Rocky Marciano – Syndication Server

Little big men: The lightest heavyweight champions of all time

Oleksandr Usyk is considered a small heavyweight in an era of behemoths. The 6-foot-3 Ukrainian weighed in at a career-high 221¼ pounds for his fight against 240-pound Anthony Joshua this past September, when the former cruiserweight champ earned a …

Oleksandr Usyk is considered a small heavyweight in an era of behemoths.

The 6-foot-3 Ukrainian weighed in at a career-high 221¼ pounds for his fight against 240-pound Anthony Joshua this past September, when the former cruiserweight champ earned a unanimous-decision victory and three of the four major heavyweight titles.

Usyk’s official weight would’ve made him one of the bigger champions in the first 60 years of the 20^th century, when fighters not much heavier than present day light heavyweights were competing for the heavyweight championship.

From James J. Corbett to Jack Dempsey to Rocky Marciano, men who weighed less than 200 pounds ruled the sport’s glamour division.

Who weighed the least among heavyweight champions?

Here are the 10 lightest fighters who have won the title since John L. Sullivan ruled the division more than a century ago. Their weights when they became champions are listed.

We go in reverse order.

Little big men: The lightest heavyweight champions of all time

Oleksandr Usyk is considered a small heavyweight in an era of behemoths.

From James J. Corbett to Jack Dempsey to Rocky Marciano, men who weighed less than 200 pounds ruled the sport’s glamour division.

Who weighed the least among heavyweight champions?

Here are the 10 lightest fighters who have won the title since John L. Sullivan ruled the division more than a century ago. Their weights when they became champions are listed.

We go in reverse order.

Degrees of Separation: Linking Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey

Boxing Junkie was able to link Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey, in only seven steps.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

We’re borrowing the six degrees concept – well, sort of loosely – to connect fighters from the past to their more contemporary counterparts in our new occasional feature, “Degrees of Separation.”

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

In this installment of the Boxing Junkie feature, we decided to link Mike Tyson — who is set for a comeback against Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 28 — and a fighter he has always admired, the legendary Jack Dempsey.

Tyson and Dempsey had a lot in common in the ring. They were both ferocious, powerful knockout machines who captured the imagination of fans worldwide and have evolved into legends.

Even their records were similar. Dempsey finished 54-6-8, Tyson 50-6. And, believe it or not, they both had 44 knockouts.

The question for the purposes of this feature: Could we link them by opponents even though Tyson retired 78 years after Dempsey did? Turns out we could. And, remarkably, it took only seven steps.

Check it out:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Mike Tyson

For fun, we wanted to know how many steps it would take to connect Jones with Dempsey. We did it in nine. Have a look:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Evander Holyfield, who fought …

James Toney, who fought …

Roy Jones Jr.

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Degrees of Separation: Linking Filipino greats Flash Elorde, Manny Pacquiao

Degrees of Separation: Linking Japanese greats Fighting Harada and Naoya Inoue

Degrees of Separation: Linking Tyson Fury to first U.K.-born heavyweight champ

Degrees of Separation: Connecting Canelo Alvarez with Mexican legends

Degrees of Separation: Linking the Mayweathers

Degrees of Separation: Linking Manny Pacquiao to Pancho Villa

Degrees of Separation: Linking Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey

Boxing Junkie was able to link Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey, in only seven steps.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

Tyson and Dempsey had a lot in common in the ring. They were both ferocious, powerful knockout machines who captured the imagination of fans worldwide and have evolved into legends.

Even their records were similar. Dempsey finished 54-6-8, Tyson 50-6. And, believe it or not, they both had 44 knockouts.

The question for the purposes of this feature: Could we link them by opponents even though Tyson retired 78 years after Dempsey did? Turns out we could. And, remarkably, it took only seven steps.

Check it out:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Mike Tyson

For fun, we wanted to know how many steps it would take to connect Jones with Dempsey. We did it in nine. Have a look:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Evander Holyfield, who fought …

James Toney, who fought …

Roy Jones Jr.

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Degrees of Separation: Linking Filipino greats Flash Elorde, Manny Pacquiao

Degrees of Separation: Linking Japanese greats Fighting Harada and Naoya Inoue

Degrees of Separation: Linking Tyson Fury to first U.K.-born heavyweight champ

Degrees of Separation: Connecting Canelo Alvarez with Mexican legends

Degrees of Separation: Linking the Mayweathers

Degrees of Separation: Linking Manny Pacquiao to Pancho Villa

Degrees of Separation: Linking Mike Tyson to Jack Dempsey

Boxing Junkie was able to link Mike Tyson and Jack Dempsey is seven steps in its Degrees of Separation feature.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

In this installment of the Boxing Junkie feature, we decided to link Mike Tyson — whose comeback fight against Roy Jones Jr. is set for Sept. 12. — to a heavyweight legend he has long admired, Jack Dempsey.

Tyson and Dempsey had a great deal in common in the ring. They were both ferocious, powerful knockout machines who captured the imagination of the fans. They had a similar number of fights and, believe it or not, the exact same number of stoppages.

How powerful were they? Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) had 22 first-round knockouts, Dempsey (54-6-8, 44 KOs) 21.

So how many steps did it take to link the heavyweight Hall of Famers? Only seven even though Dempsey last fought in 1927, 93 years ago.

Check it out:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rock Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Mike Tyson

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Read more:

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Thai champion (54-0) supplants Floyd Mayweather as king of unbeatens

Wanheng Menayothin (54-0) of Thailand announced his retirement on Sunday, making him the kind of unbeaten fighters if he doesn’t come back.

The tidy 50-0 record with which Floyd Mayweather retired is now second best.

Huh? Yes, you read that correctly.

Longtime strawweight titleholder Wanheng Menayothin, 34, announced on Sunday that he is finished as an active fighter. His record is 54-0, making him the king of unbeaten fighters if he doesn’t come back and lose.

Menayothin (real name Chayaphon Moonsri) made it to 51-0 when he outpointed Pedro Taduran in August 2018 but couldn’t claim the record until he retired. Now he has.

“I have decided that it’s good to stop boxing,” Menayothin said. “I know how I am. No one knows my body as much as I do. I stop boxing like this. Everyone needs money. But I would like to heal my body.

“Congratulations to all who support me. Thank you for all the strength that you have always given me.”

Wanheng Menayothin (left) lands a blow against Panamanian challenger Leroy Estrada in May 2018. Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP via Getty Images

Menayothin became a 105-pound titleholder when he stopped Oswaldo Novoa in November 2014 and has successfully defended 12 times, the last defense being a unanimous decision over Simpiwe Konkco this past October in Thailand.

Critics might point out that Menayothin never fought outside his native country, which is an advantage for any fighter. The fact is Mayweather never fought outside the U.S.

And many of Menayothin’s victories were six-round stay-sharp fights against marginal opponents even after he became a championship-level fighter, which is a common practice in Thailand. That’s a legitimate criticism.

Mayweather faced one elite foe after the other throughout his career. The only exception was his final fight, a farce against mixed martial artist Conor McGregor in 2017 that allowed Mayweather to pass Rocky Marciano’s mark of 49-0.

However, everyone Menayothin faced was a professional fighter. That means his 54-0 (18 KOs) record is legitimate. It also means Mayweather is now No. 2.

On this date: The strange second Marciano-Walcott fight

Rocky Marciano KO’d Jersey Joe Walcott in the first round of their second fight when Walcott went down and might’ve lost track of the count.

When Rocky Maricano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott comes up, one generally thinks of their classic first fight.

Marciano, down on points to the crafty veteran, lands a right hand for the ages in the 13^th round to stop Walcott and win the heavyweight championship on Sept. 23, 1952 at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia.

Less talked about is the rematch on this date – May 15 – the following year at Chicago Stadium. The second fight was disappointing but interesting nonetheless.

The opening two minutes of the bout had been uneventful when a left hook and follow up right by Marciano put Walcott on his back. He sat up, with his right glove on the second rope, as referee Frank Sikora counted and seemed to be alert. However, he popped up a split second after the count of 10.

Sikora immediately waved his arms, signaling the end of the fight at 2:25, and raced over to Marciano to raise the champ’s hand in victory.

Walcott was visibly upset, as if either he or Sikora had made a mistake. And, indeed, his manager, Felix Bocchicchio, who pleaded his case to someone at ringside moments after the stoppage, later filed a protest that amounted to nothing.

The New York Times headline read: “Marciano Keeps Title on Disputed Knockout.”

What had happened?

Walcott reportedly made three claims. One, he said he was the victim of a short count, which doesn’t seem to hold up if you watch the video of the fight. Two, he said inexplicably that he got to one knee at the count of three, which didn’t happen.

And, three, he said he blacked out and lost track of the count. Well, taking a punch or two from Rocky Marciano could do that.

Another unsubstantiated theory is that the mob had gotten to Walcott and fixed the fight, which evidently stems from the appearance that Walcott could’ve beaten the count.

Alas, we’ll never know for sure. The guess here, based on watching the video, is that Walcott was dazed and lost track of the count. That happens. But you be the judge.

Rocky Marciano retired at 49-0 on this date 64 years ago

Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on this date in 1956. One of the most remarkable aspects of his career is that he never returned.

Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on this date 64 years ago. One of the most remarkable aspects of his remarkable career is that he never returned.

Marciano was heavyweight champion and only 32 when he walked away from the sport at the height of his earning power. Why did he do it? He said he wanted to spend more time with his family but then traveled extensively. Maybe it was his ire over the percentage of his purses claimed by manager Al Weill. Or maybe he simply wanted to preserve what he had built.

“I thought it was a mistake when Joe Louis tried a comeback,” Marciano said. “No man can say what he will do in the future. But, barring poverty, the ring has seen the last of me,” Marciano said, according to The New York Times.

“I am comfortably fixed, and I am not afraid of the future. Barring a complete and dire emergency, you will never see Rocky Marciano make a comeback.”

So what legacy did Marciano preserve? Depends who you talk to.

He’ll forever been known for his final record, 49-0 (43 KOs). No other heavyweight – and few fighters in any division – have retired with a perfect ledger.

He also is remembered for his unusual punching power for a man his size, 5-foot-10½ and around 185 to 190 pounds. His percentage of victories that came by knockout is almost exactly the same as that of legendary puncher Mike Tyson.

And those who followed him closely marveled at his work ethic and resulting stamina and durability. Rocky was a rock.

At the same time, he has critics. They cite his relatively crude skill set even though he was able to overcome every challenge. They point out close calls – a controversial decision over Roland LaStarza comes to mind – even though all great fighters have benefited from questionable decisions.

And, of course, they say his opposition was so-so at best even though foes Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore (his final opponent) were still formidable when he fought them and all are Hall of Famers.

Was Marciano the greatest heavyweight of all time? No. That distinction usually goes to Muhammad Ali or Joe Louis. Was he a special heavyweight who deserves our respect? Absolutely.

“His streak doesn’t make him a greater fighter,” TV analyst Larry Merchant told ESPN, “but a larger figure.”

A figure that still looms over the heavyweight division.

Tiny but mighty: Shortest heavyweight champions ever

Boxing Junkie presents in the special feature the shortest heavyweight champions of all time.

Boxing Junkie recently presented a list of the tallest heavyweight champions of all time, with the 7-foot skyscraper Nikolai Valuev at the top of the angular heap.

Now it’s the little guys’ turn. In this special feature, we give you the shortest men to hold one world heavyweight title or another since John L. Sullivan opened the modern era when he was recognized as champion in the mid-1880s.

Only eight men under 6 feet have won the sport’s greatest prize in 135 years and no one has done it since the 5-11 Roy Jones Jr. beat John Ruiz in 2003.

Note: The heights used for this feature come from BoxRec.com, the official record keeper for professional boxing.

Here is the list (by height, or lack thereof).

NO. 1 TOMMY BURNS

Height: 5-7
Active: 1902-20
Record: 47-4-8 (35 KOs)
Reign(s): 1906-08
Background: What Burns lacked in height he made up for with quickness and pluck. The French-Canadian, whose real name was Noah Brusso, defeated bigger men by moving inside to inflict damage and then getting out quickly to avoid it. That’s how he beat the sub-6-foot, but heavier Marvin Hart to win the heavyweight title by decision in 1906 in Los Angeles. Burns made several defenses and then took his championship belt on a successful world tour, finishing his title run with eight consecutive knockouts. Disaster loomed, though. Following him on much of that tour was Jack Johnson, whose goal was to lure Burns into the ring. Johnson finally convinced Burns to fight him on Dec. 26, 1908 in Sydney. A $30,000 payday for Burns, the most ever earned by a boxer to that point, made it impossible to say no. Police halted Johnson’s slaughter of Burns, who officially lost a decision. He still has the distinction of being the shortest heavyweight champion.

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Video: Chris Mannix, Sergio Mora on possible Floyd Mayweather comeback

DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss whether Floyd Mayweather should fight again on Jabs with Mannix and Mora.

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Floyd Mayweather, 43, floated the idea that he would return to boxing this year.

That probably won’t happen given the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the sport and Mayweather’s personal tragedies, the death of the mother of his childern and his uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather.

But should he come back at all and risk his perfect 50-0 record?

DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss that topic on Jabs with Mannix and Mora.

Mora says Mayweather should stay retired to preserve his legacy. Mannix supports a Mayweather comeback but only against one of the current pound-for-pound fighters at welterweight.

Listen to what they have to say.