MYTHICAL MATCHUP: ROCKY MARCIANO VS. JOE FRAZIER
T his is a Mythical Matchup between two of the greatest heavyweight champions in boxing history. As with all of my fantasy fights, I incorporated famous and infamous figures from the past for the reader’s enjoyment. Each combatant will be coming off an iconic victory from his career, Frazier’s being the fight in which he beat Muhammad Ali (March 1971), and Marciano’s being the night he stopped Archie Moore in nine rounds (September 1955). The fighters’ records on fight night reflect these moments in time. Marciano’s career was burdened with nefarious gangster control and purses being slashed by the mob dipping into the till. This fight fiction touches on this dark part of boxing history and frees Marciano of it to give him the best fighting chance. It was my distinct honor to have spent a day with Marciano and Muhammad Ali in Florida. Marciano’s adopted son, Rocky Jr., remains a friend. I knew Frazier well. He was a good friend. I saw all of Joe’s Madison Square Garden fights in person at ringside and watched all of Rocky’s fights that can be seen on film many times over. Both men have my eternal respect and admiration. FIGHTER BACKGROUNDS ROCKY MARCIANO “The Rock” ® Born: Rocco Francis Marchegiano on September 1, 1923, in Brockton, Massachusetts ® Died: August 31, 1969, age 45 (plane crash) ® Final pro record: 49-0 (43 KOs) (pro career: 1947-1955) ® Height: 5-foot-10½ ® Reach: 68 inches ® Manager and cornermen: Al Weill (manager), Charley Goldman (trainer), Allie Colombo (childhood friend and cornerman), Whitey Bimstein and Chickie Ferrera (co- trainers and cornermen). ® Heaviest weight of pro career: 192½ pounds vs. Keene Simmons (January 29, 1951)
Garden. President Jim Norris took the call, listened, and his face froze for a moment. He then slowly handed the phone to gangster Frankie Carbo with a shaky hand. No one was supposed to know Carbo and Frank “Blinky” Palermo were there that afternoon. Carbo took the phone and listened without saying a word. The alleged killer of Bugsy Siegel and many others feared nothing. Others feared this well-known murderer with good reason. The menacing voice on the other end said, “You recognize me?” Carbo whispered, his voice almost cracking with trepidation, “Yes, sir.” The voice said, very quietly, “Tell Weill that from this moment on, Marciano gets 100% of his purses. He is to be paid by Weill every penny he owes Rocky. No more skimming, no more cheating him from now until he retires. Charley Goldman and Allie Colombo each get 10% off the top. You are to call Weill, and he is to personally call Marciano today. Weill is not to be in training camp or in the corner, and neither you nor Blinky is to ever in this life contact Marciano or have anyone do so. Marciano is now his own manager and makes his own fights, including the upcoming fight with Joe Frazier. There is to be no interference. No interference with judges, referees or anyone. If anyone upsets Marciano in any way, I will know. We don’t need any problems in Philly either. Leave Frazier alone. We don’t want any other problems. Now make the call to Weill.” Carbo: “What about his contract?” Voice: “YOU HAVE A HEARING PROBLEM!?” Hangs up. For the first time in his life, Carbo is riddled with fear. He makes the call. PRE-FIGHT EVENTS: Marciano and Frazier have agreed to a 50/50 split of every penny connected with the event. The heavyweight championship fight is scheduled for 12 rounds in Madison Square Garden, four months down the road. The press conferences and publicity
® Died: November 7, 2011, age 67 ® Final pro record: 32-4-1 (27 KOs) (pro career: 1965-1981) VS.
® Lightest weight of pro career: 178 pounds vs. Bob Jefferson (October 4, 1948) and Gilley Ferron (December 14, 1948) Most notable victories: Jersey Joe Walcott (KO 13 for world heavyweight title on September 23, 1952; KO 1 on May 15, 1953, first title defense), Ezzard Charles (UD 15 on June 17, 1954, third title defense; KO 8 on September 17, 1954, fourth title defense), Archie Moore (KO 9 on September 21, 1955, sixth title defense and final bout for Marciano), Roland LaStarza (SD 10 on March 24, 1950; TKO 11 on September 24, 1953, second title defense), Joe Louis (KO 8 on October 26, 1951), Rex Layne (KO 6 on July 12, 1951) Strengths: Legendary staying power forged by a spartan training regimen practiced 365 days a year. Powerful and versatile right hand, nicknamed the “Suzie Q.” Relentless will to win, signature bell-to-bell attack and iron jaw; he was floored only briefly by Archie Moore and by a sneaky left hook
from Jersey Joe Walcott – both of whom he knocked out. Major asset in trainer Charley Goldman, who transformed Marciano from a crude brawler into a bobbing-and-weaving counterpuncher. Weaknesses: Short reach and often clumsy when attacking to close the distance. Tender skin prone to facial cuts resulting from aggression. The business: Marciano was forced by circumstance to tolerate his manager Al Weill, who took 50% of his purses and gave away part of his purse to mobsters that his manager had to answer to during a dark era in boxing. For most of his career, Marciano was trapped – and miserable – training his guts out for small pay. He finally called it quits rather than make another penny for them, but living and training under that cloud took its mental toll. JOE FRAZIER “Smokin’ Joe” ® Born: Joseph William Frazier on January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina
on December 10, 1968), Eddie Machen (TKO 10 November 21, 1966), Doug Jones (KO 6 on February 21, 1967), Bob Foster (KO 2 in defense of the Ring, WBA and WBC titles on November 18, 1970), Buster Mathis Sr. (TKO 11 for “world champion” recognition from the NYSAC on March 4, 1968). Strengths: One of the best left hooks in boxing history. Highly effective bob-and- weave style, allowing him to stay in the pocket and break his opponents down. Powerful legs, strong chin and do-or-die competitive spirit. Always in shape with blue-collar work ethic in training. Weaknesses: Limited effectiveness at long range. Too willing to take punches on his way to controlling a fight. Limited ability to adapt or change his style. PRE-FIGHT EVENTS: The phone rang in the International Boxing Club in Madison Square
® Height: 5-foot-11½ ® Reach: 73 inches
® Cornermen: Yancey “Yank” Durham (manager and head trainer), Eddie Futch (co-trainer), George Benton and Milt Bailey (cornermen) ® Heaviest in pro career: 229 pounds vs. Floyd “Jumbo” Cummings (December 3, 1981) ® Lightest in pro career: 197 pounds vs. Charley Polite (April 4, 1966) Most notable victories: Muhammad Ali (UD 15 for the undisputed heavyweight championship on March 8, 1971), Jimmy Ellis (TKO 4 for the WBA and vacant Ring and WBC titles on February 16, 1970; TKO 9 on March 2, 1975), Jerry Quarry (TKO 7 on June 23, 1969; TKO 5 on June 17, 1974), George Chuvalo (TKO 4 on July 19, 1967), Oscar Bonavena (SD 10, September 21, 1966; UD 15 in defense of the New York State Athletic Commission title
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