History Repeating Itself ?

[GJC]

Rocky Marciano retired undefeated after denying Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore a shot at the title then defeating them when they were both literally old and gray.

If you look at Marciano's defences you will see this wasn't the case.
1st defence was a re-match with Walcott
2nd Defence was against La Starza which was a grudge match after their 1st fight.
3rd and 4th defences were against Charles
5th defence was against ****ell, who was ranked. Moore wasn't ranked as a HW. If anyone was hard done by it was Valdes who beat Charles not long before Charles got his shot against Marciano.
6th and last defense was against Moore who earned the shot by beating Valdes and carrying out an unprecidented (for the time) publicity campaign to get a shot at Marciano.

[GJC]

During that period when many of the talented black fighters were just fighting each other but never for the belt and Charles and Moore couldn't get title fights, if things were different and these guys had won the title I don't see Marciano beating them as the challenger coming in against them as champions still a the top of their game. The fact that Moore still had so much to offer the sport at the time he fought Marciano, says a lot about how great he was.

No argument from me about how great Moore was. I would like to point out, if you are going down the colour bar argument, that Marciano was the first white champion since Braddock. There are a fair few fighters your argument holds water against, Zale and Lesnevich being two examples, Marciano isn't one of them I'm afraid.

[steelpulse]

If anyone has something contrary to say then voice your opinion respectfully and share the facts and knowledge on the subject, I love the sport and I'm here to learn also and by the way Limey my Grandfather is white and was born in Scotland so it isn't that personal.

[Abstraction]

Calzaghe is a joke.

[BEEHOP]

Joe calzahge would slap the **** out of Rocky Marciano.

[JAB5239]

You ruin this forum.

I ruin it? Hows that?

[Slimey Limey]

I ruin it? Hows that?

How do you not ruin it, mate? That's a much easier question.

[0Rooster4Life0]

Joe Calzaghe retired undefeated after years of ducking then beating RJJ and B-Hop who were both past their prime and could've fought him much earlier. Rocky Marciano retired undefeated after denying Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore a shot at the title then defeating them when they were both literally old and gray. The two old timers still managed to put Marciano's ass flat on the canvas though, doesn't this sound familiar?

LOL!!

The two old timers??? You Mean Ezzard Charles That Was only a year and abit older then Rocky? and Archie Moore who fought Muhammad ali YEARS! after fighting rocky?

lol Funny Post

[mickey malone]

I don't know about that. I think most people were favouring Joe to outwork Hopkins considering Calzaghe's performance against Kessler and Hopkins's against Winky Wright.

Marciano gave title shots to Charles and Moore when he should have. He could have probably fought Archie Moore earlier but Marciano's manager wanted the fight to be built up into a superfight.

I was referring to the US boxing media, and not to the majority of renowned boxing experts who tipped Calzaghe by DC..

You're right with regard to Moore & Charles, getting their opportunities at the right time..
I was just trying to make it clear, that both Hopkins and Jones, considered themselves a league above the 23 year old Calzaghe & his meaningless WBO title..
Joe was the one who kept on knocking, but couldn't get in, and people have the cheek to claim that he ducked them in their prime..

So here's an interesting one.... Did Kessler duck them also?