Rocky Marciano vs Primo Carnera

Carnera is by no means an easy opponent stylistically. Many people dismiss Leonard's comment about Primo's defense as a pre-fight build up or insignificant praise (granted, I don't take the word marvelous literally here; it was more of a gentleman, british-esque exaggeration), but I do think that although limited, his defense was deceptively effective. Fighting with his right heel up most of the time (always ready to lean back/step back if necessary) he preferred to keep an opponent at bay with hard jab and remorselessly tie him up if he got too close, roughing up with uppercuts and body punches once in clinch. 260 lbs mass of muscles that actually knows how to wrestle is not an easy obstacle to get past and Carnera did know how to tie a man in. His hands usually moved forward resembling long guard at times: he would either parry, catch an incoming blow on the gloves, or go for a leverage guard (visibly less refined and purposeful than that of Foreman or Saddler, understandably, but effective nonetheless) and subsequently clinch. Despite relative lack of good, natural boxing instincts, immobilizing elbow joints and manipulating an opponent once he got his hands on him did seem to come naturally to him.

That being said, due to being a late starter as well as being a big man in times in which, in my opinion, size in boxing wasn't yet exploited and understood to its fullest potential, he clearly had deficiencies. At the end of the day Primo was a super-heavyweight prototype; the first notable blueprint; the bare bones of what would decades late become a dominant "style" if you could call it that way.

Rocky however is simply a different kind of champ and a different breed of fighter. Best case scenario is probably Carnera putting up helluva fight and gaining people's respect in defeat.

 

Johnson would have battered Carnera.

 

He probably could, but a variety of trunk styles and colors would be a necessity, so Jack could tell his Primos apart.

 

No doubt!

Hey @djanders Is it true you beat Primo Carnera in an arm wrestle?

 

Better than that! I beat Willard!

 

Gods! You are historic. "Raging Giant" was used to describe you once before when you thrashed that coward Tunney and it holds true!

 

Historic indeed. I once almost had a young boxing history fan convinced that I was actually Jess Willard, still alive in modern times, having faked my death in 1968, and living under an assumed name in Maine to avoid unwanted attention about my actual age of 129.

Then my wife came in the room and ratted me out.

 

What can you say Marylin Monroe is some kinda gal?

 

What could I say? My wife's in her 80's, so I robbed the cradle. I told her: "You ratted me out? You young girls have no respect for your elders nowadays.

 

I know this is a bit of gossip but is it true she (Monroe) faked her death because you two had to go underground to hide the fabled Greb film?

 

I can't answer your question. There are certain people who would end my existence if I reveal certain facts, and I'm trying to make it to 100. Even Wonder Woman's Golden Lariat couldn't make me talk about any of that.

 

Carnera was the Wlad Klitchsko of his day. This would be a tough fight for Rocky. Carnera is like almost 10 inches taller and 80 pounds heavier approximately. And he had a decent punch. With Rocky's style, this would be a hard fight

 

Carnera is much bigger than all 3

 

Marciano was way too powerful and relentless. True, Carnera had height, reach, size, and power, which perhaps gives Rocky early trouble, but sooner or later Marciano’s relentless pace, pressure, body attack wears him down until that right hits the jaw and he ends it soon thereafter. Marciano by late rounds KO via attrition.

 

Once sanity returns to this forum we will realize that Marciano should be the very very very obvious favorite here