Why I've come to respect Rocky Marciano so much (and it's not about 49-0).

[GhostofDempsey]

This statement may have been relevant in the early 1900's,but I don't think it applied to the 40's and 50's when Rocky came up .

Mancini
De Marco
Basilio
Loi
Rosi
Jannazzo
Janiro
Fusari
Zannelli
Durando
Castellani
Giardello
Giambra
Apostoli
Mauriello
Graziano
Lamotta
Bettina
Lastarza
Pastrano
Muscato
Valentino
Maxim
Dorazio
Bucceroni
DeJohn
Miceli
Were all very popular fighters in the 40's and 50's and if a couple of them shortened their names , it was for billboard purposes not because of prejudice. By the 40's men of Italian heritage were increasingly becoming fight fans and, more importantly,they had the do re mi to show it by buying tickets to see their ethnic heroes. Being of Italian origin in those two decades certainly wasnt a draw back financially,and that was the era the fighter in question ,Marciano plied his trade.

No, not by the time Rocky was fighting, but even Pep changed his name because his real name was too ethnic for the mainstream. Italian and ***ish fighters often changed their names in the early part of 1900s up to the 40s.

[travestyny]

He has his anonymous sources all queued up anytime Dempsey's name is mentioned. LOL

Better than you who has no sources except quotations from posters on another website


Here's another source for you just so you can't claim it's anonymous. Well, you probably will still claim that since they are only "anonymous" when they don't fit your agenda.

Once John Lester cracked up those ribs, Dempsey said....no thank you....

Capital journal., August 15, 1921

[travestyny]

No, not by the time Rocky was fighting, but even Pep changed his name because his real name was too ethnic for the mainstream. Italian and ***ish fighters often changed their names in the early part of 1900s up to the 40s.

How far do you think a name change would have gotten Harry Wills?

Would Dempsey have fought him if his name was Harry White? Harry McMurphy...?

[Bronson66]

No, not by the time Rocky was fighting, but even Pep changed his name because his real name was too ethnic for the mainstream. Italian and ***ish fighters often changed their names in the early part of 1900s up to the 40s.

But the question of prejudice concerned Rocky's era and career so your statement is not relevant .Hundreds of fighters have shortened their names ,fighters of every ethnic background, that does not indicate an ingrown prejudice against them.
By the 40's such unfortunate bias had largely disappeared and instead become an advantage.
Who said Pep changed his name because it was too ethnic? It could equally be because it was too long for the bill board!

To state the obvious, America is a nation of immigrants,and quite naturally those immigrants rooted for one of their own

[GhostofDempsey]

But the question of prejudice concerned Rocky's era and career so your statement is not relevant .Hundreds of fighters have shortened their names ,fighters of every ethnic background, that does not indicate an ingrown prejudice against them.
By the 40's such unfortunate bias had largely disappeared and instead become an advantage.
Who said Pep changed his name because it was too ethnic? It could equally be because it was too long for the bill board!

To state the obvious, America is a nation of immigrants,and quite naturally those immigrants rooted for one of their own

You asked when has a white fighter EVER...well, ever means any time.

[Bronson66]

You asked when has a white fighter EVER...well, ever means any time.

No ,actually this is what I posted.

Not at all,I'm flat out stating that there was never any colour prejudice against white boxers.
That they were never seen ,either by promoters or the general public as being inferior in boxing ability to black boxers.
I'm saying they got vastly more opportunities than black boxers ever did and often because of the colour of their skin.
I'm saying promoters were reluctant to pit two black boxers against each other in championship contests because they did not draw.



I'm saying that white boxers often got the lions share of the purse for the same reason.

I'm saying that this did not begin to change until Joe Louis came along.and even into comparatively recent years white boxers got more than their share of media coverage eg Cooney, Morrison.

Im saying this was the reason there was The White Hope era.

I'm saying this was why hugely talented black boxers of the1890's and early to middle1920s were forced to fight each other on the "Chittling Circuit" for peanuts to earn a crust of bread,or become like Armstrong ,Martin Godfrey,part time spar mates for white champions and white contenders .

I'm saying White fighters were not racxhis is the reason the Black Murderers Row never got their chances at world titles,whilst lesser talented white fighters did.

I'm saying that it is well documented that black fighters were sometimes forced to wear the cuffs when fighting white men.

This isnt just about colour prejudice either,its about GREEN prejudice$$$$$$. Fight crowds were predominantly white and as is to some extent rather natural, they identified and rooted for white guys in the ring.

Provide an example of a white boxer who was underestimated,devaluated below his true worth because of his skin colour?
Last edited by Bronson66; 07-17-2025, 10:47 AM.
And I stand by every word of it . Italians were not discriminated because of the colour of their skin.


Eight pages of posts,and you focused on mine? I'm flattered.

[GhostofDempsey]

No ,actually this is what I posted.

Not at all,I'm flat out stating that there was never any colour prejudice against white boxers.
That they were never seen ,either by promoters or the general public as being inferior in boxing ability to black boxers.
I'm saying they got vastly more opportunities than black boxers ever did and often because of the colour of their skin.
I'm saying promoters were reluctant to pit two black boxers against each other in championship contests because they did not draw.



I'm saying that white boxers often got the lions share of the purse for the same reason.

I'm saying that this did not begin to change until Joe Louis came along.and even into comparatively recent years white boxers got more than their share of media coverage eg Cooney, Morrison.

Im saying this was the reason there was The White Hope era.

I'm saying this was why hugely talented black boxers of the1890's and early to middle1920s were forced to fight each other on the "Chittling Circuit" for peanuts to earn a crust of bread,or become like Armstrong ,Martin Godfrey,part time spar mates for white champions and white contenders .

I'm saying White fighters were not racxhis is the reason the Black Murderers Row never got their chances at world titles,whilst lesser talented white fighters did.

I'm saying that it is well documented that black fighters were sometimes forced to wear the cuffs when fighting white men.

This isnt just about colour prejudice either,its about GREEN prejudice$$$$$$. Fight crowds were predominantly white and as is to some extent rather natural, they identified and rooted for white guys in the ring.

Provide an example of a white boxer who was underestimated,devaluated below his true worth because of his skin colour?
Last edited by Bronson66; 07-17-2025, 10:47 AM.
And I stand by every word of it . Italians were not discriminated because of the colour of their skin.


Eight pages of posts,and you focused on mine? I'm flattered.

You didn’t say all that until now. Until you quoted me first. I disagree with some of what you said, and I’ll leave it at that or you’ll go on crying for another 40 pages.

[Mr Mitts]

No ,actually this is what I posted.

Not at all,I'm flat out stating that there was never any colour prejudice against white boxers.
That they were never seen ,either by promoters or the general public as being inferior in boxing ability to black boxers.
I'm saying they got vastly more opportunities than black boxers ever did and often because of the colour of their skin.
I'm saying promoters were reluctant to pit two black boxers against each other in championship contests because they did not draw.



I'm saying that white boxers often got the lions share of the purse for the same reason.

I'm saying that this did not begin to change until Joe Louis came along.and even into comparatively recent years white boxers got more than their share of media coverage eg Cooney, Morrison.

Im saying this was the reason there was The White Hope era.

I'm saying this was why hugely talented black boxers of the1890's and early to middle1920s were forced to fight each other on the "Chittling Circuit" for peanuts to earn a crust of bread,or become like Armstrong ,Martin Godfrey,part time spar mates for white champions and white contenders .

I'm saying White fighters were not racxhis is the reason the Black Murderers Row never got their chances at world titles,whilst lesser talented white fighters did.

I'm saying that it is well documented that black fighters were sometimes forced to wear the cuffs when fighting white men.

This isnt just about colour prejudice either,its about GREEN prejudice$$$$$$. Fight crowds were predominantly white and as is to some extent rather natural, they identified and rooted for white guys in the ring.

Provide an example of a white boxer who was underestimated,devaluated below his true worth because of his skin colour?
Last edited by Bronson66; 07-17-2025, 10:47 AM.
And I stand by every word of it . Italians were not discriminated because of the colour of their skin.


Eight pages of posts,and you focused on mine? I'm flattered.

What are you talking about cuffs?

[Bronson66]

What are you talking about cuffs?

"hand cuffs" ie take it easy on white opponents.

[Bronson66]

You didn’t say all that until now. Until you quoted me first. I disagree with some of what you said, and I’ll leave it at that or you’ll go on crying for another 40 pages.

Look at the date? I said it on this thread on the 17th of this month,it was the 23rd yesterday!

As I mentioned,you're losing the plot big time!
Time to take stock of yourself?