What if Rocky Marciano Kept Fighting in 1955?
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
New York, NY (January 19, 2013)– On April 27, 1956, Rocky Marciano announced his retirement from the ring at age 32, seven months after his last appearance, a ninth round knockout of the then light heavyweight champion, Archie Moore, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. “I still had two or three good fights left in me. I am comfortably fixed, and I am not afraid of the future,” stated Marciano.
Marciano was offered substantial money to come out of retirement, but never did. Part of the reason Rocky did retire was lost to history. His manager, Al Weill, who got 50% of Rocky’s fights after Rocky’s tenth pro fight, took an extra $10,000 out of Rocky’s purse for himself from his bout with Don Cockell. Rocky felt Weill was taking too much money from which Rocky felt was rightly his. Rocky never wanted to fight again if it meant Al Weill continued to represent him and cash out. Rocky did want to return to fight Ingemar Johansson, and went back into training to do so in the misguided belief he was free of Al Weill. But Weill had written into Rocky’s signed contract that if Rocky ever retired and later came back, Weill would still get his percentage. Unable to shake Weill loose, Rocky gave up, but not for the reason he was tired fighting some still subscribe to. ‘The Rock’ always had talent.
In less than a year, Marciano and his corner were wiped out. Trainer Charley Goldman died on November 11, 1968. Best friend and assistant trainer Allie Columbo died on January 6, 1969. Rocky Marciano died in a plane crash on August 31, 1969. His former manager, Al Weill, died on October 22, 1969.
One question looms on the boxing horizon: what if Rocky Marciano fought on in 1956? I have pondered this question while watching old training footage of Marciano. Some of Rocky Marciano’s training footage is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fsGIq0t6YY&feature=related
Rocky Marciano’s Probable Heavyweight Opponents From 1956 to 1960
Comeback Opponent One: Joe Louis or Archie Moore in a rematch. Louis had never faced Marciano in a title bout, and would have been happy to get one more payday for the title opportunity, as Louis had left boxing to become a professional wrestler. The Old Mongoose, Archie Moore, had written to Marciano seeking a rematch, complaining he did not have enough preparation training time to go up in weight naturally from light heavyweight to heavyweight for Rocky. Moore, who was powerful enough to floor Marciano in the second round, still felt with sufficient preparation he could beat Marciano. Louis and Moore would have lasted longer against an older Marciano, but in any case neither man would reach round 15.
Prediction: Marciano TKO 12 Archie Moore, Marciano TKO 11 Joe Louis
Comeback Opponent Two: Ingemar Johansson. Rocky went back into training for this bout against the champion after Johansson beat Floyd Patterson, a bout which never transpired. A hard hitting power punch war. Prediction: Marciano KO 10
Comeback Opponent Three: Coley Wallace. Star of the movie ‘The Joe Louis Story’, Wallace beat Rocky in the amateurs, warranting a rematch if Rocky really wanted one. Prediction: Marciano KO 13
Comeback Opponent Four: Floyd Patterson. Rocky would not have had to break a sweat but he would have to chase Patterson, cut off the ring and run him down. Prediction: Marciano KO 9
Comeback Opponent Five: Nino Valdes. Cuban fighter designated as Rocky’s 1956 opponent had he not retired, as Valdez had stopped Don Cockell in three rounds at White City Stadium in London in September 1955. Prediction: Marciano TKO 14
Comeback Opponent Six: Cassius Clay. Floyd Patterson defended his title against 1956 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist Pete Rademacher in Rademacher’s first pro bout. While it is not likely 1960 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist Clay would have fought Marciano instead of debuting against Tunney Hunsaker, such a bout was possible. After Clay was champion, rumor mill had it Marciano was offered a substantial sum to come out of retirement and fight Clay after Clay disposed of Liston twice. Clay could not run forever from Marciano’s power shots. Marciano was sort of the predecessor to Mike Tyson in terms of punching power in his prime, and Marciano’s power never waned. Prediction: Marciano Win 15
Marciano’s computer knockout of Ali with a looping left hand on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XKcGRREcaM
Muhammad Ali discussing Rocky Marciano on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDaw2QFC1Qg
Rocky Marciano discussing Ali on Youtube “He (Ali) is great, but in my prime I would have killed him.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m8F13xhnHk
Comeback Opponent Number Seven: Eddie Machen. The late Eddie Machen was a great fighter whose resume included Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry, Doug Jones, Ernie Terrell, Boone Kirkman, Floyd Patterson, Cleveland Williams, Joey Maxim and Sonny Liston. Machen’s career record was 50-11-3 with 39 knockouts. Machen’s style would give the older version of Marciano trouble, so no knockout here.
Prediction: Rocky Marciano Win 15 Eddie Machen in a very close bout to score
Comeback Opponent Eight: Bob Baker. Nino Valdes had lost a ten round decision to Baker in Cleveland, Ohio in December 1955. Prediction: Marciano TKO 12
Comeback Opponent Nine: Hurricane Tommy Jackson. Baker lost a twelve round sdecision to Jackson in Pittsburgh in September 1956. Prediction: Marciano KO 13
Comeback Opponent Number Ten: George Chuvalo. Though early in the career of Canadian cha mpion Chuvalo, Marciano versus Chuvalo would be a good match for television, though Chuvalo would not win a round. Prediction: Marciano Win 15
Comeback Opponent Eleven: Pete Rademacher. Despite winning the 1956 Olympic Gold Medal, Rademacher lost to Patterson, Moore, and Folley but beat Chuvalo. Prediction: Marciano TKO 11, bout similar to Marciano versus Roland LaStarza II.
Comeback Opponent Number Twelve: Zora Folley. The 31-1-1 Machen, who previously had a 12 round draw with Folley, lost a twelve round decision to Folley in a rematch in California in January 1960. Prediction: Marciano KO 7
Comeback Opponent Thirteen: Donnie Fleeman. A winner over his first 23 opponents going into 1958, including winning a rematch against Alvin Green. Went up from light heavyweight to heavyweight, and did not succeed against Ali or Rademacher. Prediction: Marciano KO 6
Comeback Opponent Fourteen: Lamar Clark. Strange fighter who went 42-0 before Clay and Rademacher exposed his padded record. Prediction: Marciano KO 5
Comeback Opponent Fifteen: Santo Amanti. The Italian heavyweight champion began his career with an extraordinary 31-0-1 record from May 1957 to November 1959, avenging a six round draw with Erwin Hack with an eight round decision win.
This would be a tough test for the fading Marciano, his toughest challenge since the first bout with Ezzard Charles, but Rocky would rise to the test. Amanti, 57-9-3, figured into 11 Italian and European heavyweight title contests but never got a world title shot, losing to Karl Mildenberger in his only significant bout of note.
Prediction: Rocky Marciano TKO 14 Santo Amanti.
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