Rocky Marciano vs Larry Holmes, with poll

I don`t think Mrciano could have beaten any fighter with 84 inch reach, and Holmes had a better jab than anybody Marciano faced.

 

Holmes stays on his horse, doesn't allow the rock to get inside, jab rocky to death and wins the fight by TKO on cuts or by decision.
But Rocky has a chance.

 

Holmes had his troubles with the right hand....enter the "Suzie Q"...Marciano with his relentless pressure..."kill or be killed" attitude...great stamina...heart...chin...punching power...very high work rate...you can see where this is leading...

 

Holmes was 81 inches and I’d wager Vingo and Shkor were close to that. Louis Moore Walcott Charles and Lastarza all had excellent jabs. your theory holds any water.

Marciano overwhelms him and takes a decision maybe even knocks him out late

 

My opinion on this has changed over the years. If they fought three times, Holmes wins two.

I don't think it's as compettive as Holmes-Norton, but I don't think it's as one-sided as most Holmes fights. Probably close like Holmes-Weaver, without the quickie stoppage.

If Larry's not on his game, in a three-fight series, I can see Rocky knocking him out with the right hand in one of them.

But Holmes TKOs him late or wins a fairly clear decision the other two times.

 

Holmes chin too good. even though I think Marciano actually has a decent style to match holmes, i think holmes wins a decision by basically doing what jersey joe couldn't and survive to the final bell.

 

Vingo was a 17 fight ,stringbean novice, 7 of his opponents had losing records another was a debutee.
Shkor was a 31-19-2 journeyman who had won just 2 of his last 11 fights and had been banged out in a minute and a half in his previous fight.
Neither were good boxers or known for good jabs.
An ancient Louis busted Marciano's face up with the remnants of his jab,Rocky said he could not avoid them.
Louis' jab was 5 inches shorter than Holmes,and at that stage of his career decidedly slower.
Holmes reach was 8 inches longer than Charles.
7 inches longer than Walcott's
6 inches longer than Moore's
It was also better than any of theirs, being one of the all time great heavyweight jabs.
Shavers hit Holmes with one of the greatest right hands I ever saw one man land on another.Larry went down ,got up and won the fight by stoppage.
Nobody is telling me Marciano hit harder than Shavers.
Holmes also had a great right hand uppercut,the perfect antidote for the short croucher.

 

Holmes, a different class.

 

What does that tell you? He almost lost to an ancient Norton and almost got knocked cold by a C fighter like Shavers.

I never stated Vingo and Schkor jabs were near Holmes. Just the length.

Marciano destroyed Louis. Period.

the point of stating Moore Louis and Walcott and Charles and Lastarza had good to ATG jabs (Louis and Moore and maybe Walcott fall in that category) was that he fought and beat excellent jabbers.

Holmes never beat anyone close to Marciano and struggled mightily against every decent pressure fighter he fought. Hell the one 5”10 guy he did fight smoked him.

 

Norton was 34 years old and 3 months earlier he was ranked no2 until Shavers kod him in1 round.34 years old which makes him 6/8 years younger than Moore was when he put Marciano on his ass,3 years younger than Louis was when he busted Marciano 's face up.
4 years younger than Walcott was when he dropped Marciano.Shavers C level? He ko'd the no2 ranked heavy in1 rd ,and was himself ranked no 6,If he was C level what was Lastarza?LOL
You have no idea how long either Vingo or Shkor's reach was, they may have had short reaches for their height like Vitali has, you are just speculating on it.
ps Holmes fought Norton with a torn left bicep muscle.
Any 38/41 years old light heavies ever floor Holmes ,any 38 years old men ever manage it? Marciano never beat a great boxer in his prime.He never beat a modern sized class heavyweight anywhere near his prime.
Marciano was cut in all his major fights,two of which would probably have been stopped today.
Holmes was stopped by a great puncher in Tyson,Holmes was 38years old,and had been retired for 3 years.
How about we put a 38 years old, retired for 3 years Marciano in with a prime Tyson?LOL!!!!!

 

Lot of "almost" there, which doesn't mean much... Holmes almost losing but he won shows his heart and talent to come from behind.

Rocky almost lost to Walcott. Means little because Rocky won.

 

Shavers was a C fighter almost knocked him out cold.
Moore was obviously on the best run of his career, Layne, Lastarza, and Matthews were all prime. Layne was the same size as Quarry.

Extremely odd argument from you that you would say Norton was only 33. How many damn times have we heard from you over the years about Charles wear and tare? And he was 32.

You bringing up ages means zip. It’s what they had in the tank. And Norton wasn’t close to prime. I’ll take Marcianos top wins over Holmes any day. Talk about not beating good fighters please. A Holmes history revisionist. He wasn’t thought of much then but somehow today he’s some unstoppable juggernaut

 

Marciano would outwork and outpoint Holmes.

 

Shavers rated no 6, ko'd the no2 ranked heavyweight in a round. Layne and Lastarza would not be ranked today Mathews was a sometime middle /lhvy with an inflated record who was under 180lbs!
Wear and tear?
Charles had 96 fights on his sheet, Norton 44 , spot the difference?
Norton was the no2 ranked heavyweight when Holmes beat him, that's why he was fighting for the vacant title!