I was a little dazed and decided to stay on the deck." Cerdan fought only three more times after winning the championship, once in London, once in Casablanca and finally in the first defense of his title against Jake LaMotta on June 16, 1949 in Detroit. Both men would suffer injuries hindering their performance during this brutal fight. At that point it became clear something was wrong. All involved agreed the fix was obvious and their staging inept. Legacy. Jake LaMotta, left, pounds Algerian Marcel Cerdan in third round of the world middleweight title bout in Detroit, Mich., June 16, 1949. Although the Bronx Bull had suffered previous defeats and bad beatings, LaMotta had never gone down before his light-heavyweight title eliminator with Danny Nardico. At that point it became clear something was wrong. How much had LaMotta's last and most famous fight with Sugar Ray Robinson taken out of him and contributed to this crushing defeat? He covers up, and Cerdan pounds him like a rug. Cerdan's corner threw in the towel after 9 rounds and the World Middleweight title awarded to Jake LaMotta.A rematch was scheduled between the 2 boxers however in October 1949, Cerdan died in a plane crash on his way back to the USA. After the Zale fight Marcel returned to Europe where he had a couple of non title fights stopping Dick Turpin and Lucien Krawczyk. Graziano got Zale when. Sadly, no official film was made of the blood and thunder brawl that took place in front of a huge crowd at Chicago Stadium, which set a new indoor-gate record, but the majority of lucky souls who witnessed the legendary trilogy betweenThe Man Of Steel and Rocky Bob regarded their second slugfest as themost exciting and action-packed. An argument could be made that NOBODY actually beat Cerdan legitimately when he was at 100% full healthLaMotta would instead go on to have his first Middleweight World title defense against Tiberio Mitri (48-1-3), winning over 15 rounds by unanimous decision. July 16, 1947: Rocky Graziano TKO 6 Tony Zale. The 1949 World Middleweight title fight between Champion Marcel Cerdan and "The Bronx Bull" Jake LaMotta. Made his career beating up welterweights. When they squared-off most expected a one-round bout. But Nardico never got to fight for the title -- his greatest moment was to be the LaMotta knockdown -- and instead faced Joe Maxim in his next fight and lost on points. In 1951 Jake LaMotta would meet Sugar Ray Robinson for the 6th and final time, losing his World Middleweight title by TKO in one of the most bloodiest fights ever on record, the now famous \"St. Valentine's Day Massacre\". Reply. Marcel Cerdan - BoxRec LaMotta fought Sugar Ray Robinson in Robinson's middleweight debut at Madison Square Garden, New York City, October 2, 1942. Abrams was at the tail end of his career and would only win one more fight. Both men would suffer injuries hindering their performance during this brutal fight. His free time is devoted to researching, writing about, and breathing boxing, and he has worked with other boxing websites and communities, including MyBoxing. His only real hope is that winning the title was the last time LaMotta was anywhere near his best and even then he was already on the slide and so maybe LaMotta is as "up" for the rematch as he was for the first fight but even then I think LaMotta is just too strong and too good for him. Its easytoo easy. Some connect, sure, but most are picked off. Robinson won by a very controversial split decision, contested over 12 rounds. Top 12 All-Time Biggest Middleweight Fights. The champs eyes are blackened, dark as a coal miners. An overhand right smashes into LaMotta's nose. LaMotta paid the price for not fighting for six months and had weighed in the heaviest of his career -- 173 pounds -- to Nardico's 177 pounds. [29], In 1960 LaMotta was called to testify before a U.S. Senate sub-committee that was looking into underworld influence on boxing. [Also See: Top 10 Middleweights of All-Time Where do LaMotta and Cerdan rank?]. [9][34], His nephew, John LaMotta, fought in the heavyweight-novice class of the 2001 Golden Gloves championship tournament. The fight was postponed one day because of rain. Cerdan apparently dislocated his arm early in the bout, but it was still a good one, with . The Algerian-born Frenchman wasn't nearly so lucky, dislocating his shoulder and rendering the arm useless. LaMotta then lost the world middleweight title to Robinson during a savage beating -- known as the St Valentine's Day Massacre -- in 1951. Jake LaMotta 158 lbs lost to Sugar Ray Robinson 145 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10. LaMotta would indeed admit that he began moving more in round 2 because he was losing steam, but chiefly because he knew he had likely fractured his hand throwing a hook early in the fight. Bernard Hopkins. And all are answered with a vengeance. And yetoff. He doesnt care about the pain. Four bouts and six weeks later, Cerdan beat his first world-ranked opponent, Saverio Turiello, in a . Clarence has divided his career between public relations and retail. Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Melankomas, Jan 31, 2023. Giacobbe "Jake" LaMotta (July 10, 1922 - September 19, 2017) was an American professional boxer, former world middleweight champion, and stand-up comedian. Cerdan, the middleweight divisions answer to Rocky Marciano, was a swarmer. Jake LaMotta - Wikipedia The movie captured LaMotta's life, which was just as turbulent outside as inside the ring. Cerdan started his illustrious career back in 1934 as a welterweight. To the amazement of oddsmakers, boxing analysts, and fans, the Casablanca Clouter took the title from the Man of Steel, who couldnt come out for the 12th. And not only fought, but gave LaMotta a hard time. June 16, 1949:Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan. The victory was short-lived, as the two met on February 26, 1943, in what was another 10-round fight, once again at Olympia Stadium in Robinson's former home of Detroit. Valentines Massacre was the sixth and final chapter in the great rivalry between Robinson and The Bronx Bull, the match attracting a big crowd to Chicago Stadium and a huge audience on home television. In his testimony and in his later book, LaMotta admitted to throwing the fight to gain favor with the Mafia. Lamotta had won the Middleweight Title in 1949 against the great French Middleweight Marcel Cerdan in Detroit. The American is tough, all right. He shouldnt have even been rated at MW but he couldnt make WW and was immensely popular and owned by the mob so he was given preference over everyone in the top ten at MW, all or most of which would have kicked his ass. Aggressive from the opening bell, he knew just what punches, singly and in combination, to deliver. The American is tough, all right. HMs would make a long list. The fight with Fox would come back to haunt him later in life, during a case with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. LaMotta won the fight in Detroit and was declared middleweight champion of the world . During World War II, he was rejected for military service due to a childhood mastoid operation on one of his ears which affected his hearing.[5][11]. Edith Piaf Lhymne lamour. LaMotta's father collected the money and used it to help pay the rent. Jake LaMotta in training for his 1949 bout with Marcel Cerdan. General Fund And all are answered with a vengeance. Cerdan died in a plane crash on October 27, 1949. . Yellow Atlanta Braves Jersey, LaMotta won the World Middleweight title on June 16, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, defeating Frenchman Marcel Cerdan. On February 14, 2021 Of all the most memorable rivalries in the long history of boxing, that between Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta stands apart. Honorable mentions list is a mile long, for quality Id like to put forward: Toney vs McCallum I, Eubank vs Benn I & the Canelo vs Triple G fightthey were all great fights. [39], LaMotta is the subject of a documentary directed and produced by Greg Olliver. LaMotta won the World Middleweight title on June 16, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, defeating Frenchman Marcel Cerdan. Both men would suffer injuries hindering their . LaMotta won 83 of 106 paid bouts, was world middleweight champion between 1949 and 1951 and made two defences. He knocked LaMotta down for the only time in his career (not counting his thrown 1947 fight) by a right hand in the seventh round. His injury aside (and he always had a ready excuse when he lost or looked bad and LaMotta injured his hand early in the fight as well) I dont see it happening. Until then, the thrown fight and a payment of $20,000 to the Mafia got LaMotta his title bout against Marcel Cerdan in Detroit in 1949, which he won when Cerdans corner threw in the towel in the ninth. Its almost imperceptible. LaMotta won the World Middleweight title on June 16, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, defeating Frenchman Marcel Cerdan. LaMotta vs. Cerdan. I was supposed to be throwing a fight to this guy, and it looked like I was going to end up holding him on his feet By [the fourth round], if there was anybody in the Garden who didn't know what was happening, he must have been dead drunk. He had the uncanny ability to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment and was known to use this to his advantage by playing possum, acting hurt of tired, before pouncing and unleashing a barrage of devastating blows. Something about glory being fleeting. The heavy-handed Puerto Rican, who was coming off big wins over Fernando Vargas and William Joppy, was favoured to defeat the long-reigning Executioner, but it was Hopkins who controlled the match and then battered the younger man in the final minutes. It went on to be nominated for eight Academy Awards, with Robert De Niro winning Best Actor for his portrayal of LaMotta. Cerdan prepares to defend himself against an oncoming Jake Lamotta. LaMotta won the title by The dreaded word to hear in connection with a boxing match. Giacobbe "Jake" LaMotta (July 10, 1922 September 19, 2017) was an American professional boxer who was world middleweight champion between 1949 and 1951. Marcel Cerdan on a 1969 UAE stamp Cerdan began boxing professionally on 4 November 1934 in Meknes, Morocco, beating Marcel Bucchianeri by a decision in six rounds. Your email address will not be published. Jake LaMotta: world middleweight boxing champion and 'Raging Bull The gross gate was $150,762 and the net gate was $127,810. LaMotta vs. Cerdan. LaMotta surprises Cerdan in the eighth, taking on the role of aggressor. He refused and was beaten to a pulp before he finally took the count. Marvelous Marvin Hagler was the middleweight king; Thomas Hit Man Hearns held a version of the 154 title. Jake LaMotta KO 10 Marcel Cerdan - Boxing360 He uses his fists the way a bull hooks with its horns. One thing for certain is that LaMotta had more speed at this weight than Duran. [3] LaMotta was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.[4]. At that point it became clear something was wrong. Jake LaMotta - 'Raging Bull' Biography - Boxing Daily It also features Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Penelope Ann Miller, Natasha Henstridge, Joey Diaz and Ray Wise. LaMotta retained his title via unanimous decision. [40] The lawsuit was settled on July 31, 2012, when LaMotta agreed to change the title of the film to The Bronx Bull. The Cerdan-LaMotta bout was held at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, and was the first fight under the banner of the International Boxing Club a But in the seventh Cerdan does indeed punch LaMotta toward the ropes. LaMotta gives up his attempts to counter. 7. Trouble was inevitable. Aug. 19, 1926: Tiger Flowers W15 Harry Greb. Cerdan injured his left shoulder when he was thrown to the canvas by LaMotta in the first round. When Turpin of England had defeated Robinson for the world title in front of a hometown crowd the previous July, it was one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. A left rocks the Clouter, but he responds with one of his own. If you are impressed by that I guess it depends on how highly you rate Graziano. In the third, Cerdan drives LaMotta toward the ropes, planning to deliver the kind of massive uppercut that finished Zale in the 11th round of their championship bout. Jake LaMotta won the National Boxing Association World Jake LaMotta v Marcel Cerda DETROIT - JUNE 16,1949: Jake LaMotta (L) looks on as he watches Marcel Cerdan as he weighs in before the fight at Briggs Stadium, on June 16,1949 in Detroit, Michigan. LaMotta, who lived a turbulent life in and out of the ring, was managed by his brother Joey. Cerdan grows in confidence. April 6, 1987: Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Marvelous Marvin Hagler. 6. Maybe he cant. Marcel Cerdan (111-4-0, 65 KOs), European middleweight champ, faced world champion Tony Zale for the title on September 21, 1948 (Ring Magazines Fight of the Year). Cerdan had made his American debut just two years earlier with a hard fought win over the very tough Georgie Abrams. After the Zale fight Marcel returned to Europe where he had a couple of non title fights stopping Dick Turpin and Lucien Krawczyk. So in return for throwing the fight and the $20,000, in 1949 the mafia gave LaMotta a fight against the then-current middleweight champion Marcel Cerdan. The bout was even after three rounds, but Cerdan had separated his. After the Zale fight Marcel returned to Europe where he had a couple of non title fights stopping Dick Turpin and Lucien Krawczyk. The Fight: Cerdan's speed and clever, whirlwind style made Basilio miss in the 2nd round. But Cerdans timing seems off. He testified that he had thrown his bout with Billy Fox so that the mob would arrange a title bout for him.[19]. LaMotta won the world title on June 16, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, defeating Frenchman Marcel Cerdan. He gets up slowly, awkwardly, like a marionette guided by an inept puppeteer. As the result of a shove more than a blow, the champ and his challenger tumbled to the mat. The two-fisted pounding LaMotta endured in rounds 12 and 13 was nothing short of brutal before the referee finally stopped it and Robinson won the world middleweight title for the first time. Commentators could be heard saying "No man can take this kind of punishment!" Top 12 Greatest Middleweights: Boxing's Best Ever At 160 - The Fight City 11. My head was spinning, but I knew what was going on. A key difference between Pete in real life and Joey in Scorseses Oscar-winning classic is that Pete does not yield to the mobs insatiable demands. He lived only 33 years, but his ring achievements, his memorable fights and his romance with the "Little Sparrow of Paris" live on. And they landed with devastating consequence. His last defense of the European Welterweight title occurred in 1942 when he TKO'd Spain's Welterweight Champion Jose Ferrer (26-1-4) in the 1st round. An overhand right smashes into LaMottas nose. Cerdan underestimated and misjudged the champ. All of those guys, Williams, Abrams, and Zale were past their prime when Cerdan fought them. Please use the links below for donations: Some fifty thousand were on-hand to witness what was, by all reports, a truly great fight, the match becoming more intense and fast-paced as the rounds went by. LaMotta gives up his attempts to counter. But the former champ rallies and counters. Jake LaMotta vs. Marcel Cerdan, 1949-06-16 - YouTube Highlights of the classic middleweight title bout in which the Bronx Bull Jake LaMotta scores a ten round technical knockout victory. It was the record-setting superfight that few at the time saw coming, with Leonard unexpectedly emerging from retirement to challenge the dominant and undisputed middleweight champion who had not lost a fight in 11 years. [9] One of LaMotta's cousins on his father's side was Richard LaMotta, who became an entrepreneur and creator of the Chipwich ice cream treat. Jake LaMotta: First Title (Marcel Cerdan) LaMotta finally got (and won) the World Middleweight title fight on the 16 th June 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, defeating Frenchman Marcel Cerdan. Cerdan dislocated his arm in the first round, apparently damaged in the knockdown, and gave up before the start of the 10th round. Where LaMotta pulled surprises, Cerdan simply overwhelmed. Cerdan's first defense of the belt, would be against Jake LaMotta.Although the footage above doesn't clearly show it, both fighters were injured at various points during the bout vastly affecting their performance. 1. The triumph of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in Creed III, IBA prez: Russia, Belarus boxers should compete, Benn: WBC done me a 'disservice' with egg ruling, WBO orders Crawford title defense vs. Rocha, Serrano injured; rematch with Taylor postponed, Fury wins split decision to hand Paul first loss, Davis-Garcia bout finalized, moved to April 22, Sources: Taylor, Lopez agree to June 10 title bout. It was widely reported that LaMotta threw Cerdan to the canvas. The Senate hearing in 1960 signaled the end of the mobs involvement with professional boxing. The difference is LaMotta also fought his fair share of ranked middleweights and light heavyweights. He was on his way back to the United States to train for the rematch.