Would boxers like Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson even have a chance in this era?

The best (and only) HW Roy Jones was able to beat was John Ruiz. Just something to bear in mind.

 

Actually a lot of these comparable novices would get schooled and crushed in many an earlier time, no question about it....

 

They would have had a lot more chances than they had in their own eras.

So many weight classes, and titles to choose from, and good financial backing from day one.

It would have looked very cushy relative to their eras!

 

Good post.

It’s very interesting to speculate.

I don’t know if Jack could safely have made LHW though.

It might have been too much for him.

He looked pretty solid fighting guys like Sharkey above 190 pounds.

 

Roy couldn’t have beaten the best big guys.

He could have beaten Evander, Toney, Byrd and some lesser fighters though.

 

At lhw? Yes

 

I don't think Jack would fight at LHW today. He's perfect CW, he had the frame to carry the 200+lbs weight.

 

Yeah, Jack might find draining himself down to 175 too much after a period. Trouble is he's in that kind of no man's land, too big for LHW, too small for CW. Still, Adamek competed very successfully at CW after moving up, so the size alone shouldn't be an issue. Jack had a wide frame, wide enough to pack on a good bit of useable muscle without slowing himself down. The issue then comes down to style.

Patterson and Rocky would be a bit too small to compete effectively IMO.

 

I think Jack could have made a great CW.

Good height, good reach, great speed and power.

 

I think he'd have made a decent cruiser. A bit crude compared to some, perhaps, but you can get away with that at CW if you bring enough heat.

 

I think the OP is asking if they'd have a chance in the modern day heavyweight scene which only Jack does imo.

 

At flyweight? Yeah sure they could pick up the odd title or two, but not for long.

If we’re talking MW, then you can get the hell out.

 

Dempsey is too proven against big heavyweights to not be considered competitive. Marciano would be a lot more competitive if he curtailed his weight to the size of the opponent which he would. Patterson might make it to the top 10 but doesn’t win a title. All skill but lacking a chin

 

Dempsey has a similar build to Holyfield. No way he makes LHW. With modern nurtirition and weight training, he'd be a 205-210 lb guy, similar to Holyfield.

 

Dempsey would have had the best chance. But he was a 4 round fighter who feasted on unathletic farm hands, bar keeps and smaller guys with no credentials as heavies in their own times, let along in the much better times we are speaking about.