Dream fight. Rocky Graziano 67-10-6 (52) vs Jake LaMotta 83-19-4 (30)?

Question

middleweights for 15 rounds in their prime.

Answer 1

You always seem to have interesting match-ups.  Rocky would begin the first part of the fight, up to about round 4 - 5, with a sizable lead.  He's a slightly better boxer than Jake though neither relied on boxing ability much.  

Jake is just overall, tougher.  Rocky might have a slight edge in one shot power.  However, neither is the type who could change a fight with one punch.  Graziano KO'd a lot of welterweights but didn't move middleweights so easily.  Just imagine Evander Holyfield going toe-to-toe with Joe Frazier rather than boxing him.  

Rocky would hit Jake often.  However, after a while he would realize Jake isn't going anywhere.  Rocky wouldn't give up but he would be worn down as Jake would do his own work despite being behind on points.  Rocky would suffer the same fate most punchers suffer when they can't hurt their opponent.  

Think of Trinidad vs Hopkins or more similar, Mugabi against Hagler.  Cuevas against Duran also comes to mind.   In each case the puncher failed to move his granite chinned opponent and either wore himself out or became discouraged and was KO'd.  

Lamotta by KO in 8

Answer 2

Jake will win by late TKO. Rocky can punch but Jake had a great chin and better stamina.

Answer 3

These guys were friends,

Propriety, Drivel, Bobby Fischer, Amalgamated, Hypotenuse Of The Right Triangle, Fisherman, Slack, Smitty was always brilliantly arrogant so I can understand being a little put off by him. I Have Alot Of Nerve Saying That About Smitty When I Myself Am So Arrogant. But Then I Am A Smitty Wanna Be

Answer 4

if these two best friends had ever fought, then la motta would have won either on cuts or points....but it would have been brutal!

Answer 5

La Motta !

Answer 6

These guys were friends, and Jake was always the dominate of the pair.  Psychologically Lamotta had Rocky's number and would have beaten Graziano any time in their lives.  Easy call, Lamotta by KO inside of ten rounds.

Answer 7

It's a bad matchup for Lamotta's face, but overall, it's a terrible matchup for Graziano.  Rocky has nothing to fall back on when his big punches don't KO Jake.  

Lamotta with a lake ko, round 10-ish.