"Marciano was the hardest puncher I ever seen" - Don Turner

I don't mind admitting that, whilst I don't have a personal Top-10 of 'finishes', the Marciano/Walcott I finish is one of my favorites and would probably be up there.

 

Walcott also stated that the reason he got caught by Louis in their second fight was because the referee was harassing him,telling him to throw more punches and he was talking to the ref when Louis caught him.Louis said," I never heard him talking to the referee." Both Walcott and Marciano started to throw right hands Rocky's just got their first.

 

It would have been interesting to see the 33 years old version of Jersey Joe , the one that dropped Louis 3 times in2 fights, in with the Marciano of their first fight.

 

George Foreman.

 

It's not a circular argument. This shoudn't even be an argument.
I'm absolutely willing to accept your interpretation makes sense and is as valid as mine.
I've only explained myself. Not trying to "win" an argument.
You seem unwilling to accept I'm making any rational sense, so I'll leave it at that. Good day to you.

 

Good thread.

Don Turner deserves to be every bit as entitled to his opinion of Marciano as Ray Arcel was entitled to his opinion of Jack Dempsey.

Boxing is a very small cliche of people. A trainer doesn't have to train a fighter himself to know how good another champion is. If he is around the gyms within that era it is enough.

When old guys still involved with boxing like Don Turner and Ray Arcel tell younger people how highly they regard the greatest champions back from when they were first involved with boxing it is worth listening to.

 

What I found most interesting was when he said that Marciano hit harder than Shavers in his opinion.

 

Yes, he seemed pretty certain. I imagine he meant "better puncher" because how can one really tell enough to know for sure?


Given the choice of harder puncher or better puncher what do you pick?

For me Rocky and Joe Louis are better punchers than Shavers. Ernie hit as hard as anyone can hit but other fighters were better punchers because they also hit hard, also knocked fighters out and really had a more consistent output and better ratio of landing with more of their best punches more often.

 

I agree that delivery is a lot more important than power.

 

Yes. A powerful impact is determined by the timing of delivery. Ratio of impact is determined by delivery and timing too. Power on its own is only one thing.

 

That right hand that koed Walcott was one devastating blow. Marciano had his entire body behind it. Rocky would say later he felt the power generated down to his toes.

 

Marciano punched a long long long way above his weight.

 

That's some next level technique bro.... Marciano flicked dat blood into his eye like a savage right as he was throwing that punch, bro- he knew it would blind him dog, then he landed that bomb! 49-0!

Of course Walcott or anyone else would say that... How many fighters would have not been hurt/KO'd if they had only seen the punch coming...

 

I've heard Walcott offer that exact same storyline multiple times. No reason to doubt him.