Marty Marshall
Encyclopedia
Marion 'Marty' Marshall (born in Georgia
, December 24, 1923 – October 25, 2004) was an American
professional boxer
who fought at Light heavyweight
and Heavyweight
. Nicknamed "the Michigan Bomber", Marshall was active during the 1940s and 1950s. His most famous fight was against the emerging Sonny Liston
on September 7, 1954, in which Marshall broke Liston's jaw and won by a split decision
, in what was Liston's only defeat until he fought Cassius Clay
ten years later. Liston himself said he was smiling as Marshall clowned and got hit on a open jaw causing the breakage. He would appear on a fall 1962 episode of the television program I've Got A Secret
as a result of his earlier decision over Liston; in this appearance, he was prescient enough to say that Clay could beat Liston, "with the right training".
Marshall was a marine in early life and later got involved as a boxing trainer. He loved showing people a fast 'one-two', the classic left -right combination.
He met Liston twice more after that, losing by a technical knockout
in 1955 and a unanimous decision
in 1956. He also fought future world light-heavyweight champion Harold Johnson
, losing on points.
Marshall retired from boxing in 1959 with a record of 23 wins (11 by knockout), 13 losses and 2 draws.
He died at his Detroit home of complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, December 24, 1923 – October 25, 2004) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought at Light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
and Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
. Nicknamed "the Michigan Bomber", Marshall was active during the 1940s and 1950s. His most famous fight was against the emerging Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
on September 7, 1954, in which Marshall broke Liston's jaw and won by a split decision
Split decision
A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...
, in what was Liston's only defeat until he fought Cassius Clay
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
ten years later. Liston himself said he was smiling as Marshall clowned and got hit on a open jaw causing the breakage. He would appear on a fall 1962 episode of the television program I've Got A Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
as a result of his earlier decision over Liston; in this appearance, he was prescient enough to say that Clay could beat Liston, "with the right training".
Marshall was a marine in early life and later got involved as a boxing trainer. He loved showing people a fast 'one-two', the classic left -right combination.
He met Liston twice more after that, losing by a technical knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in 1955 and a unanimous decision
Unanimous decision
A unanimous decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which all three judges agree on which fighter won the match....
in 1956. He also fought future world light-heavyweight champion Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson (boxer)
Harold Johnson , is a former professional boxer.Johnson was born in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He won his first twenty-four fights before losing a ten round decision to Archie Moore, who would be Johnson's biggest career rival...
, losing on points.
Marshall retired from boxing in 1959 with a record of 23 wins (11 by knockout), 13 losses and 2 draws.
He died at his Detroit home of complications from Alzheimer's disease.