Lennox Lewis v Rocky Marciano

I remember watching that fight and feeling that Lewis was getting tired/winded. He was not in shape for that first Bout. A not in shape Lewis is a vulnerable Lewis. In shape and focused he was a world beater.

 

I'm not jumping on a conclusion I want. What did you make of my original post on the subject. #73?? I wrote:

"This is a horrible match up for Rocky. Much much worse for him than Liston and Foreman because Lewis really used his range, control of pace as well as his strength. And the size just gets even more rediculous.

However, don't anybody think it could ever be easy for Lewis. It really is not impossible for a tiny guy to cone forward and land a lot of punches on a much bigger and taller guy.

Orlin Norris did this to Tony Tucker. Now people will answer me by saying yes but Norris was over 200lb ...but if you watch that fight it was not the weight of the guy that kept Norris in that fight and landing more punches. It was the use of distance, dipping low and the closing of the gap. Using the right kinds of punches and dictating the distance and space that suited the little man.

A small man only gets trapped in a no man's land where he can't reach the bigger fellow if he stands up tall. By bending at the knees and keeping low he can come up and under. Presenting a more difficult target and making it much harder to predict what hand he uses. There's no sequence to follow like there is against the stranded man stuck at range.

Marciano would be an awkward and busy customer for Lewis even if Rocky is losing. Lewis will be punching down at a twisting and turning jumble of shoulders and elbows. He will be grabbing at Rocky. Neutralizing much of his obvious assets. Lewis still might have an edge because he was clever but his caution would make it a much closer fight."

The subject on Lewis making mistakes when losing control of the pace of a fight came up. I added it only to offer an example as why I think it makes it a closer fight. I still say this is a horrible fight fight for Rocky, I'm just saying it makes it a harder fight.don't rule Rocky out. Lewis is still favorite. If anyone can neutralise Rocky it's Lewis. I'm not inventing anything.

 

Probably be like the Tua fight but I'd expect Marciano to be a lot more cagey, AND close the gap more often, forcing Lewis to clinch and lean more often.
An untidy fight, Lewis should win an ugly but clear decision.

 

many fighters are forced to work far harder than they want to in the first round. Off the top of my head Cotto against Margarito was worse off for winning the first round and seemed stressed, as was Jimmy Ellis against Frazier.

as ridiculous as it sounds I think against McCall Lewis looked more fatigued than he should have after 1.40 of action. He was being rushed. Perhaps I should not have used the word "breathless" in describing Lewis in both Rahman and McCall defeats. He was outpaced in both fights and lost focus because of it.

 

breathless certainly would describe the Rahman loss. That was due to being outpaced.

During the McCall fight I think Lewis switched off a tad during the moments I mentioned because he was flustered. He threw a couple of jabs but they lacked earlier authority. I sense it was during a part of a round he prefers to take off that he was being forced to work in. The grabbing. The expression on his face seemed like he appeared he'd been working harder than he wanted. The holding could be Partly strategic I imagine, but perhaps you could notice a hurried urgency that can be detected under closer examination? I thought he looked a bit tired for one round in the corner too.

 

All wins even in his worst performances :good

Your hero Jack Dempsey in his worst performances was knocked out cold in 1 round by 37 year old journeyman, or out pointed by a 5'9 fat trial horse. Now that's what I call embarrassing

 

Marciano has the most famous one punch knockout in boxing history

 

Two eh?

What about his one punch knockout of beshore? Renyolds? I could name 10 More at least.