Rocky Marciano vs Joe Frazier

Marciano greater 2 hand power, punch variety, slightly better endurance (since less movement), arguably great chin, but had to know given Frzier fought better punchers. Undefeated in weaker era, more fights.

Frazier usually greater work rate, greater reach (may not matter in this battle) & ~ 15-20 lbs. heavier. Significantly faster & more accurate.

Back issues Rocky, Frazier eye problem likely irrelevant. Rocky cut easier.

When you combine the pressure with the speed & accuracy, something Rocky did not deal with, i must pick Frazier.
Rocky would have trouble getting set, & I do not think he has quite the wallop nor slugger distance to pull a Foreman on him.
Also Frazier could take great punishment.

 

Frazier is perfect for Marciano. A swarmer like Marciano, this is the Rocks game. Frazier was all Left Hook. A one armed fighter who used his Right to either parry or move his opponent towards his Left. Marciano was a 2 fisted puncher who loved to mix. Frazier was also a sucker for a right hand, Marcianos pay off punch. I give Marciano the edge in the ability to take a punch. Reach and Boxing ability dont count for much here. As both will keep it close. Marciano will get the better of the exchanges later in the fight due to his superior stamina and strength, pounding Joe with Right hands as the bout wares on. Frazier could be KOd, and could be forced backward by a stronger opponent. Ill go with Marciano via late KO after a brutal and exciting bout.

 

Rocky wins.

Two hands, ultimately beat one hand.

 

I don't understand why people repeat this line about Frazier being faster. That is something I can understand coming from a nine or ten year old but hardly a persuasive argument among adults

Frazier was never fast. He was a one handed in fighter or pressure fighter, and one who rarely used a jab

Marciano was a much more complete fighter on offense and defense. the only problem is see is Joe's weight advantage

still, joe is too slow for Rocky. I see Rocky timing, then slipping under Joe's one weapon and countering three to every one of Joe's misses for a UD 15

 

I've always loved this matchup and everytime I envisioned it I have always said Marciano in a wild fight. One that would have the fans hanging on trying to catch their breath. However, its like there is an 800 lb. gorilla in the room that no one wants to mention but has always been in the back of my mind. And that is that Marciano could cut. And he could cut badly. Walcott in their first fight and Charles in both their fights did a bit of a job on him. We can't deny that. Also, its in the back of my mind what Frazier did to Chuvalo and Quarry. That shredding left hook of his did quite the job there too. I'll always still waver on this fight and probably pick Rocky, but there are more factors to take into account and Rocky's blood-letting is one of them.

 

Of course not .. neither does age of opposition ...we're talking Marciano here ..

 

Joe had far faster, more nimble feet, vastly superior balance… and yes, faster hands.

I see Marciano going off balance after one of his home run attempts and getting plastered backwards into submission.

 

It's a fascinating match up .. I like Joe as I feel he is stronger, faster, has twenty pounds of muscle on him and hits as hard with his left as Rocky does with either .. both have terrific chins although Frazier's has actually fought big heavyweight punchers .. Rocky is a better two handed puncher .. both have exceptional stamina .. both are underrated defensively .. it's a fascinating fight as Rocky fights low and that is a hard guy for a guy like Frazier to fight .. again, I'd favor Joe but Rocky can badly hurt anyone he hits right ...

 

I rate the peak Frazier up to 1971 as pretty unbeatable. Pace, power, size. Importantly he had range too. He had a long hook as well as a short hook and timed the angle and stutter step to perfection to catch anyone unsuspected at any range ....with power! This version is 50-50 with anybody.

After 1971, joe was half of that because he lost one entire range. but still a good fighter. Problem is people use hindsight against Joe. Had he retired undefeated it would be hard to pick him losing against anyone but he didn't and so we get this nonsense of all swarmers losing to a Liston or a Foreman on a count of Joe being in decline.

Marciano v Frazier, both at their best is a tough tough call. No quit in either man, they would ruin each other.

Sometimes I think Frazier worked a Rhythm and fought in a cycle of motion that could be read. You get hurt reading it though. Perhaps the weakness could be working that out and timing it to counter but Frazier was so good and potent at his best it is proberbly only a maybe.

Rocky, had two hands and more strength than was normal for a man his size. His unpredictablity and strange accuracy caught out some very clever fighters. You cant rule anything out. Take your Favorite. I lean toward Rocky mostly because we did not see him beat.

 

Can't see Frazier getting a 20lb weight advantage and losing to a slower handed pure pressure fighter.The thought of it actually makes me feel slightly sick.

Frazier was also plenty two handed against fighters that stood and traded or weren't clearly bigger.Not a puncher with the right, but he would be able to utilise it as a consistent scoring punch against the Rock.

 

come one, use your brains

Joe's got legs like a tree trunk. the man wasnt built for speed. once he got hurt by Foreman, did you see him dancing out of harm's way, ala Hector Camacho, Sugar Ray Leonard or any of the sport's other VERSATILE champion???

fast hands? I've never seen his hand speed make any kind of difference in a fight. and against Marciano, it's Joe's one gun against Marciano's two

guess who loses? It's not Marciano

 

You obviously know nothing about Frazier ... watch and learn..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcmMPBT8NAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V06uSWDRhvk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tluo948mN64

 

Marciano's right hand bad for Joe and he had 2 hands even Joe conceded that Marciano and Louis were the only 2 men that would have beaten him, Joe was a student of the game

 

thanks but I've seen Joe many times

this just confirms what I said earlier which is he had no right hand, no jab. Joe was basically a one handed fighter. I honestly see Joe having trouble avoiding punishment from Marciano

a guy who can bang with both hands, is going to beat Joe. Watch the second Foreman fight. This time it's Joe with his back to the ropes trying his best to survive because he's over matched offensively

Marciano's stamina plus his power (louis said Marciano was the hardest hitter he ever faced) make him the smart choice to beat Joe. I also favor Holmes to beat Joe

 

Great post. I think Frazier is vastly underrated.