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You whipped Nino Valdes in 15, then Carl (Bobo) Olsen easily in three. Wasn't the Valdes fight a stepping stone to a crack at Marciano's heavyweight throne?
"I took the fight because I was sure I could put Rocky away - and I would have if the referee hadn't of saved him. I knocked Rocky down in the second round -- I knew I had him, and I knew just how I was gonna finish him off. He got up and he put his hands on the ropes looking out, glassy-eyed. All I had to do was take two steps, clobber him, and lift the title. But the ref rushed over to him, got in front of me, chased me and got Marciano by the gloves and jerked his arms. Now what do you think that's for? To snap him out of it. He knew it. He knew I knew it. Maybe I would have kayoed him. I do not know he would have fallen again, because he was standing loose-mouthed on the ropes, gazing out at the audience. At liberty to be hit. Well, the fight's over and Rocky's gone. I lost it, but I enjoyed it. I lost my chance to be heavyweight champion of the world."interview
"I took the fight because I was sure I could put Rocky away - and I would have if the referee hadn't of saved him. I knocked Rocky down in the second round -- I knew I had him, and I knew just how I was gonna finish him off. He got up and he put his hands on the ropes looking out, glassy-eyed. All I had to do was take two steps, clobber him, and lift the title. But the ref rushed over to him, got in front of me, chased me and got Marciano by the gloves and jerked his arms. Now what do you think that's for? To snap him out of it. He knew it. He knew I knew it. Maybe I would have kayoed him. I do not know he would have fallen again, because he was standing loose-mouthed on the ropes, gazing out at the audience. At liberty to be hit. Well, the fight's over and Rocky's gone. I lost it, but I enjoyed it. I lost my chance to be heavyweight champion of the world."interview