Could Marciano make 168lbs if he turned pro today?

We can discuss the things we are certain (or more certain) about.
When people are drawing conclusions such as some have been here I think there's been a lot of wrong turns somewhere.
The idea that every fighter after some (undefined) historical point has been two divisions heavier than billed, and that everyone before that point was basically the same in the ring as they were on the scales is just WAY OFF.
It's simply incorrect.
But by all means, if people want to explore the hypothetical things that aren't grounded in facts or run contrary to them, that's fine I guess

 

You brought Tyson and Tua into the discussion. Both had similar dimensions to Marciano, both had faster hands than him.

 

But whether he is as fast as Tua or Tyson doesn't matter.

It's whether he's fast enough to land punches.

 

Yes and I don't think he would be giving up a good 6 inch in height and reach against the giants of today.

 

What would be normal now? A boxer not training and packing on 15 pounds of flab between winning the title and his first defense?

 

Probably helped that Tyson had faster hands and was larger, longer, more skilled, and harder to hit than Marciano.

 

And Tua?

 

Eric Molina has a world ranking based entirely on losing to giants but knocking out a shot Adamek in a fight he was losing.

I don't see how Rocky could fail to at least equal that.

 

Naturally bigger, stronger, harder punch, better chin, faster hands?????

 

But Molina is a lot bigger than Marciano isn't he?

 

So they're the only things you need to succeed?

Rocky could put on weight and train like Tua but I'm not sure that guarantees him success.

 

Beating Molina never proved anything about anyone.

Molina is ranked in the top ten today.

That ranking is entirely from a come from behind knockout against a shot Adamek. Every other fight of significance has seen him lose.

Are you saying Rocky could not replicate that?

 

Wel if his power was as devastating as it was for his time then yes I believe he would have succeeded. What made Tua succeed then?

 

I'm saying with his style and speed bulking up would make it difficult to compete with much bigger fighters despite him being a better fighter.

He almost certainly would be better suited to LHW or CW today.