**
La Starza dominated the early rounds, forcing Marciano into a defensive stance with sharp counters and restricting his rhythm.
Marciano gained momentum in the fourth round, landing a powerful right that knocked La Starza down. The champion recovered by the count of seven, with the bell ending the round to grant him recovery time.
Though the knockdown altered the fight’s trajectory, it did not secure a definitive outcome.
La Starza regained composure in subsequent rounds, exchanging close-quarter blows with Marciano. The Boston fighter’s precision countered Marciano’s relentless aggression, leaving judges divided.
The eighth round proved pivotal. Marciano’s forceful right hand hurt La Starza, marking one of his strongest performances, but referee Jack Watson deducted a point for a low blow.
After ten rounds, the scorecards split. Judge Arthur Schwartz scored it 5-4 for Marciano, while Artie Aidala favored La Starza 5-4. Watson’s 5-5 tally activated New York’s supplemental scoring system, giving Marciano a 9-6 advantage and the split decision.
Chaos erupted instantly. Prominent ringside observers, including *The New York Times*, scored the fight 6-4 for La Starza, and the challenger accused Marciano’s manager Al Weill of biasing the result. Weill also served as Madison Square Garden’s matchmaker, intensifying suspicions.
Marciano preserved his unbeaten record, while La Starza departed convinced he had prevailed. The dispute over the decision set the stage for their 1952 rematch, which carried the weight of a divided legacy and the heavyweight title.
Tom Reynolds is a boxing analyst covering major fights and career turning points, with a focus on performance, trajectory, and long-term implications.
