Marciano vs Foreman... What Can The Rock Do?

It is sheer lunacy to try to compare Joe Louis strength to that of George Foreman, as it is to try to compare their respective punch power. Marciano could come up out of his crouch a thousand times, just to find himself being shoved back into George's punching range like a piece of paper. I don't care how strong Marciano was for his 185 pound weight Foremans strength makes Rocky's pale into insignificance.

 

I like the romance of all the old heavyweights competing against 220lb + greats but hand on heart do people really believe that the small Marciano with his style would beat a monster like Foreman??

I don't really believe that you do tbh, you're telling me you'd put a wager on it??

 

The Rock wont come out of any crouch more than once. Soon as Foreman lands then Rock is out.

 

A good big-un like George Forman in his prime,will always beat a good little-un in his prime, even not in his prime Forman would be nearly 5 stone heavier than the Rock, who let's face it,if the Rock was around today he would be just a cruiser wht.........

 

Marciano was very different from Joe Frazier. Marciano was smarter, and he could get inside quickly and just make it a brawl. Foreman had long arms, so he would be ineffective on the inside.

Just look at the Louis-Marciano fight, where Marciano is often far away from Louis (too far to be hit) but then comes crashing in quickly and suddenly Louis is smothered on the inside.

 

Yeah prime Brown Bomber taken out,[ after blacking both Marciano's eyes and cutting him under them.]
Bowe had long arms he did allright inside.

Make it a brawl? Good luck with that against a guy who hits like a truck and is 40+ pounds heavier
Its like Ground Hog Day.:tired

 

Marciano a much more difficult opponent for Foreman and the right hand and awkward left hooks of Marciano would be key as well as stamina. The early rounds would be essential for Marciano hurting Foreman and avoiding Foreman at his punching range but as Lyle showed us Foreman could be nailed. Forget size Marciano hit much harder with both hands than Lyle and Foreman could be hit. I am not saying I would bet the house on Marciano but this is a tough fight for Foreman as well as Marciano. I could envision Big George getting bombed out by punch that felled Layne, Walcott and Louis

 

Frazier had plenty of stamina but it doesn't help you if you are bombed out early.Marciano hit much harder than Lyle with both hands?
Did he? Both Foreman and Shavers named Lyle as the hardest puncher they faced.
Neither Walcott,Charles, or Moore gave that honour to Marciano.
Lyle fought nothing like Marciano, Big Ron was the equal of Foreman for size and nearly on a par for power, him having George down does not mean Marciano would.

 

For me, its not a matter of "IF" but "when". Its possible Marciano might have lasted longer than Norton and Frazier. He might even have staggered George if he managed to get off a few big shots up close. But at the end of the day the stylistic chemistry combined with the physical advantages George would have, just don't leave Rocky with much to work with. It could end in one round, and then again it could end in 6 rounds with Marciano giving a good account of himself. But ultimately its all George.

 

I think people are getting carried away combining the more seasoned qualities of old george with the raw and reckless young George to create a fighter who never was. It's crazy. Young George was exposed as an underachieving talent first time around. The comeback was not without substance but in the most part was a very selective side show / part time career for a canny grill salesman. George did not manage to dominate either era.

George's prime was versus the sitting duck that post FOTC Frazier had become and the psyched out Kenny Norton who always was chinny. Foremans other elite opponents were Ali, Lyle and Young. With all his power prime George beat just 3 of 5 elite fighters he met. On that form Georges prime resume is a bit thin.

Too much stock is put into what George was able to achieve after a ten year lay off into what kind of greater fighter "he could have been".

If we just stick to the fighter prime George was in real life we are left with the young guy who destroyed a declining Frazier and "accident prone against punchers" Ken Norton but blew fights he was favoured to win against Ali and Young.

 

Lets just cut right to the chase. If Marciano and Foreman were magically rejuvenated into their prime ( and living ) states tomorrow and signed to fight each other, would you honestly put your money on Rocky? Strait answer, yes or no?

 

I think Rocky is a good outside bet against anybody he can hit. He can absolutely hit George. I wouldn't bet much though because anything could happen. I would indeed bet on Rocky but no more than $50.:good

 

All we have to do is figure out how to clone them and you've got yourself a bet. :good

 

Again, where is the power punching 5-10, sub 190 pound, sub 70-inch reach, SLOW heavyweight who has dominated the division in the past 60 years? Where is this guy beating the Foreman, Holmes, Liston, Bowe, Lewis, Tyson...?

 

He lived in Argentina during the 70's and went by the alias " Ringo"