Boxing Memorabilia > Boxing Autographs >
Jake La Motta Signed
Photo
16x20 Action photo against Sugar Ray Robinson
signed by the Raging Bull, Jake La Motta. La Motta was the
first man to defeat the great Robinson. This item comes
with a photo of Jake La Motta signing and has the added
inscription of 'Raging Bull'
Jake La Motta
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This pair, a contrast in styles and size,
fought six times in total but only once for a world title,
both falling victim to boxing's governing underworld at
various stages of their careers.
Robinson, a slick boxer who simply refused
to do business with the mob, was made to wait until 1946
before seizing his first belt - a ridiculously long delay
for a fighter of his talent.
"We fought so often, it's a wonder I
don't have diabetes", LaMotta on his rivalry with Robinson
By then, Robinson had already won 73 pro fights and beaten
LaMotta four times. True to his monicker, LaMotta - the
Raging Bull - relied more on grit than guile, countering
Robinson's welterweight speed with his middleweight bulk.
Their differences made for some fascinating
contests.
Having outpointed the Bull in their first
contest in 1942, Robinson was a strong favourite going into
the rematch in Detroit's Olympic Stadium the following year.
He was, after all, unbeaten in 169 bouts - 129 as an amateur
and 40 as a pro. But, 16 pounds lighter on the night, Robinson
was guilty of allowing his opponent to bully his way inside.
I kept swinging and Jake kept standing. In round eight,
LaMotta pounced, knocking his opponent through the ropes
in what proved to be a defining moment of their fierce rivalry.
Although Robinson picked himself up and avenged
the subsequent points defeat with wins in their next three
bouts, he could never put the indomitable LaMotta on the
canvas.
When the two men met for the final time in
1951, more was at stake than the unified middleweight title.
The first seven rounds were competitive and true to form,
with Sugar boxing and the Bull brawling. But in round eight,
it became clear that LaMotta, who had struggled to make
weight, was being overpowered. Only pride kept him on his
feet while he took a terrible beating in the latter rounds
of a fight that came to be known as the 'St Valentine's
Day Massacre'. Mercifully, the referee intervened in round
13 with LaMotta clutching the top rope and absorbing punch
after punch without reply.
The manner of this loss was hugely important
to the Bull, who was heard to mutter 'you couldn't put me
down, Ray' as the end came. Immortalised in 'Raging Bull',
the film of his autobiography, LaMotta retired three years
later.
