Marciano vs Foreman... What Can The Rock Do?

Ah you get used to it pal

 

I thought I was your chum???

 

Nah you're my Pal!

 

Wasn’t referring to you. And I love big george FYI the knock down was no big deal in my book

 

I certainly don’t hold that against George’s ability to take a punch or his legacy. It was certainly a flash knock down

 

No,you were referring to me,so why not say so?

 

Fair enough mate. I'm not lumping you with others rest assured.

 

There were many I was referring. You Seamus the GOAT primo guy. Was just bringing up a valid point. Wasn’t trying to insult.

 

I didn't take it as an insult,I'm just saying, why not name names ?

 

It's not that Marciano wasn't a great heavyweight. It's that his style and strength don't mesh well with George Foreman's. Rock is gonna be right there in Foreman's wheelhouse (uppercuts). That is where his power was peak.
When Foreman claims the center of the ring what recourse does Marciano have? George would force him back and smother any return fire. Frazier weighed 214 and Foreman was able to push him back 3 or 4 steps and catch him trying to get back inside. When Futch saw that he knew George they were in trouble.
Glancing blows could move Rocky and possibly knock him down. The intensity of George's attack is another thing people overlook. It wasn't just power it was the murderous rage he brought in those days.
Foreman by KO early.

 

And making that pick, [which I agree with,] in no way disparages Rocky.

 

Man for man George Foreman was a much stronger creature. Of this there is no doubt. But The ability to push a man back can often have more to do with stance and footing.. And whilst Rocky was lighter than Frazier it won’t necessarily jive that he would be easier man handled since Rocky had different footing and crowding tactics.

Frazier stood square on and walked right in. The sequence his head moved had a predictable rhythm to it that could be timed. Sadler told George to wait until Joes head went down and catch him as it bobbed back up. Everything went perfectly to plan. So much so that it was an easier fight for George than it should have been. There was nothing awkward here that might frustrate George.

Marciano was different. Difficult to time. Punches coming from Awkward angles, more difficult to anticipate from both hands. All elbows and shoulders coming in low. Smaller target...

This is not to say George won’t be incredibly dangerous and rough Rocky right up and be far more physical than anything Marciano was used to. Glancing blows would jostle him out of position. He would get hit. And hurt. But he would be unintentionally harder to pin down with so many direct hits than Frazier was.

Plus, if you watch Foreman’s tactics against Ali I think he would have been in danger against any ATG counter puncher going off that one performance. He was almost too wild. Provided too many openings and used up too much energy. Certainly Ali was elusive and drew more from him, but loading up like that against a big puncher who can smother and crowd and frustrate?

I really think nothing could be a certainty one way or the other.

 

It's true if Rocky doesn't come in to George then there would be no need to push him back. Foreman can keep it on the outside or midrange. I could see Marciano looping some right hands over between Foreman's onslaught. Rocky is also the slower guy here. He is going to be punching back on his heels.

 

What could Rocky win at long range? How many rounds did Frazier win by staying outside in the second Foreman fight?

 

He did better than the alternative. Foreman won every round but Frazier was competitive in a few of them. He was landing counters here and there but the plan was to get George into the mid rounds.
I'm not sure Marciano has the skillset to try this.