Not too many Dempsey would be the favorite vs him due to his faster hands and longer reach. Not to mention faster feet. I wouldn't count out Marciano, however. Sam Langford is another fighter who I think would have a good shot although Rocky would be a favourite here. The limited footage I have seen of Langford is quite good. He had the power to ko bigger heavyweights and he could certainly take a punch. Tunney would be another interesting one. Tunney faced very few legit punchers at heavyweight so I am not sure how well he could hold off against Marciano in a 15 rounder. In a 12 rounder, Tunney may be able to outbox and stay away from him, however, (And I know Tunney beat Dempsey but Dempsey had lost his speed by then and therefore, couldn't land much). It's hard to tell how well Tunney would handle a legit power puncher like Marciano. Charles is another one even though Rocky is favoured here. Louis usually weighed over 190 lbs. Schmeling was a terrific counter puncher but didn't hit extremely hard nor did he have the slickness of Charles or Tunney. I could see Max being competitive for 7-8 rounds but Marciano is heavy handed and will break Schmeling down and stop him. Billy Conn and Roy Jones could outbox him but Marciano will wear them down over the course of 15 rounds and stop them both. I don't give either of them much of a shot even though I think they could win several rounds vs Marciano. They would win rounds but slowly get worn down and tko'd.
I don't give Floyd Patterson much of a chance. Unless he can avoid Marciano for 15 rounds, Marciano will hit that chin with serious force.
Not "habitually," and certainly not when prime. Johnson began fighting around the super middle limits if someone asked which super middles would be competitive with Andre Ward,would you name a young Jack Johnson?
I don't think Ali would have the experience or strength at that time, but it would be interesting,and I could be wrong,I often am!
He fought at 168 in 1900 when he was a green boy and then he weighed 185 in 1907 in his prime when he fought guys like bob fitzsimmons , he made 194 against tommy burns in 1908 so he can be mentioned here perfectly i think
You don't know what he weighed for the Fitz fight.Or what he weighed in1907 Johnson stated he was in the shape of his life for the Jeffries fight for which he was208lbs.Bottom line Johnson was never under 190lbs for a title defence.
first of all this nonsense of "his prime" is invented by 2 or 3 people. a boxer is in his physical prime in his 20s (sometimes in the early 20s,sometimes in the mid or late 20s). and walcott in his 20s always weighed under 190 pounds.(a different thing is that he fought better oposition at that time and you call it "his prime") but even at 31 in 1945 he fought at 188, he weighed 191 for joey maxin and 194 for the louis fight. so saying that walcott can't be mentioned here is a bull**** sorry.
