5/16/2023 0 Comments Raging bull rocky marciano![]() So, Ezzard and Walcott made it a trilogy, this time in Pittsburgh, and this time old Jersey Joe scored a most historic win. Meanwhile, earlier that same year Charles and Walcott had fought twice more, the rematch in Detroit yielding another decision win for “The Cincinnati Cobra,” but more than a few thought the verdict represented a second championship robbery inflicted upon Jersey Joe. I don’t know if I’m happy about it.” In his final fight, Louis falls to the younger Marciano. “Imagine looking at Joe Louis lying there on the ropes,” he remarked afterwards. Rocky himself was less than euphoric over his win. The two contenders battled in Madison Square Garden and nostalgic fans of “The Brown Bomber” fought back tears after Louis was knocked out by the younger, stronger man in round eight. Louis continued to campaign, hoping for another shot and another much-needed big payday, but in October of 1951 he ran into a burly young slugger from Brockton, Massachusetts named Rocky Marciano. He then turned back the challenge of the come-backing Louis and went on to defend the title against ranked contenders such as Nick Barone and Lee Oma. Meanwhile, Ezzard Charles had emerged as the new heavyweight king with a points win over Walcott in Chicago. Walcott drops Louis in their first meeting. ![]() But shortly thereafter Louis was faced with a huge bill from the IRS for overdue taxes and the man who had donated hundreds of thousands to help the nation during World War II had little choice but to lace up the gloves again. The aging champion’s mortality was clearly showing and when he announced his retirement -after scoring an eleventh round knockout of Walcott in their rematch- all agreed it was the right decision. Their first clash in 1947 was one of the most controversial in history as the judges gave “The Brown Bomber” a narrow points win when everyone else saw Walcott the clear winner. It would take an extraordinary fight, and a legendary knockout, to help boxing’s premier weight class regain coherence.īefore relinquishing his crown, Louis had faced veteran Jersey Joe Walcott twice. After a record breaking reign atop the big man division, the great Joe Louis finally retired in 1948, and in the years immediately following, boxing struggled to find someone to be that larger-than-life figure that is a dominant heavyweight champion of the world.
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