Who is Greater between Holmes or Marciano?

I thought you were being sarcastic until I seen you voted for Rocky

You still might have been being sarcastic, its hard to tell on here at times

 

This for me. I primarily rank Heavies based upon how well they do in their respective era's not the relative strength of the fighter themselves or their opposition, although this does play a part. If I didn't Joe Louis probably wouldn't be top 5 for me despite alot of people willing to rank him number 1. Holmes had alot opposition he could've fought and a few fighters that deserved rematches.

 

p4p marciano

Otherwise Holmes

 

Ability - Holmes
Greater Wins - Marciano
Resume Depth - Holmes
Cleaning out an Era - Marciano
Defences/Longevity - Holmes
Size of opposition - Holmes

Overall I'd go with Holmes

 

Marciano...fought the best of his era...beat them all...nuff said...

 

I actually rate holmes slightly greater...mainly due in part to his unbelievable longevity.

 

Marciano did fight the best of his era, but I wouldn't say he "fought them all". He certainly should have chosen the young, prime, dangerous clarence henry over Lee Savold in 1952, and I would have preferred a nino valdes title defense over don cockell.

 

I got Marciano at #3 and Holmes at #4.

Resume I give Marciano the edge. He did more in a short amount of time, but Holmes's longevity gives him a serious boost. Had Holmes gotten the nod over McCall in 1995 (I agreed with the decision, for the record) to make him the heavyweight champ, I'd have him at #3.

Outside of having a short career and lack of "big" oponents, Marciano's resume can't really be knocked when really looking at it closely. Holmes's can, and frequently is.

Head to head, overall against other ATGs, I don't see anyone that I'd 100% favor over Holmes, or anyone even 60%, to be honest. The most I'd favor someone over Holmes head to head is like 55%.

I am 100% confident, however, that Foreman would've stopped Marciano in the same type of fashion that he did Frazier. He'd just keep knocking the Rock down and the ref would have to save Rocky from himself.

In a fight between Marciano and Holmes, I pick Marciano to win a close decision, mostly due to his immense strength in the late rounds which would enable him to close the early gap that Holmes would take the lead in.

 

:good and did not own a split title that was never unified

 

If Marciano added a few more names on his resume like 2 of the following names....clarence henry, floyd patterson 1956, bob baker, nino valdes, harold johnson.....I would rate Marciano higher. but he doesn't have the longevity, and wide variety of styles beaten as holmes does

People say Marcianos era was "terrible", he fought everyone out there to fight. That isn't true. There were some highly talented prospects with huge amateur pedigrees like baker and henry who deserved fights against Marciano...

 

I think the loss Henry had to Archie Moore made Clarence lose the value of the reward/risk factor and he lost to Harold Johnson about the same time. Valdes lost 4 in a row in 53 and most felt he lost to Archie McBride in 54 so he lost a lot of his luster but I would have loved to see Valdes on Marciano's resume as another KO victim.

five # 1 contender and 1 # 2 (Cockel) not a bad defense resume and a rematch with 2 tough 1st fights of Walcott and Charles and easier repeats speak volumes.

Holmes never rematch a tough fight or controversial win, Norton,Weaver,Witherspoon,Williams and never unified vs Tate,Dokes,Thomas,Weaver,Coetzee, I know Holmes was not responsible for them all but I have to hold that against him.

I just cant say he Woulda,Coulda,Shoulda

 

Why did guys like Baker deserve shots at Marciano over Charles, Moore, or LaStarza? Cockell was the only non #1 ranked contender title defense of Marciano's.

 

Baker was KO'd by Archie Moore and Bob Satterfield in 1 rd, it was a rough era and tough to stay unbeaten but you can not fight everyone and Ezz Charles had 2 explosive wins against Coley Wallace and Bob Satterfield and I do think he was the riskier and more skilled and dangerous opponent not to mention # 1 contender and former champion ATG

 

I like Marciano,but I can only give this one to Holmes. Better boxer,and better in a head to head,imo. Marciano beat a better crop of fighters though.

 

I have them at 5 and 6.

Or tied for fifth.


If I had to pick one, probably Marciano.