Subject: Rocky Marciano

"What about Al Weill, and those charges in California that he took $10,000 off your purse?"

"I believe Al is an honest guy," he said slowly. "We've been together for nine years, and Al wouldn't do that to me. Besides, $10,000 is pennies compared to a million-dollar gate."

"What are your plans for the future?" I asked, "would you like to do something in the fight business, something where you might help straighten out this whole boxing mess?"

"I'd like that," he said eagerly. "I'd like that. I happen to know all the little problems that face fighters. I think I could help. It would be nice, it would be nice," he said.

A BIT OF THE SHOWMAN

Last fall, when I visited Rocky in Brockton, he and his pal Allie Colombo talked about the possibility of taping interviews with celebrities who visited Rocky's training camp. Now this was out, but there has always been more of the showman in Rocky Marciano than some people may have thought. The limelight has never really lost its appeal—perhaps because his vigorous training schedules have not allowed him much of it.

"I don't want to go on personal appearances the way Jack Dempsey did," he said, "but I'd like to do something, maybe a television show where I could work with kids."

"You still want people asking you for your autograph, don't you?"

"You bet I do."

It was clear that Rocky had said farewell to the ring—but not necessarily to his fans, present and future. He hopes his decision will not prejudice them against him. All other decisions in his professional boxing career were in his favor. He wants this one to be too.