Bob Fitzsimmons vs Rocky Marciano

I don’t recall saying Rocky was particularly accurate. Have those stats too. If you’re saying Rocky was adequate at defense then no one was great. He is under appreciated in this department because it doesn’t fit the line all these years. Watch film slowly of him. You can clearly see he so rarely ever gets hit cleanly and doesn’t usually get hit with combos. Had to work a double but will post stats as soon as I can. He wasn’t a perfect fighter he had his limitations few as they were

 

Yes sir!

 

I have seen all of Marciano films, plus whats left from the Vingo film.. He was open and hit frequently to jabs in the middle of the ring. He could slip and duck some then come up low to land his own, that was his defense, and this part only part of his defense that is under appreciated.

Rocky did not block with gloves effectively. He did not used quick feet to get out of the way. He was good at a crouch ( which takes a lot of energy to do for 15 rounds ) and had just okay head movement. You could say his defense up close was much better than it was at a distance.

" The best defense is a good offense " worked for Rocky. Like I said he could fire his guns all night without losing any steam on them. That was also his defense.

 

"The best defense is a good defense" worked for Rocky, yes, he had underrated head movement though, he slipped shots too and that low weaving bending crouch from around the opponent's arm length away really worked for him. It takes energy and stamina to do that continually and in long fights, correct.

 

Right. The old joke was if you missed Rocky with your jab, he'd apologize. Gym humor. Where has it gone?

Rocky earned his respect. Those of his times felt he was a worthy champion, but not quite as good as a few champions before him.

What's needed is another clear film of Fitzsimmons. The way Fitz just starched people, maybe he'd win this one. Doesn't matter who you are watching, TKO's/KO always look good on film.

 

Difference between watching it and then looking for it. Next time look for it (he hadn’t perfected it in the Louis fight yet which everyone likes using that as an example). Marcianos opponent connect percentage was a paltry 24.5 percent. Compare that to say Larry Holmes who most of you would say was better defensively and his opponents connected 29.6 percent of the time. Marciano also parries just fine. Later in his career men like Lastarza even admitted he got ten times better then when he started out. Marciano was still learning the game till his last fight. And yes part of his defense was being an animal offensively.

 

After koing the two top contenders, Sharkey and Ruhlin in the space of 2 weeks Fitz exacted a promise from Jeffries ringside that he would give him a title shot,Jeffries did, but it was 2 years later and after he had defended against Ruhlin whom Fitz had half killed.

 

I would call his defence adequate.Louis said he wasnt hard to tag,Walcott said he was pretty easy to hit but not with big shots. His face after the Walcott,Charles,Louis,Moore, Reynolds,Simmons fights shows he wasnt elusive.

 

Its," the best defence is a good offence".

 

Yeah, I meant that. I'm blaming my phone!

 

I don’t know why you’re arguing with the stats. They have them. And it’s clear he was hard to hit. He cut easy and face puffed up after fights. That means nothing in regards to how good one was defensively. If anything he had to be better defensively to make up for his short stature and easily cut face. He also wasn’t prime for Louis.

 

Don't we all do it!

 

Fitz was difficult to negotiate with Mr, Double standard. As champion, your wife beating idol refused to give Langford, Jeanette, or McVey a re- match. Johnson did worse; he pulled out a of a singed contract to meet Langford in 1909. I do love exposing your bias and double standards, please do keep up the good work.

Jeffries gave re-matches to everyone who deserved one that was highly ranked. He was also an active champion, breaking the mold of those before him.

Johnson didn't even re-match Jim Battling Johnson or Jack O'brien, two fighters who drew with him, even though if you read the clippings, Battling Jim had JackJohnson almost out after ten rounds 10 ) If the fight was longer than 10 we have a new champion ). Primary sources say O'brien, all 162 pounds outboxed him!

PS: Jeffries beat Ruhlin faster than Fitz did.

PPS: Jeffries is not in this thread.

 

He wouldn't have become the LHW champion at over 40 with bad hands if all he was good at was power. He outboxed Gardner and O'Brien - two elite boxers who were much younger than him.

 

Gazelle,

In my opinion the Louis fight was Marciano's best filmed performance. Rocky was not hard to hit, the problem is his opponents didn't want to be hit by him and he threw lot of punches. Like I said being active and willing to take two to land one was part of his defense.