By Tom Donelson
Tony Zale's three wars with Rocky Graziano, in which he won two, were three of the most bloodiest wars in boxing history. For those of us who remembered the three round Hagler- Hearns classic, just imagine three such fights. Zale and Graziano were three Halger-Hearns like battles, each very bloody affairs that illustrated the greatness of both men.
Another fighter said about Tony Zale's punches, "When he hits you in the belly it's like someone stuck a red-hot poker in you and left it there." Like many of the great athletes of his era, Zale gave up his prime years to serve his country in World War II. When he reported to the Navy, he gave the Navy registration office his name and occupation. He yelled, "Anthony Zaleski (his real name)" when asked his name and yelled," Professional boxer, Middleweight," when asked his occupation. The Officer responded, "I'd hate to be in your shoes, Mr. Zaleski, Tony Zale is due in here this week."
Just as Jake LaMotta would forever be linked to Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony Zale would be linked to Rocky Graziano. Tony Zale was the Navy hero and family man whereas Graziano was the rough and tough brawler, who managed to get drummed out of the armed forces due to his temper when he punched out a Captain and his penchant for going AWOL. (A man too violent for the armed forces?)
Zale was the older of the two fighters but in their first fight, he served notice to his younger slugger that he was still the champ. He dropped Rocky Graziano with a left hook and Rocky got up at the count of the four. Graziano came back with volleys of left and rights. Rocky could be a primitive fighter, and never was a smooth executor of the sweet science. What Graziano had was a rock-iron chin and windmill activities substituting for punches. Getting nailed with lefts and rights from the wind milling Graziano, Zale reeled from rope to rope after the first knockdown.
In the second round, Zale appeared on the brink of defeat as Graziano once again had Zale on the ropes. The third round saw the Zale hit the canvas, as Graziano appeared to take control over Zale. That night, Zale transformed into the man of steel as he took Rocky's best and then in the sixth round, while being close to defeat, Zale nailed Graziano with the perfect body shot right hand into Rocky's guts and finished the challenger with a left hook. Mr. Graziano felt the red-hot poker of Mr. Zale's right hand and the thunder of his left hook.
In the rematch, Graziano returned the favor and knocked Zale out in the sixth- finally reaching the pinnacle of his career. Now the defending champ, Graziano was the favorite to win the rubber match but it was not to be as Zale out boxed and knocked Graziano out in the third. For three fights and 15 rounds of fighting, these men left a lasting impression for an entire generation of fight fans. As for Zale, he would lose his championship to the French fighter Marcel Cerdan and then he retired. Graziano would continue his career into the early 50's.
Zale was one of the dominant middleweights before joining the Navy. He first claimed the Middleweight championship by defeating Al Hostak in 1940 and unified the tile by out fighting George Abrams to gain a 15 round decision. Pearl Harbor ended Zale first portion of his boxing career and despite the rust of World War II, he still managed to hold on to his championship after his three wars with Graziano.
Zale was one of the great fighters of his era because he fought the best of his era and beat most of them. It will be recorded that Zale lost 18 fights but in Zale's days, great fighters fought each other repeatedly, not like today in which fighters fight less frequently and are more protected.
Zale certainly would be a great fighter in today's era and he would not have to fight as often. He would also be wealthy man since he would command some big bucks to fight. He could box and he could punch. He was great at delivering body shots and all you have to do is simply watch the first Graziano fight- in which the end began with a right to the body.
And how many fights would have Zale won if he was not busy helping America in World War II? Zale is a hall of fame boxer, whose exploits can be summed up in three fights and 15 rounds with a determined younger and tough foe, Rocky Graziano. Just watching his wars with Rocky Graziano, you can see Zale's greatness. These three fights gained the Hall of Fame for both men and these fights represented one of boxing's greatest trilogies.