I loved Rocky Marciano's response when someone asked him what he was thinking when Walcott knocked him down in their first fight: "Gee, this fellow hits hard. I might have to get up a couple of times before I knock him out."
Marciano was on a “no-lose” mission to achieving greatness and he did so by simply out-working and out-conditioning all fighting foes. His work ethic was nothing short of remarkably consistent and disciplined: hours of running, gym work, sparring, push-ups and sit-ups, countless medicine-ball thumps to the gut. Marciano was committed to his training regimen. Rocky is also remembered and honored for his class as an individual, not only his 49-0. He never boasted or ridiculed his opponents. Regardless what others may think, Rocky Marciano was a great champion.
Rocky was a never ending onslaught of cardiovascular brutality. He had a chin that allowed him to exchange and let him set his feet to put guys under. He also had some of the sneakiest footwork and underrated defenses the sport has seen.
Enormous criminal empires had been built on the supply of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. Italian Al Capone’s the most infamous among them. When prohibition came to an end in 1933 the Mob needed something new. Access to the machinery of boxing, a wilfully unfettered anarchy proved remarkably easy to acquire. Boxing was now fertile ground for the Mafia. The Italian mob controlled it all, from the trainers and managers to the reporting journalists, with a combination of intimidation and financial backing ensuring everybody the mob wanted was under their control. The entire eastern seaboard was Italian, it was all Italian. Even the commissioner of boxing was Italian.
Hall of Famer Teddy Brenner who later became president of Madison Square Garden Boxing said, *“Carbo had his fingers on the throat of boxing. If he did not own a certain fighter he owned the manager. Weill was a boxing politician who held hands with the mob. When Weill was Marciano’s manager he was controlled by Carbo. In May 1949 Weill became the matchmaker for the IBC. That meant Marciano could fight against carefully chosen opponents when and where Weill wanted. When the IBC took over promotion at Madison Square Garden, Brenner returned there to work as assistant matchmaker to Al Weill. Brenner booked preliminary matches at the Garden and cards at St. Nicholas Arena, also in New York. In 1950, Brenner left the IBC, alleging Weill had ordered him to make a match for a fixed fight. Eventually the verdict was damning; 25 years in Alcatraz for Carbo, 15 years in prison for Palermo. Marciano visited both inside their prison cells numerous times."* -- written by International Boxing Hall Of Fame
The International Boxing Club Of New York had links to organized crime; most notably through Italian Mafia soldier Frankie Carbo, the most powerful promoter in boxing. *“Carbo,”* Russell Sullivan explains, *“established a well-organized centralized system of control over boxing. The system featured scores of managers who operated as front men for Carbo. Once a promising fighter arrived on the scene, one of Carbo’s managers would muscle in on his ownership. Fear and violence were the linchpins of Carbo’s system and the bedrock of his power. Directly or indirectly, he controlled scores of judges, officials, managers, promoters, and fighters. His power became such that no big match was made or title awarded without his acquiescence. Both Walcott and Charles had mobbed managers, Walcott one Nick Bocchicchio and Charles a pair named Tom Tennas and Jacob Mintz. You did as they told you and you got the matches that you needed to advance into contender ranks."*
*Quotes from Jersey Joe Walcott about Cassius Clay:* *“Cassius Clay is the best heavyweight champion of them all. He could beat Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and a fellow named Jersey Joe Walcott.”* Walcott was asked if he realized what he was saying. He nodded and repeated: *“Clay could beat Dempsey, Louis, Charles, Marciano and a fellow named Jersey Joe Walcott. Clay is too big and punches too fast and moves too quickly for all of us old timers. This kid has speed in his hands and feet like a welterweight.”* Asked to explain in more detail why he rates Clay a sure winner over Dempsey, Louis, Charles, Marciano and himself, Jersey Joe lit up a cigarette and said: *“Dempsey and Louis and the rest of us would be too small to beat this big, rangy kid. All of us old-timers needed room to punch. But not Clay. He can hit you from any position and hurt you. He can do this even when he is off balance.”* *“I fought Louis, Charles and Marciano. I know none of these men, or me, could box with Clay. And I know none of us could punch as fast as Cassius. When one punch can take a big man like Liston off his feet, people should realize the agility, coordination and power Clay can put into each and every punch.”* *RING, SEPT. 1965 WALCOTT INSIST ALI WOULD BEAT DEMPSEY, LOUIS, ROCKY, ETC. BY ED BRENNAN* In summary Jersey Joe has been around boxing for a long time and should know what he is talking about...should i believe you, a biased casual, or Jersey Joe ?
I loved Rocky Marciano's response when someone asked him what he was thinking when Walcott knocked him down in their first fight: "Gee, this fellow hits hard. I might have to get up a couple of times before I knock him out."
Marciano was on a “no-lose” mission to achieving greatness and he did so by simply out-working and out-conditioning all fighting foes. His work ethic was nothing short of remarkably consistent and disciplined: hours of running, gym work, sparring, push-ups and sit-ups, countless medicine-ball thumps to the gut. Marciano was committed to his training regimen. Rocky is also remembered and honored for his class as an individual, not only his 49-0. He never boasted or ridiculed his opponents. Regardless what others may think, Rocky Marciano was a great champion.
Rocky was a never ending onslaught of cardiovascular brutality. He had a chin that allowed him to exchange and let him set his feet to put guys under. He also had some of the sneakiest footwork and underrated defenses the sport has seen.
Enormous criminal empires had been built on the supply of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. Italian Al Capone’s the most infamous among them. When prohibition came to an end in 1933 the Mob needed something new. Access to the machinery of boxing, a wilfully unfettered anarchy proved remarkably easy to acquire. Boxing was now fertile ground for the Mafia. The Italian mob controlled it all, from the trainers and managers to the reporting journalists, with a combination of intimidation and financial backing ensuring everybody the mob wanted was under their control. The entire eastern seaboard was Italian, it was all Italian. Even the commissioner of boxing was Italian.
OF COURSE THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT ROCKY WAS AFFILIATED WITH THE MOB. It's all right here *@ THE ROCK - Sports Illustrated Aug 23, 1993*
Hall of Famer Teddy Brenner who later became president of Madison Square Garden Boxing said, *“Carbo had his fingers on the throat of boxing. If he did not own a certain fighter he owned the manager. Weill was a boxing politician who held hands with the mob. When Weill was Marciano’s manager he was controlled by Carbo. In May 1949 Weill became the matchmaker for the IBC. That meant Marciano could fight against carefully chosen opponents when and where Weill wanted. When the IBC took over promotion at Madison Square Garden, Brenner returned there to work as assistant matchmaker to Al Weill. Brenner booked preliminary matches at the Garden and cards at St. Nicholas Arena, also in New York. In 1950, Brenner left the IBC, alleging Weill had ordered him to make a match for a fixed fight. Eventually the verdict was damning; 25 years in Alcatraz for Carbo, 15 years in prison for Palermo. Marciano visited both inside their prison cells numerous times."* -- written by International Boxing Hall Of Fame
The International Boxing Club Of New York had links to organized crime; most notably through Italian Mafia soldier Frankie Carbo, the most powerful promoter in boxing. *“Carbo,”* Russell Sullivan explains, *“established a well-organized centralized system of control over boxing. The system featured scores of managers who operated as front men for Carbo. Once a promising fighter arrived on the scene, one of Carbo’s managers would muscle in on his ownership. Fear and violence were the linchpins of Carbo’s system and the bedrock of his power. Directly or indirectly, he controlled scores of judges, officials, managers, promoters, and fighters. His power became such that no big match was made or title awarded without his acquiescence. Both Walcott and Charles had mobbed managers, Walcott one Nick Bocchicchio and Charles a pair named Tom Tennas and Jacob Mintz. You did as they told you and you got the matches that you needed to advance into contender ranks."*
The Mob, Sleeping with Thousands of different People, Psychosis and other symptoms Marciano suffered. - *@ THE ROCK - Sports Illustrated Aug 23, 1993*
*Quotes from Jersey Joe Walcott about Cassius Clay:*
*“Cassius Clay is the best heavyweight champion of them all. He could beat Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and a fellow named Jersey Joe Walcott.”*
Walcott was asked if he realized what he was saying. He nodded and repeated:
*“Clay could beat Dempsey, Louis, Charles, Marciano and a fellow named Jersey Joe Walcott. Clay is too big and punches too fast and moves too quickly for all of us old timers. This kid has speed in his hands and feet like a welterweight.”*
Asked to explain in more detail why he rates Clay a sure winner over Dempsey, Louis, Charles, Marciano and himself, Jersey Joe lit up a cigarette and said:
*“Dempsey and Louis and the rest of us would be too small to beat this big, rangy kid. All of us old-timers needed room to punch. But not Clay. He can hit you from any position and hurt you. He can do this even when he is off balance.”*
*“I fought Louis, Charles and Marciano. I know none of these men, or me, could box with Clay. And I know none of us could punch as fast as Cassius. When one punch can take a big man like Liston off his feet, people should realize the agility, coordination and power Clay can put into each and every punch.”*
*RING, SEPT. 1965 WALCOTT INSIST ALI WOULD BEAT DEMPSEY, LOUIS, ROCKY, ETC. BY ED BRENNAN*
In summary Jersey Joe has been around boxing for a long time and should know what he is talking about...should i believe you, a biased casual, or Jersey Joe ?
All fighters were