Rocky Marciano's so called punching power

Its a major factor in the lower weights. It becomes a lesser factor at heavyweight.

 

Durable compared to who and big compared to who ?

When was the last time a man weighting 185 pounds challenged for the heavyweight title ?

 

Then, why weight divisions? Should they be abolished?

 

Excellent post choklab. Size can be a factor but it's not the only factor.

 

Weight divisions are for lower weights where 5 pounds can mean plenty. A fighter of 190 pounds if he knows how to punch can ko anyone at any weight. Chins don't get better as a fighter puts on weight.

 

I agree that a 190 pound guy can KO anyone else... just about. But there is a lot more to the game than having the potential power to KO someone. A very fit 225 pounder, with equal technique, is going to be able to pull off the trick with more frequency and more margin of error. Also, pushing around, crowding and getting crowded by 225 pounder is much, much more difficult than engaging in the same activities with a 190 pounder.

Again, why the institution of the cruiserweight division? Why talk of a superheavy division? There is still a case to be made for divisions above 175, a case that I have never heard one professional fighter go against, not in interviews, not in talking to personally. Ask guys who go up from light heavy to heavy these days, or in the past 30 years, their thoughts on the matter. And I will ask one more time, when will the next dominant heavyweight power puncher clock in at 185 pounds?

 

A smaller heavyweight has to work a lot lot harder to beat a bigger superheavyweight. But it is no picnic for the superheavyweight because he will be getting hit a lot more times from a smaller man who can fight at a harder pace. The hope is the weight advantage can tire out the smaller heavyweight before the bigger man gasses out. Usually the bigger man has the upperhand but not always.

The reson why there is a cruiserweight division is so there is somewhere for light heavyweight bodybuilders to go. Heavyweights today already are bodybuilders hence superheavyweight. They are not all giants, most are still under 6'3" without shoes.

 

I think the recent Fury vs Cunningham fight is relevant to the size argument that is going on.

I dont think anyone would argue that Cunningham is a much better fighter lb for lb than that big lug Fury.

However Fury just leaned on him and tired him out.

That's the advantage the bigger guys have.

BTW Its obvious to me just from watching the Walcott knockout that Rocky had major power.

 

Have you seen Rocky Marciano closeup at ringside, you sir would not utter such foolishness ? Well I HAVE...In 1949 I saw Rocky Marciano in his first NY bout at MSG against a 6ft2" banger from NY named Carmine Vingo. I was sitting almost over the ring, and saw Marciano administer such a vicious beating to Carmine Vingo, that put Vingo in the hospital with life threatening injuries. He was unable to walk without a cane for the rest of his long life....Marciano threw boulders at his opponents that even broke blood vessels in the arms of Roland LaStarza and Ezzard Charles...So brush up on your history before you make foolish statements...

 

A modern sized heavyweight? manual charr? Tony Thompson? Tyson fury? Dereck chisora? Robert helinius? These guys are rated very highly today because heavyweights have "evolved" into better more coordinated athletes.:rofl

I am not saying they are not good fighters, they are. They train for the kind of champion who is around now. The kind of championship distance that is around now and the kind of "20-0" contenders who are around now in one of 4 top ten ratings at the same division.

However, they would all need to lose weight and have a lot more fights to compete within Marcianos list of contenders.

 

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In the late 1940s and 1950s the superheavyweights I mentioned would not get nursed along with manufactured records so that after 16 fights they might register on some governing body top ten list. No. They would have to fight their way through the clubs before getting an invite into the preliminary level. There was extra circuits you had to excel at before you could land a fight that wasceven worth reporting.

Each fighter came through clubs first. they had to headline in one town before they might get a spot on a show in another town. The comptition was incredible. Back then charr, furry and co would find gyms full of talented fighters with 50-50 records that might not ever become rated or famous who could all fight and make todays muscle bound oafs want to run extra miles just so they could hang with them in sparring. They would have to keep up.

Every one could fight then. the records were less groomed but everyone could fight. There were profesional "opponents" around just like now who would take fights short notice but there were also levels outside the "opponent circuit" where journeymen could get more fairly matched up. A journeyman circuit where between beatings journeymen didnt give up hope. Not like these sad unfortunate fodder that today's prospects cut their teeth on who are so beaten down they offer nothing back time after time. What can they pass on?

If it was not for gymwork some prospects today could go 9-0 without taking a punch. I watched Tyson fury from day one and some of his opponents were rediculous. It was not like that then. Managers had more fighters than they wanted so they didnt pay kids huge deals like now, they wanted to test them so they could dump them early if they didnt make the grade. It was tough. If you couldnt fight you got dumped before you got hurt. Now a fighter can get a rating BEFORE anyone knows if he can fight!

Developing an extra 40lb worth of muscle through modern training would count for nothing in a gym where everyone could fight. Let alone a top ten where everyone could fight...

 

I think if Roy Jones Jr who started in a lighter weight class than Marciano can move up and win a heavyweight title, I think Marciano has a good shot of repeating that feat imo.

Not sure he have the perfect 49-0 record, as I see loseings vs Lewis or one of the Kilt brothers. But I think he is a class above every one else in this era of giants. Holyfiled was holding his own even at 40 plus.

 

Chok...very true. There was a time that every city had numerous boxing clubs and gyms full of seasoned trainers. Today it's very different. Most trainers don't know the sport and they in turn produce crappy fighters. The big hwts today are certainly big but as a whole they can't fight a lick. Fans are so used to seeing poor talent they don't understand what true boxing ability is all about. Instead the focus on size, physique. Sad what has come of a once great sport.