As all ardent followers of pugilism know to their nice chagrin, so usually match-ups that look like apparent, can’t-miss sights simply fail to materialize, and such was the case with a no brainer bust-up between ring stars Sugar Ray Robinson and Rocky Graziano within the late 1940’s. Certain, Ray was a welterweight for many of his profession whereas Rocky plied his commerce at 160 kilos, however nonetheless, each hailed from New York Metropolis and each drew huge crowds, and but a Robinson vs Graziano showdown didn’t occur till it was nearly previous it’s finest earlier than date. After which they didn’t even trouble to place it in New York. In 1951 Sugar Ray had moved as much as middleweight and stopped Jake LaMotta within the well-known “St. Valentine’s Day Bloodbath” to win a second world title. That was the identical title Graziano had held for a yr within the midst of an extremely violent trilogy with Tony Zale, a sequence of vicious brawls which concluded in 1948 when “The Man Of Metal” knocked “Rockaby” kicking for a second time.
However Graziano, aka Thomas Rocco Barbella, had regrouped since that defeat and put collectively a formidable run, together with huge wins over Charley Fusari and Tony Janiro. In the meantime, Robinson, aka Walker Smith Jr., whose Corridor of Fame credentials had been already properly established, had suffered a large upset defeat to Randy Turpin in July of 1951, earlier than he regained the title from the Briton in extremely memorable vogue on the Polo Grounds two months later. Ray then journeyed to San Francisco to put up a 15 spherical win over Carl “Bobo” Olson in March and by that point the Graziano duel had already been booked for Chicago as Robinson needed to remain busy and reap the benefits of his nonetheless spry 31-year-old legs.
However whereas Robinson vs Graziano was a sizzling ticket and drew an enormous crowd to Chicago Stadium, few gave “The Rock” greater than a puncher’s probability. In any case, it was no secret that Rocky might solely field a method: weapons blazing behind his cannon of a proper hand. Sugar Ray was the extra expert and versatile pugilist with expertise to spare by way of footwork, mobility and ring smarts. The intrigue of the match-up, past the large names and the chance {that a} resurgent Graziano’s energy may hassle Ray, had the whole lot to do with how Robinson selected to method it tactically. Would he field with endurance and poise and restrict Graziano’s possibilities, or would he please each the gang and Rocky and go for a shoot-out?
To the shock of many, he clearly selected the latter; as an alternative of boxing on the again foot and staying out of vary of the challenger’s harmful proper, Robinson got here ahead from the outset, throwing bombs. The consequence was a rough-and-tumble battle in spherical one, with loads of clinches and mauling, Graziano throwing rabbit punches with abandon as the 2 wrestled for place. The champion’s hand-speed and accuracy carried the opener as Rocky absorbed quite a few laborious photographs to each physique and head, Sugar Ray even pinning Graziano on the ropes at one level and battering him with each fists.
However within the second, Ray, heeding his nook’s recommendation, seemed to gradual the torrid tempo and took his foot off the gasoline pedal, which in flip allowed Rocky to realize the momentum he wanted as he stalked Ray and unloaded a few of his trademark energy photographs. The champion countered with a sustained barrage that briefly knocked Rocky again on his heels, but it surely was nonetheless Graziano chasing Robinson and calling the tune within the second, the gutsy challenger waving to Ray at spherical’s finish as if to say “I nearly obtained you!”
To the delight of the sell-out crowd, the slugfest continued in spherical three with each males firing the heavy artillery and letting sheer firepower dictate the phrases. After which it occurred: the good Sugar Ray let fly a two-fisted barrage, hurting Rocky and forcing him to retreat, however within the course of Robinson left himself each large open and off-balance. A determined, Hail Mary proper hand from Graziano did not land cleanly, however nonetheless carried sufficient weight to briefly knock the champion to at least one knee. Ray was up with no depend and the referee merely acknowledged the knockdown and allowed the torrid battle to proceed with out interruption.
Graziano gave chase, in search of to capitalize as Ray back-pedaled and circled. Then, abruptly, Robinson reversed the momentum, backed the challenger to the ropes, and obtained residence two fast left hooks after which a crushing proper, the shot touchdown flush and separating Graziano from each his mouthpiece, which went flying, and his senses. For a break up second Rocky remained on his ft, his physique limp, his head drooping down, earlier than he crumpled to the canvas. Mendacity on his facet, he gyrated his proper leg in a useless try to resuscitate himself, however by the point consciousness returned and he was once more vertical, the referee’s depend was lengthy completed.
“I believed I had time to stand up however my legs had been gone,” lamented Rocky in his dressing room. “One second I’m profitable, the following I’m listening to the depend. Boy, the man can belt! A fantastic fighter.”
For his half, Robinson was equally charitable, noting that the punch which briefly floored him had landed behind the ear. “Good factor it didn’t get me on the chin,” he mentioned. “I’ve met many robust fighters … however nobody ever stung me greater than Rocky.”
For Graziano, this was the start of the tip. 5 months later he dropped a choice to rising star Chuck Davey, and whereas little question Rocky might have continued and banked a number of extra paydays, he properly hung up his gloves for good and launched into a profession in present enterprise. Ray nearly adopted an an identical path as he misplaced to Joey Maxim in his subsequent outing and in addition retired, however lower than three years later he launched into one other wonderful run that included memorable battles in opposition to “Bobo” Olson, Carmen Basilio, Gene Fullmer and Joey Giardello. — Michael Carbert
