New book on Marciano gives interesting details

[them_apples]

Redemption: The life of Rocky Marciano

1). He was constantly knocking guys out in street fights, anyone of any size. In one occasion the man was 6 ft 6 225 lbs and Marciano knocked him cold. He realized at a young age he could hurt anybody of any size badly and became eager to fight anyone. He got in trouble in the military for knocking guys out, in baseball for knocking guys out etc

2). He wasn’t a racist, sticking up for black players and not tolerating racial slurs.

3). He was invulnerable to pain. Everyone that faced him mentioned their inability to hurt him or gain his respect no matter how hard they hit him. He once fell from a tree 25 ft up and landed on his back, everyone thought he would have broke many Bones, but he got up and brushed it off and continued on with his day.

4). He was a bit of a thug, beating up and robbing anyone he didn’t like. His friends would summon him to fight anyone, no matter how big. And he always would with seemingly no nerves whatsoever.

5). He was often cruel and would hurt people badly in street fights, sending them to the hospital or injuring them by hitting them so hard. He recalls thinking he killed someone from hitting them, as they wouldn’t regain consciousness. (They didn’t end up dying).

6). He was small even for the 1950’s and it never went unnoticed, frequently being told he was too small to be heavyweight champ. In the amateurs he faced many large heavyweights and most of the bigger guys got knocked out cold and usually early.

[JAB5239]

Redemption: The life of Rocky Marciano

1). He was constantly knocking guys out in street fights, anyone of any size. In one occasion the man was 6 ft 6 225 lbs and Marciano knocked him cold. He realized at a young age he could hurt anybody of any size badly and became eager to fight anyone. He got in trouble in the military for knocking guys out, in baseball for knocking guys out etc

2). He wasn�t a racist, sticking up for black players and not tolerating racial slurs.

3). He was invulnerable to pain. Everyone that faced him mentioned their inability to hurt him or gain his respect no matter how hard they hit him. He once fell from a tree 25 ft up and landed on his back, everyone thought he would have broke many Bones, but he got up and brushed it off and continued on with his day.

4). He was a bit of a thug, beating up and robbing anyone he didn�t like. His friends would summon him to fight anyone, no matter how big. And he always would with seemingly no nerves whatsoever.

5). He was often cruel and would hurt people badly in street fights, sending them to the hospital or injuring them by hitting them so hard. He recalls thinking he killed someone from hitting them, as they wouldn�t regain consciousness. (They didn�t end up dying).

6). He was small even for the 1950�s and it never went unnoticed, frequently being told he was too small to be heavyweight champ. In the amateurs he faced many large heavyweights and most of the bigger guys got knocked out cold and usually early.

I'm a huge Rocky fan. But have you noticed the double standards around here? There are certain posters who will attack certain fighters because they perceive them as being thuggish. Rocky for all his greatness was a thug. Even later I'm life before he passed away he would refuse to pick up any bill he didn't absolutely have to.

Have you read this book yet?

[billeau2]

I'm a huge Rocky fan. But have you noticed the double standards around here? There are certain posters who will attack certain fighters because they perceive them as being thuggish. Rocky for all his greatness was a thug. Even later I'm life before he passed away he would refuse to pick up any bill he didn't absolutely have to.

Have you read this book yet?

The mafia guys loved him because they considered him one of them. Rocky had a real problem with cash... He had to be paid in cash and could never have enough. There is a story about him doing a speakng engagement and taking 1/4 or so the fee because he did not want a check.

[Willie Pep 229]

The mafia guys loved him because they considered him one of them. Rocky had a real problem with cash... He had to be paid in cash and could never have enough. There is a story about him doing a speakng engagement and taking 1/4 or so the fee because he did not want a check.

Not taking the check allowed him to stiff Al Weill of his 50%.

He would rather take half of what he would of gotten just so Weill got nothing.

[kara]

Apple practically have a description of Gatti

[BKM-]

For what it's worth, you can see his mean streak in some of his fights too. Like that last hard shot on a slumped over Walcott.

[Nash out]

Sounds like an interesting read. Nash will pick this up. Is there any truth in that he lost a couple of early pro fights under a different name? I've heard this said quite a few times, including by Peter Fury very recently in an interview, but is there anything in this or is it just a rumour that spread?

I also read a long time ago that Canelo lost a couple of early fights when he was a teenager, and that multiple people who were tracking his career had seen this on Boxrec, but those got scratched from his record to keep him unbeaten once he racked up around 23 or so wins. Nash out

[Ben Bolt]

Sounds like an interesting read. Nash will pick this up. Is there any truth in that he lost a couple of early pro fights under a different name? I've heard this said quite a few times, including by Peter Fury very recently in an interview, but is there anything in this or is it just a rumour that spread?t

Some different sources I have read say the same, that Rocky lost a couple of fights after his pro debut, BUT that those fights were under amateur rules.

[Ivich]

Not taking the check allowed him to stiff Al Weill of his 50%.

He would rather take half of what he would of gotten just so Weill got nothing.

Marciano behaved in this manner long after he had parted from Weill.Rocky was so notorious for never picking up the tab he was known as,"America's Guest".
Willie Pep a close friend said he was so embarrassed how Rocky accepted everything without ever offering to reciprocate,he once paid for a round of drinks at a dinner they were attending , Rocky asked to speak with Willie privately and they went outside the restaurant.Pep stated Rocky was enraged that he had embarrassed him,saying,"Im not paying for anything Willie and neither are you,so dont try and make me look bad".The quote from Pep can be found in Skehan's bio of Rocky,one of the three I own.

[them_apples]

For what it's worth, you can see his mean streak in some of his fights too. Like that last hard shot on a slumped over Walcott.

For sure, and the shot to the back of the head against Charles. That was nasty