Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Calzaghe, no weight limit - for Sly

I agree, & I have a hard time seeing how anyone could reasonably criticise Marciano's resume on the back of not fighting any of those three. Liston & Johansson should be immediately thrown out --- neither were considered viable by anyone. Even their own mothers would have dreaded them fighting Marciano at that point.

Patterson had a claim, but it is indeed revisionist to say Marciano outright ducked him. Not true.

 

I don't get it, but it seems like there is always someone who is looking to tear down great champs of the past for supposedly "ducking" particular fighters even if the facts do not support that train of thought even a little bit.

 

A lot of it has to do with limited research, not just dislike.

What I find difficult to believe is how anyone could dislike Marciano if they're a Boxing fan. He was a class act beyond the ropes, for the most part, & man-alive, was he ever everything we love about our sport. Tough, uncompromising, a winner against the odds & at all costs. I think he was a terrific face for Boxing.

 

I've stated repeatedly that I don't accuse him of ducking them, only that his retirement robbed us from these fights. Learn to read

 

Absolutely pathetic..

No need to be so defensive, I was only asking a question, cause I was wondering if any of you had more info on that. I guess that winning message boards argument his a big achievement for you

 

I've praised Marciano willingness to fight tough opposition through his career in my first post. As for the Liston fight, some guy who wrote for a boxing mag has a different opinion than you. He might be wrong, tough. The only thing I've said his that if he hasn't retired so early in order to protect his 0, we could have seen him in interesting fight later on.

 

Yep you're right, everyone who disagree with you has a limited knowledge

 

That wasn't aimed at you. Joe mentioned why, "a lot" of people tear down fighters --- especially those from before their time.

I simply disagree if your take is Marciano's primary reason for retirement was to protect his, '0.' That was always a special thing for a fighter, but it wasn't worth what it is to the networks & fans of today --- not by a long shot. Marciano had bigger issues at hand than protecting his record. Health was one. Finances were another. It wasn't about legacy.

 

You sure sound like someone who has been proven wrong and is now angry about it. Which is, well, pathetic.

And it's pretty obvious from this topic and the Qawi topic that you don't think much of Marciano. I think everyone gets that now.

 

Yes again. And personally, I think it's great that some fighters were able to retire on their own terms and not have to continue to fight either with injuries or diminishing skills because they have no other choice.

 

Uh, huh.

You said...

"he wasn't willing to continue fighting top oppostion." With the "he", of course, being Marciano. Who was this "tough opposition that Marciano didn't fight due to his retirement? Liston? nope. Williams? nope. Machen (who had just turned pro in 1955)? Nope. Johannson?

And as for Patterson, he was fighting at Light-heavy at the time of Marciano's last title defense and had not fought anyone of note at heavyweight. Who else was there? Nino Valdez came close to a title shot, but then lost back to back fights to Archie Moore and Bob Satterfield which knocked him out of the running.

So instead of saying crap like "learn to read" or something equally childish, maybe you could back up what you say instead.

Where is your proof that Marciano retired to avoid "tough opposition"??

 

You know, many people forget or never knew that Marciano actually trained for a comeback in 1959 when Johannson beat Patterson. Unfortunately there was a rematch clause in the contract and Johannson had to fight Floyd again within a year. Obviously Marciano opted against the comeback, but the interest was there.

The other thing people tend to forget about Marciano's retirement is the fact that, despite being relatively young, he had some chronic health issues like his back that made training difficult.

He also didn't like the idea that he had to pay his manager something like 50%. He knew he was financially set and could continue generating income via personal appearances, advertisment, etc. without shelling out half the income to his manager.

I would venture to say that 'fear of tough opposition' wasn't a factor for a guy that faced Walcott twice, Charles twice and Archie Moore all within the span of 3 years. Doesn't seem like a guy scared of tough fights.

 

Yep. All of this is true, and the management and back issues have been brought up at various times in this discussion.

Marciano was briefly interested in a comeback fight against Johannson, trained for a month, but then wisely decided against it. And again...Marciano was one of the smart ones...he didn't NEED to return to boxing when he was past his prime against a much younger opponent so therefore he didn't.

And Marciano deciding he didn't need to make a comeback at age 36 and after 4 years of inactivity doesn't remotely mean he was looking to avoid challenges, what it DOES mean is that he was a smart man.

 

you got it, bro

 

FINALLY, someone else gets it!:bears: