What is the biggest knock against Marciano's Legacy

The first Lastarza fight can be held against him too, but there is no film of it.

 

Elderly abuse.

 

Fighting over-the-hill opponents may be a valid knock.
If so, it isn't Rocky's fault. He fought all comers and dodged no one.
That in itself, counts for something.

 

I agree with that. He also beat his challengers convincingly. The only criticisms of him are his short reign and the fact he didn't beat many genuinely big heavyweights, but the latter isn't really his fault, either.

 

Charles and Moore were ATG's but at lhvy, where they were at their best. Walcott was still a fine fighter but a little past prime imo.
He was not a great fighter at any stage of his career imo,but everyone has a different definition of the word.
Prime Louis beats Rocky and possibly the Charles and Walcott of a couple of years earlier do too.
Moore by his own admission,was getting by on guile and ring smarts, but he was beating ranked opposition.
Bottom line ,Marciano fought who was around,you can't blame him for who wasn't. He is the poster boy for over-achievement.

 

That he didn,t retire with a 50-0 record....:|

 

Do you see genuine greatness in him? Poster boy for over achievement sounds a tad harsh! I would say someone like Vito Antuofermo fits that description better. Or do you think Marciano wasn't talented?

I think Marciano suffers because he isn't smooth like Louis or Ali; but he got the job done every time.

 

Right? Would it have killed him to squeeze in a quick rematch with Cockell to make it a nice rounded number and placate generations' worth of boxing fans with OCD?

 

There is very little to "knock" Rocky on .. the criticism is against those who inflate his competition ..

 

He tko'd him.

 

You <3 making that distinction.

 

It was meant as a genuine compliment.

 

:yep