Question:Why some have Rocky overJack?

Personally, I think the rulesets and eras they fought in are a little too different for a feasible matchup, but if pushed, I'd say that if matched against a set of common opponents, Dempsey would fare better and look more impressive.

But when matched against each other, I have to go with a guy that found a way to win each time out, against a wide variety of styles.

 

It's a valid point Burt, but I'm not so sure even guys who saw them both are any more clued up as to who would win. It's still ultimately guesswork, if informed guesswork.

For example, if Tyson and Holyfield had never fought, the overwhelming consensus by all and sundry would be that Tyson would blow Holyfield away.
There was even some rubbish computer fight between them in the 90's, when Tyson was in jail and it looked like he may never fight again.
The computer claimed Tyson won 96% of the time.

The reality was rather different.

 

Dempsey's greatest asset in a fight like this would be his in-fighting.

It's an overdue notion but more and more fans are beginning to acknowledge that Jack Dempsey was likely the greatest heavyweight of all time on the inside.

When you observe how he quickly trapped a mouse like Carpentier, shutout a defensive whiz like Gibbons and ripped into a dangerous slugger like Firpo, his efficiency up-close-and-personal becomes apparent.

The two men will come together but a more ponderous Marciano is going to have to deal with a dynamic volcano. Sure hype may tinge what we say at times, but aren't our sauciest adjectives reserved for the best?

If any kind of vulnerability showed itself in Rocky it was in the early goings, and if there is one thing which is endlessly (and erroneously) broadcasted about Dempsey it is that he was a Tyson-esque firework that fizzled out as fights went on.

The smart money says Marciano absorbs too much in the early goings. If he is still there after six, Dempsey is going to be right there with him.

Trench warfare would work better against Tyson, not Dempsey.

 

It's tricky to say. Rocky is clearly the greater fighter but would he have prevailed in this matchup?

If jack comes bearing in, rocky will end him with a right hook.

Unlike jack, rocky still proved devastating against those his own size.

Traditionally i'd have said that jack does everything a bit better then rocky.

However I find myself now considering it to be not quite the case.

I mean if you put rocky in jack's schedule, I think he'd look just as devastating. In terms of the small heavyweights, rocky is probably the most proven out there.

Whilst I don't think rocky matches up well at all against bigger heavyweights, I struggle to see him losing to someone his own size.

For those saying he's slow, he was quick enough to keep up with charles and jersey. He also scored late knockouts and in my opinion is one of the best trained heavyweights in history.

The tales of jack are all well and good and they used to be enough for me. I don't subscribe to pp's theory that jack is slow. I just don't think, based on what i've seen, he's significantly quick enough to make rocky pay.

I think jack takes an early lead, but down the stretch rocky will punish him and ultimately stop him.

Given a 190 limit I don't think any fighter would beat rocky.

I seem to be on a cycle with these two as i'm sure I remember arguing the exact opposite last time this fight was debated.

It's probably the best hw fantasy fight out there.

 

I doubt anyone really could. Both sets of fans would be shitting themselves before the first round starts. :yep

 

Burt my thoughts on this fight are if Dempsey could not get Marciano out of there in the first 4 rounds he would get knocked out eventually. Marciano had too good of a Chin, Stamina, and Heart. Cuts could be a factor though....

I know one thing as an event and fight this would be up there with the most exciting Heavyweights match ups of all time. It would be awesome to watch these two ATG's go at it. :good

 

Spot on. Marciano stops Dempsey late in my eyes.

 

Dempsey would **** marciano up. Dempsey was a mean son of a *****, his technique and ring iq is much better than rocky's. Rocky has the edge in raw punching power but Dempsey i believe was more explosive and threw punches in bunches. Cus D'Amato witnessed Rocky fight the englishmen don cockell and he said that Marciano did not like to be crowded or swarmed and was uncomfertable at points during the fight. Dempsey being one of the greatest in fighters of all time would def through rocky off his game Dont let 49-0 fool you that doesent mean he's invincable everything marciano did dempsey could do better accept maybe raw thudding power

 

Nicely put McGrain :good. People on ESB could learn a lot by reading this post.

 

Why did Dempsey-Wills have to take place in New York? Or even the United States?

 

Yeah I agree that both could have done more to make the fight happen. I don't think either ducked the other.

I definitely think burt gets too emotionally involved regarding dempsey. Any pick against him is met with claims of dempsey hatred.

Imagine if everyone countered with the same argument "you must hate rocky so there" the debate would just be a pile of ****.

The reality from my point of view is that hard evidence (film) leads me to give a slight edge to rocky. Nothing to do with disliking a man who lived a century ago at all.