Better fighter........Marciano or Holyfield?

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Well put. It's hard to pick against either man. They both possessed amazing heart, durability, cojones, and everything you'd ever want in the toughness department.

H2H I'd pick Holyfield but don't discount Marciano just because he was smaller. Let's give Marciano all the credit we can... we'll say 5'11 1/2" and 190 Lbs. We can even go 70" on the reach. We can go 6'2" with a 77" reach and 208 Lbs. for Holyfield... that's still 2 1/2" taller, a 7" longer reach, and 18 Lbs. heavier for Holyfield. I gotta tell ya all, I really don't give a shlt about that in this one, Marciano would still be a pain in the ass for Holyfield. Holyfield would oblige Rocky. Machismo at it's finest right here! Sure, Evander could stick and move and not give the fans what they want but that's not going to happen. Evander is going to do what Gatti did for Ward in their first fight... but Holyfield wouldn't go down and he'd win the decision.

 

They're both really top-shelf fighters. I mean, who doesn't love Holyfield? This is really down to taste, and whether you think Holy's better size and technical skills make up for Marciano's better awkwardness and intangibles. I can fully understand why guys pick Holyfield.

Example:

Somebody said that Holy would be better against a wider range of opponents, and I agree with that. Marciano / Wlad was done a while ago, and that fight has sort of matured in my mind. As much as I love the Rock, I very much suspect Wlad would control him and lean on him all night long and pick him off coming in, in a stinker of a fight. I don't see Wlad controlling Holy with any such ease ... he'd have to work pretty hard for the win against Evander.

Yet, if I have to mentally match Holyfield against Marciano, I can't help but feel Holyfield would try to slug it out, abandoning all his technical advantages as he has done before against Czyz and Bowe. As badas s as Holy was, trying to play Marciano at his own game has only one end result, and it's not good for Holyfield.

My 2c.

 

Good post..

Yeah Evander rarely fought the fight that would equal the easiest route to a W, that just wasn't in his nature. You tag him good or try and rough house and he's coming right back at you with the same stuff. Gatti - Ward 1 is a nice example as I could see these two just going at it. I think the technically better Holyfield probably has the cards at the end of the night but as usual he'd take the warrior route and have a war with Rocky.

The 2nd Bowe fight is one of the only times I remember Evander really sticking to a fight plan. Though he still exchanged plenty with Bowe he just fought a beautiful strategic fight. Starting and ending every round strong "stealing" rounds. Nearly all his combos were quick accurate and crisp in that fight. One of if not his best effort.

 

Holyman was the better fighter, he brought more weapons and finer skills.

but that don't mean hes beating Marciano!

evander also suffers in my estimation for extreme ped use.

 

Holyfield is better, no contest frankly.

 

Holy. But Marciano has refined skills not given enough credit for.

You don't beat technical pugilistic masters like Jersey Joe , Moore and Charles with just a hard punch and unlimited stamina.

Rocks skills were tested against the best in history

 

Ex-MW James Toney knocked Holyfield out. The bad thing is Marciano fights inside too, and hits a lot harder than Toney.

 

Marciano.

Can't underestimate his punching.

 

Holyfield

 

He fought a very smart fight vs. Bowe in their 2nd fight. He had Manny Steward and he was determined to do what he had to do to win. He could have won their first fight if he had that same strategy... despite how well Bowe was prepared for their first fight. He had the ability to stick and move his way to victory vs. most of the fighters he faced but he was an entertainer. He fought like he owed the fans something and I appreciate him for that.

 

Evan Fields took steroids. He had heart and gave us awesome fights but he was roided to the gills. Marciano wins by default. Sorry, cheating should not be rewarded.

 

In all fairness Holyfield was SHOT when Toney fought him. No way Toney beats a prime Holyfield. Toney was outboxed easily by Jones and lost fights vs Montell Griffin I always felt he lost the 2nd fight to McCallum. Badly behind vs Nunn, wars (close fights) vs guys like Reggie Johnson.

Comparing Holyfield in 2003 a good 6 years since he beat Tyson and he was already in decline then to the Prime Evander is unfair.. Prime Holyfield fought in the late 80's/early and mid 90's

No way Toney beats that Holyfield.

 

Holyfield was 137 years old and was in need of shoulder surgery. Actually he was 41... that's fvcking old for boxing a top notch fighter like Toney. When you are injured and that old you might as well be dead. A prime Holyfield would have dominated Toney that night.

Former MW Ezzard Charles lost a close 15 round decision vs. a prime Marciano in his 98th pro fight. In his 99th fight Charles split Marciano's nose and the fight was almost stopped because of it. A desperate Marciano stopped Charles in the next round, KO8.

Former MW Archie Moore dropped Marciano at the age of 39. Marciano got up and was able to stop Moore in the 9th round.

Former MW Jersey Joe Walcott dropped Marciano at the age of 39. Marciano was able to continue and stopped Walcott in the 13th round.

 

:good