Tweet
Held in very, very high esteem, never once beaten as a professional, several hall of famers beaten, albeit late in their careers, under his belt, and universally beloved the world over.
Unbeaten and just perhaps, ....unbeatable?
Such a legacy is the story of just two heavyweight champions in the 306 year history of the Modern age of the world heavyweight boxing title.
One parallel that is not shared by Brockton, Massachusetts marvel Rocky Marciano and today's phenomenon, Oleksandr Usyk, is this:
When Marciano walked away from the sport 70 years ago, there was nobody left to fight.
Marciano had fought and defeated all those who might have had a chance ...Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rex Layne, Roland LaStrza, Freddie Beshore, Lee Savold, Harry Matthews, Don ****ell and Archie Moore who had ruined title shots for Nino Valdez, Bob Baker and Harold Johnson on his way to Marciano.
The next tsunami of top talent, comprised of Lightning fast Floyd Patterson, Destroyer Charles Sonny Liston, Cleveland Big Cat Williams, Boxing Scientist Zora Folly, Right Handed wrecker Ingemar Johansson and Marvelous Boxer-Puncher Eddie Machen were all years away from taking their places in the top 10 rankings; except for Patterson, who, like Moses Itauma today, came up young to eventually replace Marciano and the old guard. But without any doubt, when Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956, his work had been completed, and no highly deserved contender who had earned his shot and presented any doubt as to whether Marciano could beat him was left on the scene.
Today, the world heavyweight champion, who also holds all of the sanctioning body belts, coincidentally; is blessed to still have several challengers whose shot at the title is well earned and becoming overdue.
Oleksandr Usyk, is most certainly a truly great champion, though he simply is not quite up into the ATG territory where many, more casual fans have mistakenly caste him; due to his bones having been made against only two career-enders and the hot/cold Daniel Dubois. But if Usyk is driven to make a stronger case for his legacy being that of a true ATG; Parker, Kabayel and Itauma are all there to help him do it.
Gene Tunney, Marciano and Lennox Lewis; the only three to ever abandon the title and never come back; NEVER walked away with that much talent left holding the bag.
An authentic GOAT Candidate can't do that. The competition for GOAT consideration is far too strong to get away with that, especially after having engaged in just 20 some-odd professional fights!
So here's hoping that Usyk stays put for just a little while more, and avoids any more rematches or insignificant challenges.
Unbeaten and just perhaps, ....unbeatable?
Such a legacy is the story of just two heavyweight champions in the 306 year history of the Modern age of the world heavyweight boxing title.
One parallel that is not shared by Brockton, Massachusetts marvel Rocky Marciano and today's phenomenon, Oleksandr Usyk, is this:
When Marciano walked away from the sport 70 years ago, there was nobody left to fight.
Marciano had fought and defeated all those who might have had a chance ...Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rex Layne, Roland LaStrza, Freddie Beshore, Lee Savold, Harry Matthews, Don ****ell and Archie Moore who had ruined title shots for Nino Valdez, Bob Baker and Harold Johnson on his way to Marciano.
The next tsunami of top talent, comprised of Lightning fast Floyd Patterson, Destroyer Charles Sonny Liston, Cleveland Big Cat Williams, Boxing Scientist Zora Folly, Right Handed wrecker Ingemar Johansson and Marvelous Boxer-Puncher Eddie Machen were all years away from taking their places in the top 10 rankings; except for Patterson, who, like Moses Itauma today, came up young to eventually replace Marciano and the old guard. But without any doubt, when Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956, his work had been completed, and no highly deserved contender who had earned his shot and presented any doubt as to whether Marciano could beat him was left on the scene.
Today, the world heavyweight champion, who also holds all of the sanctioning body belts, coincidentally; is blessed to still have several challengers whose shot at the title is well earned and becoming overdue.
Oleksandr Usyk, is most certainly a truly great champion, though he simply is not quite up into the ATG territory where many, more casual fans have mistakenly caste him; due to his bones having been made against only two career-enders and the hot/cold Daniel Dubois. But if Usyk is driven to make a stronger case for his legacy being that of a true ATG; Parker, Kabayel and Itauma are all there to help him do it.
Gene Tunney, Marciano and Lennox Lewis; the only three to ever abandon the title and never come back; NEVER walked away with that much talent left holding the bag.
An authentic GOAT Candidate can't do that. The competition for GOAT consideration is far too strong to get away with that, especially after having engaged in just 20 some-odd professional fights!
So here's hoping that Usyk stays put for just a little while more, and avoids any more rematches or insignificant challenges.
786
Comment