about anyway. Moore? Fought 8 or 9 more years after the Marciano fight compiling a record in those years that most fighters today would want while keeping the light heavy title. And Moore another great great fighter, lasted all those years for a reason. Funny, when Marciano beat Moore the press called Moore “ancient Archie.” When Ali fought Moore he was a “cagey old veteran.” Amazing what bias can do. Me personally, I would never knock Moore, Walcott or Charles under any circumstances. When you beat them you did something.

[@stuartperry1047]

​@@johnluongo4230Not knocking Rocky. He was a great fighter. Just pointing out the average age of the guys he defended his title against.

[@johnluongo4230]

@@stuartperry1047 I think someone listed the average age of a bunch of heavyweight champs above.

[@carlomiller1984]

Joe Louis was the same number of years younger than Braddock when Louis took the title from Braddock as the number of years Marciano was younger than Louis when he took the title from Louis.

[@NinjaDildoShow]

*Your mic volume needs to be turned up a little, and the music needs to be turned down a lot!*

[@pizzulo8111]

Marciano was 25 when he turned pro! He was old himself throughout his career.

[@jayrussell9256]

Glad you told the truth about the old guys! They were still winning

[@freddiereagan6705]

George beat moorer no excuse

[@Maverick512000]

Italian-Americans had a bad reputation at the time and Marciano was giving them a good name and was very popular nation wide. The mafia knew that long term this was better than any short term money gains they would get so while they may have been friendly with him and made sure he was taken care of they stayed out of his fights and professional life so that nothing would taint his image.

[@dancruz4635]

Have a read of Marciano's military record. Then decide for yourself what his character was like. Many Italian Americans were smart/dumb crooks. That's how they were in the old country. They needed to be to get ahead.

[@constantine7382]

@@dancruz4635 Your comment shows EXACTLY why the Syndicate kept their hands off Marciano. People had the same opinion of us that you seem to have. Marciano was a point of pride to Italians and the word from Carbo and Vitale was hands off. And those were two men you really didn't want to cross. Growing up, you don't have to be connected or approve of what they do. But you know to respect them. At least, publicly.

[@scottodonnell7121]

@@dancruz4635 I have his new biography and hear it is a hatchet job. Wasn't he in the brig during D-Day?

[@Lucille69caddy]

@@dancruz4635Stick to burritos because you know NOTHING about boxing.

[@johnmurrin9734]

yep

[@johnluongo4230]

Marciano is the only unified heavyweight champion to fight the number 1 contender in every defense of the title. As far as mob guys go the order was hands off Marciano. This is from old timers I know who were in the business at that time and knew all the players, including Marciano. Accept it or not, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and too many love to look for any reason, true or not, to knock the Rock. All he did was do something no other fighter in history has been able to do. Like him as a boxer or not, still the most fearless, relentless and determined guy to ever lace them up.

[@RAHEEMMILLNER34]

He couldn’t have been unified because there was only one boxing championship. I think you’re confusing undefeated with undisputed. The National Boxing Association (1921-1962) World Heavy Title was the only championship he ever won.

[@johnluongo4230]

@@RAHEEMMILLNER34 exactly, one champion, no alphabet soup of governing bodies watering down the championship. This was true for every division. Lot’s of fighters. One champ. Today, lot’s of champs, not many fighters.

[@mbrawthen]

@@RAHEEMMILLNER34 Yes, true dat!!! Because if there were other "Belts" to be won, then Marciano would have unified all the others as well ...Jus Say'n.!!!

[@mikecozzi1040]

😲 Have you checked stats on boxers? Rocky wins how many undefeated? Ali how many undefeated? Mike Tyson how many undefeated? 😲 Because at some point in time someone comes a long tougher! Do you understand my question?

[@mikevignoli6687]

Agreed, Rocky was hands off and they admired him. Rocky never ducked anyone. Americans are all wrapped up in size. Marciano and Bruce Lee proved size doesn't mean jack squat!

[@lindseyb0303]

Hater's going to hate.

[@gabepettiford2493]

Love your video, it was very insightful on Rocky Marciano great career. But here my thought's on him, Rocky was the greatest heavyweight fighter, outside of Joe Louis' Joe Walcott, and arguably the greatest light heavyweight Ezzard Charles (inspite of the fact he was the heavyweight champion from 1948-51 and one of the greatest heavyweight's of all-time as well). In the late 1940's and early, mid 1950's. Rocky Marciano started his boxing career as a stepping stone in the beginning, boxing promoters never believe he was going to make it as a heavyweight. He prove that dedication, hard-work and good condition, makes subtle athletes better. Rocky in his early career was in the ring to make promoters sell their fighters, he shock them when he batter their fighters into submission or destroy them with his gifted one punch power. Now inspite of a reason Rocky fought in a mob control era of boxing. He personally was not controlled in his career, For the mob to dominate control of a fighter he has to take win's and loses. All of Rocky fights where tough, brutal, hard-fights. That cause him damage hands, back and all-from of unstoppable cuts, to even be in a fix fight contest. Rocky beat all the best fighter in his era. They say he was to small for a heavyweight and never be a world champion? Well I guess he prove them all wrong. Great inside video on the great Rocky Marciano.

[@timothygreen2689]

It would've been interesting if he fought in the 70s and 80s he would be small for that era and those top heavy weights could hit.

[@gabrielschoettmer1503]

@@timothygreen2689 if he fought in the seventies or eighties he would have been cruiserweight

[@gabrielschoettmer1503]

@@timothygreen2689 he wouldn't have even made the heavyweight smallest the limit not unless he had a brick in his pocket that just shows how truly Savage the man was beating naturally bigger men and usually had more raw punching power I'd say most of the time

[@Wolverineman880]

@@gabrielschoettmer1503 There is no minimum weight requirement in any division.

[@ObsidianElohim]

Rich You're my Boxing hero right now and I mean it with all my heart. Your channel has really educated me. I've always prided myself on being a boxing historian but you made me understand I don't know shit and I thank you for that. Your channel is a treasure

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks for the kind words, Carlos. I appreciate it.

[@TENGU127]

Agreed, the reason Rocky Marciano fought, those so called old dudes, i.e., Louis, Charles, Moore and Walcott, was because at the time, they were the top dogs or Champions in the light heavy weight and heavy weight divisions. People complain, that the fighters now days are hard pressed to fight the top dogs in their divisions, back then, you had to...no one ran from each other...Even a scared Patterson, fought the dangerous Liston twice...whether he wanted to, is another topic, lol.😂. Rocky was crude and brutish in his fighting style, but lets not forget, he took some hellacious beatings and came back to win and get off the canvas in most of his big wins. Marciano and His family were old school hard working Italians that didn't believe in the Mafia's way of doing things, so I don't believe Rocky had any so called connections to the Mafia. He was friendly with a lot of them but basically was cleaner than Sonny Liston.

[@juanig4198]

what do you mean no one ran?,against also there where times that the managers of a fighter would forbid him to fight somebody so yeah people ducked back then as they did today maybe to a lesser extent since now you have more excuses to duck somebody.

[@carlossmall5517]

Pure nonsense, Marciano fought all old washed up fighters. Joe Louis is a prime example. The great Joe Louis was forced to come out of retirement to fight against Marciano. The US government deliberately bankrupted Louis to be made a fool of by the young Marciano.

[@Magneticlaw]

@@carlossmall5517 Of course! Every one of Marciano's 49 fights was either a fix, a bum, or a washed up old guy. Same with Julio Caesar Chavez' 89 fights before he lost, and all of Mayweather's career is a work....lol!!! 😹

[@carlossmall5517]

@@Magneticlaw You are absolutely right, you know your boxing history. What amazes me people to this day Marciano was the best of all time, but surely they would know that Joe Louis was forced to come out of retirement an old man and fight against Marciano just to be humiliated. Am even bigger joke, people believe that Bruce Lee could beat Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in a boxing ring, even more funnier Bruce Lee has never had a real professional fight, zero wins, only in fictional staged kung Fu movies.

[@dominickmilano4858]

@@carlossmall5517 Even more funnier is that you sound like a Mo Mo with little to no knowledge of any sport let a lone boxing😜

[@Zeitgeistmusic997]

Jimmy Smith taking that dive is the best proof of boxing being fixed in the post mob era..most of the other fighters dint know the fight is fixed. They could be marketable in some way. It's like clay not knowing Liston was paid to take a dive so they could game the odds. Especially that second fight. They thought Liston may knock him out in the first round but no one thought he could knock Liston out in the first round. He didn't have the power and it just didn't make sense so it was just the mob pounding their chest cause the money was too good. Then they told Liston he van go wild on the next fight which never happened because Liston was knocked out in the first round so ofcourse there's no reason to give him a rematch. That's why you don't deal with snakes. They tried to help Liston with acting roles and stuff so he should have left well enough alone instead of still feeling he was owed something for throwing the fights to Clay and then Ali

[@johnmirabile3535]

Some guys were uncontrolable...if they were well liked and handled themselves like men outside the ring like Marciano did, they skated away from that...Plus he was a hero for us Sicilians and all Italians, this was the Michael Jordan for the Italians at the time..Plus if he was shylocking like they say, they made money with him....Was he connected, of course..my late uncle hung out with him told me when you shook his hand you knew right away how such a small heavyweight knocked out everybody....And they went on vacation a couple times said his thighs were abnormally big, also said Rockys mother was built the same way, very strong...

[@boomersD9CAT]

Great family with great DNA…If humility and kindness were measured in DNA Marciano family would have 💯! I’m sure you’ve heard stories about how generous and kind Rocky was. Formerly from the Shoe City/City of Champions

[@constantine7382]

I think people throw the word " connected" around without really understanding it? Going to dinner or shaking hands doesn't make you connected. Connected means business and Carbo and Vitale sent word that Marciano was to be left alone. No one was going to cross that line. He was a hero to us at a time when we were considered less than White. Buying him would have just shown people they were right.

[@MohawkItalian76]

The more fights I watch of the Rock,the more I admire of Him 🥊🥊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Yeah, the more I've been studying the more I realize how technical he really was.

[@MohawkItalian76]

@@RichtheFightHistorian Old School Boxing Is The Best

[@alexm7140]

@@RichtheFightHistorian I was like this with George foreman to remember when I used to watch him as a teenager thinking he just wild now it’s completely different! Great stuff really enjoy it, should put some of Rocky techniques on to, Charley Goldman taught him so well to crouch, get his feet in, control and wrestle inside etc.

[@msw8966]

Marciano had a great mind for boxing . He knew his weaknesses and his strengths. He ALWAYS found a way to win. That's a great fighter especially for his size.

[@spiderreed350]

Hey the mythical Rock.

[@curtismcneil8695]

Good detailed video and well stated. Look, Rocky Marciano RIP was a Great Fighter . The absolute best in his day. Yes, He fought guys with losing records early in his career and he was moved slowly. When He was hitting his peak the division wasn't deep and the guys at the top were older but still very good fighters. Rocky, never really wanted to fight Joe Louis. Joe was making a comeback and he was trying to get another title shot, so Rocky had to fight him. Rocky was smart he got out and didn't make the mistake of being the fighter on the backside of his career. He lost his desire to train and he said that's it. He stays around and yes he would obviously had to start fighting some of the up and coming Heavyweights. Yes, it would have been harder to go undefeated in the era of the late 60's, 70's. The likes of Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Norton and later on Holmes. Rocky though can only be judged within the era he fought in. That's true for any fighter and there's always going to be an argument as to who fought in the toughest era. My personal opinion as far as the toughest era would 60's and 70's. I am not saying Rocky couldn't have gone undefeated in that era I am just saying it would have been tougher because the division got younger, bigger, faster and deeper.

[@curtismcneil8695]

@@studentofsweetscience6922 I mean it's a matter of opinion and it's all hypothetical. My thing is though you are aware that George Foreman 20 years past his prime knocked out a Prime Michael Moorer a fighter of the 90's ? Larry Holmes as well defeated an 18-0 Ray Mercer who had just destroyed an undefeated Tommy Morrison ?

[@skoshow8418]

Nostalgia deceives you the same way it deceives those who believe Rocky is the greatest. RM is my favorite fighter, but he would get absolutely mauled in the next generation. Just like 60’s, 70’s, 80’s fighters would get mauled now. Sports evolve

[@curtismcneil8695]

@@skoshow8418 , He wouldn't get mauled because he could take a hell of a punch and keep on coming. I never said He was the greatest. I said He was the best in his day and he got out and wasn't suffering losses on the backside of his career like so many fighters often do. He was smart and he knew when he didn't have it anymore. He wasn't delusional and knew what he had to do to be successful and when he seen that it wasn't there then he stopped. He wasn't punch drunk and his speech was fine.

[@skoshow8418]

@@curtismcneil8695 bro you’re arguing a different point and I don’t know why. I love me some Rocky and he’ll never be anything less than my favorite. To say the toughest era was 60’s, 70’s is where you’re feeding your own nostalgia. There ain’t one single boxer in that era that would last 5 rounds with today’s boxers. The sport evolves. Rock would get absolute ruined by Frazier-era. Frazier era would get ruined by current. It’s not a bad thing; Marciano was the absolute best for his time but that’s it. He’s a tomato can to today’s boxers.

[@curtismcneil8695]

@@skoshow8418 Sorry but you are way out in left field. I mean you obviously dont watch Boxing or do you know your history ? Sonny Liston was a beast, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman all fought in the late 60's into the early to mid 70's. Larry Holmes 70's and 80's in his prime years. He and Foreman fought and were both successful in the 90's with Foreman winning IBF Title. The Heavyweight division today outside of Fury is not strong at all. Where are all the contenders ? Most can't Box they are big and stand right in front of each other. I don't know what you are seeing but I give you names of legitimate Legends who have more than proved themselves in the ring and you talk about the fighters of today who you give no names but talk about how they gonna squash yesterdays greats lol.. Funny dude. Did you not see Fury's last fight with Dillian White ? White was breathing hard by round 4. Go back and watch a real fight between Holmes and Norton and see if they breathing hard after 4 or 5 rounds and look at the amount of punches they throwing. Get out of here and go do your research because you boring me with your lack of knowledge.

[@marcalampi5036]

I twice drank with Bert Sugar, Hey kid put your finger on my Cigar, had a drink came back out and finished smoking his Cigar. He I believe bought drinks both times and we both enjoyed talking about the Rock Ali, foreman, Shaver's. Frazier, a lot of guy's. I liked Bert sugar a lot. He said Marciano had terrible awful foot work. Tripping on his own 2 feet. He told me Marciano was the best. And would have most likely knocked out Ali.

[@ThePlayboyLen]

That's believable because Ali got rocked at either 17 or 18 in a Golden Gloves bout. Can't recall the name of the cat that rocked him, but it is documented. Though like a God, he could be figured out and sent to the floor. Still love him regardless.

[@shaunbat5097]

Id loved to have spent a night drinking with Bert with boxing the topic....

[@desmondhoneycutt4434]

You had drinks with Burt Sugar and he never mentioned pfp the greatest boxer of all time SRR?

[@buddha7178]

I heard Bert sugar say in an interview that he didn't think Marciano would find Ali in the ring

[@grahamt33]

Cracking good Video, as usual - Thanks again, Rich

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure!

[@LorolinAstori]

Rocky stood up to everyone, never ducked anyone and was never assisted by anyone. LEGIT!

[@carlossmall5517]

You are obviously delusional, Rocky Marciano fought against all old washed up fighters. No way could Marciano beat a young Joe Louis in his prime. Joe Louis was forced to come out of retirement by the United States Government to fight Marciano, by then Joe Louis was old, out of shape and practically bald. Marciano should have fought against younger fighters like Sunny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Ingama Johnson, etc. they were all around the same age as Marciano, of course the crooked Mafia mob who controlled Marciano refused, instead Marciano was matched up with old guys like Archie Moore, who was nearly 50 years of age. Marciano was a farce, his 49 and 0 is all against old washed up men.

[@jimmylemley4998]

@@carlossmall5517 Angelo Dundee said Joe couldn’t have beaten Rocky in his prime, Rocky was just too strong Dundee said.

[@carlossmall5517]

@@jimmylemley4998 I don't care what Dundee said, he is another Italian. Joe Louis beats Rocky Marciano any day of the week in his prime. When Louis met Marciano, Joe Louis was forced to come out of retirement only to be humiliated by a no good fighter who was backed up by the Italian gangsters Joe Louis was old washed up and practically bald, it doesn't stop there, Marciano fighting 50 years old Archie Moore, what a joke.

[@jimmylemley4998]

@@carlossmall5517 the fact you don’t respect the knowledge that Angelo Dundee had tells me you no nothing about fighters or boxing!

[@blackDavidFrost-Rockyhater]

@@carlossmall5517 You're the one who is in fantasyland and doesn't have a clue as to what you're talking about.

[@2short1968]

Great video on Marciano.

[@chrisjonson3820]

This is a great channel very good I must say.

[@BruceAChristie]

Excellent content and you’re a great storyteller.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Bruce.

[@romanboxing3959]

“Old guys” can be BETTER than when they are younger. Power doesn’t fade. Youth only matters for the Ali like fighters. Who were they in the 50s? Rocky fought the best and destroyed then

[@antonyhunt9700]

I watched ur first video just about the raging bull i loved it subbed at the end. Going to pass this channel on to any body who i no who likes boxing now they need to hear what u say about fighters back in the early 1900,s Diffrent breed of fighters.u and mike tyson are the only to people i no who talk about them and give them respect. There might be more but if the baddest fighter in my life time says things like even thow u think im one of the best and badess fighters i not got shit when it comes down to those fighters who did it back in the day and Ali said the same i found a channel that i can see some of the greats from back then. P.s that why im loveing this channel. Keep up the good work 👏👏👏👏🥊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Antony, will do.

[@ChristiaanHartNibbrig]

Excellent, excellent, excellent! This is another superb 'mini-doc' on boxing's history. What a clever approach to Marciano... answering questions that have lived in the public mind for many years. You gave great perspective to Marciano's 'aged' opponents. They weren't washed when Marciano fought them. Liston wasn't 'on the map,' as a serious contender. He didn't seem to "duck" anybody. Bravo, Rich, and thanks for these fascinating docs. They are terrific.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Christiaan. Liston was nowhere near on the radar and that argument got tiresome to hear.

[@bjh7924]

Really well made piece 👏 good analysis. RIP Rocky

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, BJH

[@abudujana13]

Thanks for the video, RICH THE FIGHT HISTORIAN

[@sorshiaemms5959]

EZZARD AND ROCKY WERE VERY CLOSE IN AGE

[@antonioroccabianca777]

Great video , as usual 👏👏. Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Antonio

[@ThePlayboyLen]

Well done.

[@antoniosantorini9355]

So much jealousy surrounding this great boxer the fact is hes the Undisputed champion of the world and always will be

[@vincentscibana856]

Great video

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Vincent.

[@getsmart3701]

Anyone who has ever fought for a pasttime or a job KNOWS that Marciano could seriously bump and is one of the deadliest fighter in and around the 190lb mark ever.

[@theoriginalangrygrizzly8826]

Deadliest fighters ever. Period.

[@ferrantepallas]

There's no way to get around the fact that Marciano was relentless, had incredible power, made the absolute best of his physical shortcomings (short reach, not very tall), and threw an amazing number of punches. When he KO'd Archie Moore (who fought the fight of his life), had threw 63 punches in 80 seconds in that last round. Sledgehammers too.

[@vittoriomanzo146]

Combattente unico indomito leale potente amante della musica ❤

[@UncleJunior240]

People forget that he beat Rex Layne who was the 1-2 contender on his way to the title and top 5 Roland LaStarza twice. The detractors point towards his wins over the “old” Joe Louis, Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles who were all HOF fighters and either champ or top contenders

[@dancruz4635]

First fight with LaStarza was a draw.

[@UncleJunior240]

@@dancruz4635 not in the record books and not from any article I’ve read on that fight

[@granddya5323]

@@UncleJunior240 it was almost ended in a draw but a new York rule gave the ref the final points that he saw in the fight (for context, the judges was a draw, 1 for Rocky, 1 for Roland and 1 as a draw and the ref himself thought it was a draw) but the ruling came to effect, the ref scored it 9-6 in favor of Rocky.

[@dancruz4635]

​@@UncleJunior240 Score was 5-5, 5-4, and 4-5. but the ref had the call and gave it to Rocky in a very unpopular decision. Obvious Mafia influence. Also Rocky "lost" a prior fight to Ted Lowry. Ted nearly koed Rocky and smashed him for 4 or 5 rounds. After that Ted took it easy on Rocky probably due to mafia.

[@constantine7382]

@@dancruz4635 You don't know what you are talking about. It was decided because of a knockdown that Rocky scored, thus giving him the fight. And I have NEVER read, and I've seen the newspaper descriptions, that LaStarza was smashing him and pulled back. We can have a conversation without making stuff up.

[@ronsmac]

I love Marciano but his biggest wins were against old fighters. That’s not his fault but the truth. Especially back then when 35 was like today’s 45 or 50. He may have beaten them regardless. Just about every great heavyweights career can be picked apart but they just fought who was available.

[@ronsmac]

@@studentofsweetscience6922 Ali was washed up by 1975 and fought too long. His best skills were in 66 and 67 his will, determination and heart won the Foreman fight when even in 74 he was probably past his peak. His speed of foot was never the same after 67.

[@johnluongo4230]

Marciano was old. Didn’t start boxing seriously until he was 25. He wanted to be a ball player. Personally, I would love to be old the way Jersey Joe and Archie were old.

[@ronsmac]

@@johnluongo4230 True. Rocky didn’t have the wear and tear those guys had. I’d hate to see a ct scan of moores brain after all the wars he’d been in.

[@johnluongo4230]

@@ronsmac after 220 fights, you bet. Some guys are a mess after 20. Moore didn’t fight from 1935 to 1963 because he took a lot of punishment though. He fought another 8 years after the Marciano fight with I think in the neighborhood 40 something fights. Great great fighter.

[@ronsmac]

@@studentofsweetscience6922 walcott charles and moore were also 180-190 pounders. Wtf are you talking about. What kind of doctor says bye bye? You’re a weirdo.

[@antoniosantorini9355]

Remember Joe Louis was younger at 37 than Ali was when he fought Leon spinks for championship

[@benapodacs7363]

As a boxing fan ,thank you!😊🎉

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Sure thing, Ben.

[@scotttyson8661]

Rocky would have K.o.ed Floyd Patterson in the 1st round. I love Floyd Patterson though. FELLOW North Carolina man

[@Rspenesmit]

Floyd was 20 when Rocky retired, and yes he would have gone down as he did against Ingemar.

[@leftys408]

Great video, as usual Rich. just one note: I believe that Valdes lost to Moore after Marciano retired. It was part of an elimination series to determine Rocky's successor. Had Valdes defeated Moore, he'd have fought Patterson for the title. Valdes was known to be a sort of "anti-Rocky" in the sense that he didn't like to train. He therefore sometimes lost to inferior fighters, and never was abler to buckle down and take his craft as seriously as he should have. When he was in top shape, he was a commanding force in the ring.

[@Wolverineman880]

In fact, Moore's second fight with Nino occurred on May 2, 1955. Moore fought Marciano on Sep 21, 1955. Nino's only good win was a fluke decision over Charles. But Nino lost to about everybody else including Bob Baker, Bob Satterfield, Harold Johnson, Zora Foley, Sonny Liston and Eddie Machen. Nino never proved himself worthy of a title shot.

[@ragingbull7]

@@Wolverineman880 actually, Valdes' key loss to Moore took place only days before Marciano defended his title against the far less worthy Don Cockell, who was terribly overweight and had lost to a middleweight. Defending against Cockell instead of Valdes does not speak well for Marciano's selection of opponents--Read Mike Stanton's excellent biography. Nor does giving Charles, who had lost two of his previous four fights. Valdes had beaten Charles (and Hurricane Jackson). While Marciano fought infrequently, lesser paid fighters had to stay active to earn a living, and eventually Moore and Valdes had to fight each other. Either was far more worthy than Cockell. Just as Charles was clearly on a downslide, Walcot was five years past his prime and Louis 10. Had Marciano fought and beaten a big, powerful fighter like Valdes, it would have gone a long way to silence critics. Probably Weill and Marciano knew that, given Rocky's punishment-absorbing style and demanding training, he had a limited time left at the top. From that standpoint, he was well-managed (see Stanton). But Valdes deserved a shot, certainly over Cockell.

[@Wolverineman880]

@@ragingbull7 You don't have a clue pal. Nino does nowhere near the level of Walcott, Charles, Moore, LaStarza or even Cockell of the time. I'm going to go off the top of my head here, but Nino went somthing like 14-10 during Marciano's reign while Cockell went more like 10-0, with good wins himself. He wasn't 'overweight', he had a glandular problem. And yes, as a middle he lost to Randy Turpin, the same Randy Turpin that beat Ray Robinson. But the important thing is that Nino Valdes was poison at the box office. He had a big mouth when it wasn't popular and was disliked by the paying public. Nino Valdes couldn't draw flies. If you know anything about Marciano, he probably wasn't having that. And why should he? Walcott, Charles and Moore were Current Reigning or former Champs, no.1 contenders, and brought loads of money. It was never in the business books for Nino to get a title shot, and he never got one.

[@ragingbull7]

@@Wolverineman880 I realize I'm not as distressed or as emotional as you, so I'll just stick to facts, although you seem immune. First, let me explain some biology to you: Cockell was overweight. A glandular problem may have been a contributing factor in his being overweight, but that doesn't mean he was not overweight. Look at him; then look at Valdes, tell me who you think is the heavyweight contender. The geat Budd Schulberg described Cockell as wore down "an ox-legged, resolute fat man who came into the ring with the honor of the British Empire weighing heavily-and consciously-on his massive, blubbery shoulders." (btw, Valdes later knocked Cockell out in three). And yes, the middleweight who beat Cockell was Randy Turpin, who both won and lost to Ray Robinson--another middleweight. Not sure how losing to a fine 160 lb fighter qualifies someone for a shot at the heavyweight title over someone who beat a former heavyweight champ. although a fading one at that who nonetheless gets not one, but two shots at the heavyweight title. Obviously you didn't bother to look it up, but Valdes had a streak of 11 wins, including a win over Hurricane Jackson and the one over Ezzard Charles--who got two shots at the title despite losing two of his four fights. Valdes was the number one contender. Read Mike Stanton's excellent biography if you want to learn about Marciano. Weill wanted a soft touch, literally, and got it with Cockell. And your arguments about Walcott and Moore are silly and irrelevant. Of course Marciano fought Walcott--he had the title and of course Walcott earned a rematch by almost beating Marciano. And Moore also earned a title shot by beating the number one contender--Valdes--Marciano wouldn''t fight. But, as noted, Charles lost to Valdes and two of his previous four fights before getting two title shots. I'm surprised, though, that you acknowledge that Weill avoided the top contender for business reasons, not because he wasn't the top contender and deserving of the shot, although it does seem out of character for a great champion who always fought the best like Louis, Ali. I consider Marciano a great champion, but just as his 49-0 is in the record books, so is his selection of the blubbery fat man, as Schuberg described him, over the large, powerful number 1 contender Valdes.

[@Wolverineman880]

@@ragingbull7 Distressed? Emotional? Get real. You're in the dark. You don't have a clue about the fight game. You don't care about the pertinent facts. You're just a Rocky hater, admit it. By the way, I didn't bother to read the trash you left above.

[@fuckgoogle4947]

Ezzard Charles was in his prime when he fought Marciano in 51

[@Kidgavilan700]

Charles was in his prime as a LH years before. There was little money in LH division and he was too good to get a shot at the title being too good and black. Charles was a blown up MW.

[@geraldfriend256]

That speaks to his size , true, but not his age.

[@stuartperry1047]

Rocky didn't fight Charles in 1951. He fought him twice- in 1954. Ezzard Charles was a great fighter. He fought from 1940 until 1959. He was not in his prime in 1954. Rocky was a tremendous over- achiever. His main assets were his strength, his chin, his stamina- and his incredible willpower. He refused to be beaten. It had to be a nightmare to fight a guy like that. He wasn't (IMO) the greatest heavyweight champion, but he was great. No doubt about it.

[@iggyspirit]

That's a good and valid discussion

[@LMatters1]

Rich, first up my congratulations on a very well balanced appraisal of the control that the mob had over boxing back in the days of yore and the lack of evidence to link Marciano with them. Secondly, the control of boxing by the Mob may have waned BUT the control now comes from the same nefarious characters via multiple champions for each division. I'm sure that I'm telling a boxing historian like you nothing new but I hope others may read this comment. Keep up the great work Rich.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, LMatters1, will do.

[@leewilliams6673]

Nice synopsis and good context..Valdez had weak chin and likely wouldn't have gotten past 4 with Marciano. Marciano was clearly dominant heavy of his time.

[@cipherP9]

It’s hard to believe his undefeated status because his skills didn’t look that far and above everyone else. I personally have never heard a HOF boxer say Rocky Marciano was their favorite fighter. Let me say this, at the prime of his career the mafia also had their prime in betting the sports world. So Italian fighter + Mob prime + fight location in mob controlled areas = bad news.

[@Gigantor567]

You sir, have a very vivid imagination.

[@brianmallen8887]

Louis, Charles, Moore, Walcott. All great fighters, the last three criminally underated. Thank God for film right? We get to see these guys in action. God bless them. Rocky was amazing wasn't he. Him and Liston had things in common. Both thugs. Rocky beat up bar patrons for money in England while waiting for D-Day. Spent the rest of the war at Leavenworth busting rocks. Liston was the only guy who coulda beat Marciano. He had the power. But did he have the heart?

[@Brother_Dre1900]

I guess my question is would those old fighters who Marciano fought have a significant advantage IF they were "spring chickens". Would their youth have given them an edge insofar as being victorious?

[@Wolverineman880]

Maybe in the case of Joe Louis, but other than that, I doubt it.

[@artisaprimus6306]

Yea, I've heard all these accusations about Rocky. It's mostly from Ali fans, who consider him the greatest heavyweight of all time. A claim that Ali started himself, even though he lost five times. Rocky was the real thing. A brawler with incredible cardiovascular fitness. He was a pioneer in cardiovascular training. Rocky Marciano, heavyweight champion, retired 49-0. Until a heavyweight fighter beats that record, Rocky is the greatest heavy weight boxer of all time.

[@karlcooper7016]

In defense of Rocky and most fighters of that era the mob was so imbedded into the fight game it was almost impossible not to be involved with them to some extent.

[@Gigantor567]

How does that 'defend' Rocky?

[@karlcooper7016]

@@Gigantor567 It defends him because I'm just saying (if) he was involved with the mob in anyway.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

@@Gigantor567 if every single one of your contemporaries had to deal with the Mob, thats not the person's fault, that just shows you how corrupt and flawed the era was.

[@Gigantor567]

@@forickgrimaldus8301 Are you saying 'every single' person was mob controlled?

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

@@Gigantor567 nope I am saying every Athlete at that time has some connection to the mob even if indirect.

[@dannyburch2122]

And Still the Heavyweight Champion of the world Rocky Marciano 49 n0. R.I.P Champ.

[@jasonluzitano7588]

Marciano would've knocked out Valdez into next week

[@nahaskivy]

A little over a month later the National Transportation Safety Board released a report which pinned the blame on the pilot, concluding that he was neither experienced nor qualified enough to cope with the weather conditions he faced that night. In short, he should never have taken off. The NTSB revealed that Belz had logged a little over 230 hours of flight time since obtaining his private pilot’s licence, 107 of which were in Cessna 172 aircraft, but only 35 hours at night. He was also not qualified to fly by instrument alone. Prior to leaving Chicago, Belz had obtained a weather briefing by phone which warned of a storm front near Des Moines in which cloud ceilings would occasionally be below 1,000ft and visibility less than two miles. Belz was only qualified to fly in visual flight conditions, calling for basic minimums of a 1,000ft ceiling and three miles of visibility. The report concluded that he had “attempted operation exceeding his experience ability level” and had become confused amid the low clouds and darkness, experiencing “spatial disorientation” before the plane plunged into the pasture at a 30-degree angle.

[@Raughwe]

All the mobsters loved him, and many were personal friends. That’s like being the teacher’s son. Far from being given a pass, the pride of the teacher makes it much harder. The Sicilians were not to touch Rock, infamia! It’s a point of pride! They were very close friends, but you sink or swim because you represent. The Sicilians are exceptionally prideful!

[@Wolverineman880]

You sir, are out of your mind.

[@jabjack]

@@Wolverineman880 well you are a l o w l i f e l o s e r yourself arent you??

[@Wolverineman880]

Hey jackrabbit, let's talk about Aaron, you know, your son Aaron. You said you and your wife both thought it was funny and laughed after you carelessly threw his name to the wolves. Could you explain that to me? You laughed? Why did you never once say or do anything about it when Sharkey and Gorilla degraded your son? Could you explain that to me? How come this black David Frost guys is your friend when he is one of the abusers? Could you explain that to me? It seems like pretty bizare behaviour to me. I have the comments from when you thought is was so funny, I will re-post them and you can explain what is so funny about it. You allowed your son Aaron to be badly abused didn't you???? You and your wife laughed and thought it was funny didn't you???? black David Frost abused Aaron didn't he????? You're friends with black David aren't you???? You've been a very sick person for a very long time haven't you????? Here are some the things that black David said about your son Aaron: Billy Jack Hills 3 days ago @KBCARF "How did Aaron SOAB die?" Billy Jack Hills 3 days ago @KBCARF Aaron always was a PO💩 " Billy Jack Hills 3 days ago "@KBCARF R.I.P. AARON SOAB" There are many many more. I will post them 2or 3 at a time over the next few days

[@brileyvandyke5792]

A lot of resentment, jealousy directed Marciano.

[@gavinfox1678]

Please do a video on him

[@windsofwaste]

Ted Lowry won the first 4 rounds,then Lowry backed off of Marciano

[@stuartperry1047]

Which makes you wonder- why would a guy "back off" when he was ahead?

[@windsofwaste]

@@stuartperry1047 I don’t know,that’s a mystery that we will never know the answer to

[@stuartperry1047]

@@windsofwaste True.

[@user-de3hu1hl7z]

Truman Gibson, secrétaire et président de l'International Boxing Club, a affirmé qu'Archie Moore avait plongé lorsqu'il avait affronté Rocky Marciano en 1955.

[@jballen_74]

Is that the same Hurricane that Dylan sung about and a movie was made? Can anyone confirm that? Or not same Hurricane?

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Not the same one, no. That was Hurricane Carter. Before him there was a heavyweight named Hurricane Jackson.

[@AwestruckOffRoadingHertz]

@Rich The Fight Historian I would love to ask you some questions about your roots of boxing sometime and produce a mini documentary if thats okay. Will try to reach out to you on KZbin first, will try to e-mail next.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Ah, I appreciate the offer but I'd have to take a pass on that. I insert my own experience in the sport every now and then with the local legends...Still more tales to tell and I want to save them for later.

[@craigkelm180]

ROCKY Beat everyone in front of him. That is the lasting narrative..Undefeated Heavyweight Champion!!

[@albdoggonemorris6488]

49 and 0. Even if he fought all bum's, is something special. You don't go on a steak like that if you're not talented _ Larry Homes

[@Trajan2401]

43 kos too

[@buddha7178]

F**k Larry

[@Trajan2401]

And even Ali and Tyson both said they would've feared fighting him and may have lost when two legends say that you have to take notice

[@vinniegoes1733]

@@Trajan2401 people have selective memories. Or just bias af

[@bigalsnow8199]

The Rock couldn't carry my shoe strings Larry Holmes

[@canabox7112]

He fought nobody’s and old men. To say he was an all time great is ridiculous.He couldn’t carry Larry Holmes jock strap

[@LarryPerkins78]

here you are going out of your way to tell the world how proud you are of your ignorance of boxing...Unlike you Rocky WOULDN'T carry Larry Holmes' jock strap. If you want to talk the sport with the grownups maybe do some research and get informed so you don't make it so obvious that all you're doing is reading stuff written by other people who don't know anything and repeating it as if you came up with it yourself. Like it or not he defeated everybody he fought and retired undefeated - the ONLY heavyweight champion to do so. That one pesky fact alone places him firmly on the list of all time greats

[@canabox7112]

@@LarryPerkins78 I forgot more about boxing than you’ll ever know MF

[@antiteroristickejedinicepo4830]

Can you make a video about Harry Greb?

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

It should be on the channel, just go to videos and scroll down a bit.

[@brucejackson4219]

Interesting: sad premature death-as with Buddy Holly and middleweight Marcel Cerdan. For all three of these, it is true that the good died young. RIP [x 3].

[@slybear525]

Great video. Marciano was his own man in the ring. He went in to beat his opponent. There is no conclusive evidence that the mafia controlled him. I agree with many aspects of the video but, Must also take into account these old fighters and their long ring history prior to fighting Marciano . I think that Charles ,Walcott and Moore were old fighters still in the picture , in part due to a field of not particularly strong heavyweights. By the time Charles fought Marciano, he already had 12 loses including a vicious kayo loss to Walcott over career of 97 fights. In any era , ring mileage and prior kayo loses are always factors.with these older fighters being at the top of Marciano’s agenda to fight , there is the possibility that there were few really interesting and good , challenging young heavyweights in the field at the time. That’s not to take anything away from Marciano. It is just to include that these were some pretty old guys in terms of ring mileage. Rocky fought young and old dudes. He is known for his win over older guys. The video probably should have included the best of the younger fighters he faced but a great video anyway!

[@frankpaya690]

After the three or four you mentioned, that still leaves around 45 more opponents he disposed of.

[@slybear525]

@@frankpaya690 True he beat them all. My point here is that I would like to know more about those 45 whom he defeated- .. What was their age, ring record ( particular knock out loses) going into their fights with Marciano because the video was focusing on the three I mentioned due to their age.

[@frankpaya690]

@@slybear525 They were top contenders of they're time, if you don't win when you get that shot often you go backwards and into obscurity, however at the time to rise that high to be number four, number five or number two- that's an achievement especially in that era, before the world championship was split- up and fractured like it is today. there was one champion- who if he was true to that title did take on people who earned a shot that had to work they're way- up from around the world. I think boxing today is probably more owned by special interests or gangsters or whatever you want to call them of one kind or another, then it was in Marciano's time.

[@slybear525]

@@frankpaya690 If I was Archie Moore,Louis, Walcott, Charles regardless of my age,I would have fought Marciano so long as I qualified to do so. He held the title or he was the number one contender in the 6 fights in question. Fighting him was an opportunity. If I was Marciano , I would have fought these four older guys because they were at or near the top of the division. But that is not my question. I am perfectly aware of the needs of taking opportunities and meeting challenges in boxing. I was once a boxer and have two uncles who fought professionally in the 1950s. My question , if I have any, is who were the younger guys that Marciano fought and what were their records at the time Marciano met them. As I have indicated with my very first entry on this thread,I take note of a fighter's ring miles and age leading to any fight in question. Although George Foreman destroyed Frazier in Both their fights and might have regardless of history, there was still the prior history of Frazier’s brutal fight with Ali in which he won but took tremendous punishment. Frazier was never the same after that fight and Thant was a winning fight. So regardless of the outcome of the fight with Foreman, we know that The Frazier who was in that ring in Kingston was not the same as the one in MSG. I loved this above video and agree with much of it. But I feel that it could have made its point a bit more clear with additional informationon. Marcianos younger opponents. I guess we can consult BoxRec for some of the info. Marciano is known for his wins over these older guys but, he also fought and beat younger guys. I would simply like to know the details of those fights. Not all of his opponents were top contenders.

[@constantine7382]

Charles, one of the most underrated fighters of all time, was just a year or two older than Rocky. In his last 15 fights going in against Rocky, he was 13-2 with both losses by decision against outstanding fighters. Jersey Joe came into his own late. He had only been stopped once since 1940 and that was against Louis. Archie Moore actually outweighed Marciano. After Marciano, Moore went 36-3-2 in his last 41 fights. Louis actually won his last 8 fights before Rocky, including a win over the great Jimmy Bivins. Men back then took care of themselves and were often forced to fight longer than they may have wanted to. But they had plenty left and it shouldn't be used against Rocky. He fought the best available and that's all a man can do.

[@GodCarnage]

Marcianos career lasted 49 Glorious Victories but the best names on his resume are fighters who • Already Fought 5x more fights than Rocky’s entire career excluding amateur & exhibition record example Marciano vs Archie Moore ( 177 fights) Marciano vs Jersey joe ( 70 Fights) Marciano vs Ezzard Charles (98 fights) Marciano vs Joe Louis (69 fights) (Post retirement & 27 title defense)… They are also former light heavyweights who moved up to Heavyweight So if he stayed around and fought Ali would His Age Be inconsequential?

[@uthmaanpacsa7259]

In fact Marciano refused to fight Charlie Chaplin because fear of losing a boxing match to him. This is not a joke!

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

@@uthmaanpacsa7259 its likely a joke dude so no

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

Probably not like Frazier, it is said he aleady felt the toll of his training and Career at his 30s and retired at 33 similar to Frasier (Frasier was just less well known and arguably had worse injuries)

[@GeoZeppelin1979]

Marciano didnt take up boxing untill he was 23........now thats late,and for those that are saying that he fought old men,well he was 25+ at that time

[@constantine7382]

He actually won his first fight at 25.

[@karlcooper7016]

Birds if a feather usually flock together.

[@johndawhale3197]

Earl Walls fighting like a Heavyweight version of Chris Eubank Sr...

[@kennyfulcher6999]

Ted Lowery was the only man to go the distance twice with Rocky and it is not true the first fight was close! Everyone at ringside and newspaper reporters easily had Ted way ahead on rounds and Rocky's own fans even booed the decision 🥊

[@Wolverineman880]

Ted Lowery got UD'd, twice.

[@shavaugnwinkle-smith4909]

Marciano is the greatest the sport ever saw.

[@uthmaanpacsa7259]

Greatest boxer of all time and boxing history is a Turkish man named Koksal Baba. Check him up on utube you be amazed! No one can beat him in a real fight not even Marciano or the likes of Bruce Lee.

[@AlAllerton-alt23]

@@uthmaanpacsa7259 Bruce Lee never fought or beat anyone. No one beats Rocky

[@uthmaanpacsa7259]

@@AlAllerton-alt23 in fact Rocky Marciano lost a professional fight as Rocco his original birth name. As Rocky he was out boxed by Jersey Joe Walcott and was way ahead on points. It was only during the final round that Rocky produced a punch his Susy Q on Walcott and KO him otherwise Rocky would've easily lost! Rocky was very lucky his generation of fighters were not great ones or he endured great competition which he never did. Tyson Fury would've easily demolish Rocky Marciano within seconds of the first round no problems. Many boxers can beat Rocky and today we have bigger, better and more powerful boxers that would destroy Rocky easily. Larry Holmes would've destroyed Rocky etc and even Claressa Shields would beat him too. I also like to extend it to Beetlejuice from the Howard Stern Show can easily beat Rocky Marciano too check him out!

[@AlAllerton-alt23]

@@uthmaanpacsa7259 He won all of his fights. Including both over Walcott, who cheated in the first fight by using salve on his gloves to blind Marciano, but still lost.

[@AlAllerton-alt23]

@@uthmaanpacsa7259 Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha 🤣😅😂 keep dreaming!

[@johnbarone8948]

Muhammad Ali said in his own words he didn't think he would have beaten Marciano in both of their primes.

[@leebowens2631]

Milwaukee Phil was a Chicago Outfit mobster, I believe after Giancana lost the boss job Tony Accardo installed Milwaukee Phil until Phil went to prison, I'm thinking If Milwaukee Phil liked Marciano and wanted Frankie Carbo to back off I believe Carbo would have backed off.

[@johnkeane9938]

I am the nephew of boxers.and I recall a visit to my dad from Rocky.and his associates didn't like my dad, and said we are going to use your kid for porn books.Tammy Mauriello lived a few blocks away, and he didn't like my dad and said .my dad owed him money for ever.a group of people came down from mass. and used me. for sex books and tapes. My dads Army investigations into the Mafia were wrecked and my dad had no memory of them.several people wanted to kill me and wound up injured or deaf.one was decapitated in a car accident. One was a state trooper.Rocky was unaware of anything and didn't like Mr. Weil. Rocky, God is your friend!!?

[@dannyburch2122]

Rocky was ol school an not a criminal .

[@karlyoung5089]

Please do a video on Jesse James Hughes.

[@jayredstone107]

They say that about every fighter "oh they ducked this guy and many others" 🤣🤣🤣

[@karlcooper7016]

Coley Wallace played Joe Louis in a movie.

[@aerialtour]

Regarding Rocky Marciano I read the same thing you mention about one of the mob bosses saying Rocky stays clean & they were also proud of him being an Italian American Heavyweight champion- as I’am too. As far as Rocky fighting older past champions- Walcott/ Ezzard Charles /Moore they were tough as bulls! Most fighters & champs today are well past 30 years old & half of them couldn’t beat those past champions anyway, I don’t care how big they are today. As far Marciano ducking contenders Weil was picking Rocky’s fights not Rocky, who ever Weil said Rocky was going to fight that was it- I don’t think Rocky ever had a say in that. If Weil or Carbo gave the ok then Valdez/Baker ect would have got a crack at Rocky’s title. Even if Valdes lost some of his fights it would have been great to see him & Rocky battle what a slugfest. And Patterson was ready to fight against Marciano for the title because Patterson fought Archie Moore for Rocky’s vacant title in Nov.1956 right after he retired in April 1956. It was obvious Patterson was considered a contender for the crown, not years later as your video states. If Rocky didn’t retire he probably would have fought Patterson & won his 50th fight! Nice video post.

[@user-de3hu1hl7z]

Truman Gibson, secretary and president of the International Boxing Club, claimed that Archie Moore had taken a dive when he faced Rocky Marciano in 1955

[@stuartperry1047]

I also read that about Gibson. You never know- but looking at the fight it looks like Rocky just wore Archie down. Archie took a lot of hard shots. The fight that's really a question mark is Rocky's first fight against Ted Lowery. There's a contemporary newspaper account of that fight on Boxrec. The writer said that Lowery really won that fight. It was in Providence, RI- and the decision was so bad that even the Italians booed it.

[@hassan123456killa]

Archie Moore was no pushover either.

[@lucretious7]

Not sure Ezzard Charles should have been called an 'old man'. He was born in 1921 and was 32 when he fought Rocky the first time. Rocky was born in 1923 and was 30 years old when he first fought EC.

[@douglasborgaro6801]

The haters or doubters can say what they want. Even if many of them were misinformed. Marciano didn’t win for the same reasons as Ali, Joe Louis or others. Marciano was stronger than everyone, trained harder and was in better shape and was more determined than everyone. That’s it.

[@Mar_real]

He would lose to ali and all

[@asheru9254]

Rocky Marciano beating 137 years old men😑

[@stuartsutton2548]

Marciano wouldn't have been able to compete in the 70s and onwards. The heavyweights from then to now would have been far too big for him. Sonny Liston would have beat him also IMO

[@anthonytripp2251]

Liston was great, no question. But remember that Ali could not beat Norton. The second fight was a robbery. So some great fighters always meet someone who they just can't beat.

[@underyourskins]

@@anthonytripp2251 Thats very true.. Liston could lose to Rocky but, I think the size and raw power of Liston might have been too much. There were no punchers of Liston's calibre in Rockys time.

[@underyourskins]

Yes.. Sonny would have been too powerful.

[@constantine7382]

Sonny was a great frontrunner. And like most bullies, he didn't do well when someone fought back. Sonny doesn't beat Rock.

[@LarryPerkins78]

Oh yeah, like all the heavyweights were too big for Mike Tyson (he and Rocky are about the same height), and like Joshua is too big for Usyk, right? Funny how so many guys just LOVE to get on these forums and expose their ignorance about the boxing and how they just repeat stuff they hear from other people who don't know their boxing either. Here you are talking about the ONLY heavyweight champion in HISTORY to retire undefeated - a man who had his nose busted nearly in half who went on to knock Charles out - and dare postulate that he 'wouldn't have been able to compete'...what foolishness. He may not have won every fight in the '70s - I don't know that any more than you or anybody else does, but it's downright silly to repeat the same ignorant stuff about how he couldn't have competed. Ali knew a thing or two about boxing - maybe do some research on what Ali had to say about Rocky and learn something. At his very best - and most braggadocious - Ali did not dare say he would have beat Rocky

[@discernment8963]

The only way an opponent beats a prime Marciano is if he's untouchable and able to cut Marciano up enough for a stoppage. If Marciano's able to hit you he'll knock you out, an Ali(type)had'nt came along yet.

[@shawnw5242]

Arguably the nicest Sports figure in history. I challenge anyone to find a more respectable figure. Didn't drink, not a womanizer, no gamble issues. Great pager mister, ty I lived in Brockton MA my whole life. The City Of Champs its referred to cuz of Rocky

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Marciano apparently was a womanizer on the sly but I don't think that makes him any less admirable.

[@shawnw5242]

@@RichtheFightHistorian Agreed, read the same thing however He was married to Barbara Cousins almost 20 years. He was also a big Cheapskate aka penny pincher but all Italians didn't trust banks at the time. Marvolas Marvin Hagler also from Brockton would be a good video, Rumneys Cornor is now my 2nd fave page #1

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

@@shawnw5242 Thanks, Shawn. Will do Hagler at some point.

[@scottodonnell7121]

@@shawnw5242 I grew up there too. Lots of people didn't trust the banks and lived "Money in the Mattress." Goes back to the Great Depression where the banks all folded up and they lost all their savings. Part of the reason he was that way with money. If you can find it, Sports Illustrated did a long piece about RM. Had is daughter and mother-in-law in it. It was not pretty.

[@karlcooper7016]

How about Bob Saterfield?He's was inconsistent but a dangerous puncher.

[@Gigantor567]

What about Bob? Are you saying he earned a Heavyweight title shot?

[@discernment8963]

It's just usual, and offensive frankly accusations lodged against Italian destroyers from the East Coast Mob wise in those days.

[@joemonteleonezollo4967]

Rocky is Italian correct. Why would he shun Mafia members. That would be disrespectful. Italians who are not in the Mafia aren't stupid . A nod the head a kiss on the cheek. Respect to families as a Sports hero. The gifts admiration for a fellow Italian. His company and respect was a feather in the cap of the legit world. He didn't get in involved.

[@karlcooper7016]

He was born at the right time or as some would put it "Lucky".

[@Gigantor567]

49-0 cannot be interpreted as 'Lucky' by anybody.

[@karlcooper7016]

@@Gigantor567 OK he was born at the right time if that what makes you feel good.

[@Gigantor567]

@@karlcooper7016 So were all Heavyweight Champions.

[@pardo1977]

49 & 0. 13 boxers permanently retired after facing Marciano , 9 of em where on their 20s. Period. The most conditioned boxer ever. 15 round and still throwing 80 haymakers... find another one like him. Find 1 if u can.