Marciano was only favourite going into the Walcott fight, because his Brockton neighbours bet verry heavily on him out of loyalty. Fantasy fights are hard enough, without trying to estimate which fighter will underestimate the other.
Maybe, but the pre 1954 Rocky Marciano who loaded up on his punches more(with a less workrate)...was a legimate candinate for all time great one punch power. Checkout the Layne and Walcott fights, absolutely brutal one punch power right there.
That's very true, as well. The loyalty from Marciano fans (During that time) reminds me very much the love Pacquiao gets from his loyal followers.
Dempsey better finish him early, otherwise he's hugely at a disadvantage in a trench war fight in my estimate. Look at the qualities Marciano has. Basically Dempsey would have to try the alternative to boxing him to win, unless people genuinely think Dempesy can be the aggressive and win all the exchanges by beating him to the punch.
P,this catfight is going nowhere,and I don't have a litter box .But 1-I have said that I have watched the film numerous times, and I have never seen a punch in the NUTS. I have seen borderline punches,that I have seen innumerable times watching fights. 2- I myself was rendered UNCONSCIOUS from a blow to the stomache. Completely out.And not in the family jewels. 3-If you were objective P, you would see Dempsey sinking MANY clear shots to the pit of Sharkey's stomache.Jack had HEAVY hands and these many blows were taking the steam out of Jack Sharkey,weakening his body and resolve to the point of his inevitable end in the 7th round. He reached his limit and complained to the ref,hoping for the ref to have Dempsey chastised. Sharkey was erratic in the ring ,crying at times. Not for nothing was he called "the garrulous Gob". 3-Dempsey was as I posted, smacked in the face after the bell by Sharkey while Dempsey was walking with his hands down to his corner. An obvious and erratic display of emotions gone awry,by the tempermental Sharkey. .Not a peep from you P ? 4- Finally, as this thread is about Rocky Marciano vs Jack Dempsey,and NOT Dempsey vs Sharkey, I go along with the VAST majority of boxing experts, who were polled during Marciano's reign in 1954-05,when asked who would have won at their bests,between Dempsey and Marciano, chose Jack Dempsey, by a wide margin, because of Dempsey's much greater handspeed,and anyone Dempsey hurt in his prime he stopped. If I am wrong P, I'm wrong with the great majority who SAW them both at their peaks,and I can live with that. Cheers... P.S. I loved Marciano,but as in the case with a much faster punching Joe Louis, who I also pick to beat the slower punching Rocky at their peaks...
Back when Marciano was champ, Don Dunphy was asked who he believed would win between him and Dempsey. Dunphy said to the effect that if Dempsey didn't get him out of there within the first 3 rounds, it would be all Rocky's after that. I think I concur with his assessment.
I met Don Dunphy many years ago at a golf club in Port Washington,NY. Nice man was he. I agree with his opinion that Marciano's chances would be improved if he survives the savage early attacks of Dempsey. No doubt, but i cannot see Marciano mixing it with the faster explosive power of Dempsey, and if a peak Dempsey would lose, it would be to a boxer with very mobile wheels. When I watch films of Marciano,I see him missing with half of his punches,leaving himself open to a Dempsey or Joe Louis,who threw faster and shorter acurate punches than Rocky, whose forte was his inhuman stamina able to put everything in his blows and NEVER TIRE. He was like a smaller version of Jim Jeffries,built for distance...
The most stamina laden heavyweight of all time. Barring none. A human dynamo,with grenade-like power,who had unlimited courage and resolve. i rate him along with Dempsey, Tunney, Louis, Schmeling, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Tyson, in any order you wish. But against A Dempsey or Louis type of fast-handed accurate puncher, Rocky would have been at a disadvantage, as he missed too many punches to get one over, and even Rocky ,tough as he was couldn't survive ther onslaughts. But of course with Marciano's blockbusting punches, he has a good chance against ANYONE.... S, i have constantly seen that when you throw two great hitters against each other, it is usually the faster puncher that wins, everything else being equal...Cheers... P.S. Ray Robinson was a PERFECT example of my theory. His handspeed and great punching allowed Ray to get there first...