Originally Posted by Turnbull
Rocky Graziano, in his autobiography, "Somebody Up There Likes Me," said he was approached by a mobster (probably Carbo) to throw a fight, but didn't--and lived to tell about it. Jake LaMotta admitted to throwing a fight for the Mob. I read somewhere that Ezzard Charles, considered one of the best heavyweights of his era, totally belonged to Carbo, who allegedly paid him as little as $150 for a championship fight. Sonny Liston allegedly belonged to the Mob.



Yep, and many many others. In NY, in the old neighborhoods, so many guys who later became up-n-coming prizefighters, were close friends with the guys they grew up with (some of whom later became wiseguys). It stands to reason that most of those fellas later got pushed by "influential" streets guys (their buddies), who, I don't say abused them, but nonetheless worked hand-n-glove to further their careers for an envelope.

Some made to The Garden, some ended up as champions. Others just remained popular club fighters. But many fellas who later gained a foothold in the fight game were backed to a greater, or lesser, degree by so-called mob guys.

The same type of mentality and things took place in other cities and states too, NJ, PA, etc. Frank (Blinky) Palermo, Paul (Frankie) Carbo, Ettore (Little Eddie) Coco, etc., etc. These were the big racketeer names in the fight game. But there were many other wiseguys who also benefitted, they're just not publcially connected to the rackets.

Thats just the way it was back then.

The New York Mafia
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