Rocky Marciano vs. Max Baer

It took a harder, more precise, faster puncher to take out prime Baer. A slow attrition guy is going to have to play it safe at times.

 

Slugger vs swarmer.

Worse, big slugger, vs smaller swarmer.

Foreman vs Frazier.

The only weak link from Baer's point of view, is that he is Baer!

 

I can see a slight style advantage for Baer, like other posters - but only a small one. Baer is no Foreman. He doesn't have the jab, uppercuts, the shorter punches or even the hooks that Foreman used to cull Frazier. I don't think Baer's overhand is great vs a smaller guy, and no other punches from him stood out to me like that one did. I don't think having he balance of a seesaw is too good either.

From a bigger guy, tough chin, hard punching slugger vs a hyper aggressive midget with no defence look at it, sure, he has a style advantage, but I don't think he applies his power-punches good enough to beat Marciano.

Also, I doubt either could fight at world level going backwards, so it'll be interesting to see who gets pushed around more. Being shorter may actually help Marciano, as his lower centre of gravity probably means he could push Baer back. Although I'm sceptical of that.

 

I see it the opposite (not in theory but in practice) more of Frazier vs Mathis then Frazier vs Foreman.

but fair enough, appreciate the feedback

 

Yeah, I thought this was rather obvious. Marciano's a better fighter but this isn't a good match-up for him. On the other hand, I'd pick Marciano to beat the Lou Nova, Baer failed to in 2 tries.

 

So why does a slugger usually beat a swarmer?

A slugger is essentially a volume puncher who work's at range, while a swarmer is a volume puncher who works in close.

While swarmer's are more effective than sluggers, at negating slick boxers, they tend to get smashed by sluggers.

If you both want to bring the hurt quickly, then is is better to be the bigger guy, doing it from range.

Also, most swarmers become swarmers , because they have physical disadvantages, such as short reach.

The slugger is more often than not the bigger man, and the swarmer is trying to impose himself on the inside.

Having said that, Rex Layne was a prototypical slugger, and Marciano did OK against him.

 

We don't have to guess which Marciano shows up...do we?

 

No.

There was only one version, plus or minus minor tactics.

 

Fair point. Marciano has a huge edge in consistency.

 

We don't have to guess which Baer shows up. It's stipulated that one vs Carnera does.

 

Whatever you make of that version!

 

I Believe that a prime Baer would have tested Marciano's punch resistance that is for sure, his heavy right hand landing on Marciano would have ensured that.

I will go out on a limb and say the Baer of Carnera fight beats Marciano of the Louis fight.

If Marciano were to use his fouling tactics with Baer, then i do think they would be repaid with a little bit of interest

it would be ill advised for Baer to treat a Marciano fight as a comedy bout, as if did he would not make the final curtain.

I know it would have been a helluva fight to witness.

 

I think the Baer who defeated Schmeling was far better. What do you think Jan?

 

Please, if you are comparing Baer and Foreman in the ring, stop and follow badminton.