What if...Rocky Marciano had lost to Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Oct 28, 2020.



  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    i would have to agree entirely
     
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  2. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Rocky would have been remembered as the 1950's version of Joe Mesi.
     
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  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    There is the obvious question of how Walcott won.

    If he had coasted to a decision, winning the last three rounds by a similar margin, he could probably have sat on the result.

    In that scenario he likely picks a different challenger next.

    In that case the title could change place a couple of times.

    Perhaps LaStarza holds the title, or Charles becomes the first two time champion.

    I suspect that Marciano would have come again, because age was on his side.

    He likely forces another title shot two or three years down the line, and this time he is successful.

    The difference is that Marciano ends up as a shuffling of the pack type champion, and is probably seen as being on a similar sort of level to Walcott and Charles.
     
  4. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    interesting perspective @janitor, much appreciated
     
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  5. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Rocky was almost considered the uncrowned champ at that point. I’d guess he gets another shot. I don’t think Marciano would have been satisfied till he got that big money and fame. Walcott’s rating prob goes up. Although with his performance he should be rated highly anyway.
     
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  6. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It might not be 48-1. If he loses to Walcott, he may have never fought Charles and Moore, rematched with LaStarza, or Walcott for that matter, or maybe even Cockell. Maybe he would have, idk.
     
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  7. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I’m going to say Joe gets by a LaStarza or Layne in his first defense and then walks into an Old-ish Mongoose and is taken out by Archie Moore.

    Then Marciano tops Moore and, well, we know the rest.
     
  8. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I really believe that Rocky Marciano would have turned to baseball, as it was his other sport that he played and enjoyed.
     
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  9. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Interesting view Sainpat. Then we may have had Rocky retired in 1960 undefeated? and losing to who? Patterson or Liston? or even Ali?
     
  10. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Well your scenario says Walcott defeats Marciano so Rocky’s not undefeated.

    I’m suggesting that the rest of history plays out similar to how it did in reality, with Rocky beating Moore for the title, defending successfully against Walcott probably to avenge his lone defeat and a couple of other defenses including probably a Moore rematch (especially if Archie knocks Rocky down in their first title fight as he did in their real-life match) and retiring around the same time.
     
  11. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Oh ya, good catch. Bad mistake.
     
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  12. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    I think when Rocky first fought Walcott, Walcott had one great fight left in him. If he beat Rocky with that one extraordinary effort then he loses his next fight. If not against Rocky them to somebody else.
     
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  13. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think @Brockton Rock may well have just lost his will to live, and decided to end it all right there.
     
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  14. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Which he should be, even in this reality. Sure, he beat both twice, but he was given hell by both and they were both pretty damn old. In boxing terms, Charles especially. It's no given that Marciano beats younger versions of those.

    Anyway, if Walcott had just not been hit with that thunderous right and kept boxing and trading occasionally, then he'd probably have a final fight with Charles, or give Marciano a rematch. In those scenarios, I think it's pretty damn likely that Walcott loses.

    Charles becomes two weight world champion or Marciano is less fondly remembered with a 40(?)-1 record.
     
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  15. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    There would be a rematch schedule for six months later. Marciano had more left, Walcott very little.
    Rocky stops a old, overnight Walcott in 2 rounds.
     
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