Which 33+ year old fighters could defeat Rocky Marciano in his prime?

Ali was three months short of 33 when he whupped Big George.

 

Holmes, Norton, Lyle, Shavers, Ali, Liston, Foreman, Patterson, Page, Weaver, Bugner... That's a starter.

 

Patterson?

 

Pshh. I protest.

 

Liston.Johnson.

 

There's no proof the pre 85 boxers didn't use steroids.
But anyway, assuming they didn't, the answer to your question is obviously Liston, Ali and Holmes. Maybe even Lyle.

 

Didn't you read the man's question ?!?
Lewis was a 90s fighter, not pre 85 as he asked for.

 

He's asking for boxers pre 85, so no Foreman, the Klitschkos, Wilder etc.
Don't you people read the question ?

 

Up to and including Manila I would pick Muhammad Ali. After that Marciano wins.

Larry Holmes up to and including Randy Cobb fight.

 

I don't care about your opinon, but for anyone interested I suggest reading Fitz fight reports against pressure fighters like Creedon and Sharkey. You can also look at him vs most powerful punchers like Maher, Choynski and Gardner.

 

Apparently not

 

I wouldn't class Gardner as a powerful puncher.

 

I would, until Fitzsimmons fight he was 37-4-3 with 28 KOs. He stopped durable Root in brutal fashion, visible on footage available from this fight. He wasn't in Maher or Choynski class, but he was good puncher.