Lennox Lewis vs Rocky Marciano

Shavers's reputation rests as much on losing efforts than winning ones. Which is fine, since losing efforts still tell you something.

He dropped, stopped, or seriously hurt basically every contender he faced except Quarry. I remember writing up a summary of it one time and being surprised how consistent it was. But he lacked the other qualities he'd need.

From the other thread:

 

That’s right. Shavers was indeed a murderous puncher, just not quite champion material.

That’s why shavers punching prowess is more famous than Hasim Rahmans reputation as a puncher

 

Are we really comparing Rahman to Shavers in terms of power? Who did Rahman KO other than an overconfident off guard Lewis and the pudgy inconsistent Sanders? What durable opponents did he knock out or knock down? Which fighters who had never been KOd before we're KOd by Rahman? How many guys retired after getting their ass kicked by Rahman? How many 1st/early round KOS did he score? Where are the highlight reels of Rahman destroying guys with punches that look like gunshots? Where are the hilarious quotes of people saying Rahman hit harder than anyone else they faced? Why isn't Rahmans KO% very high? If he was that devastating it would be the talk of the 90's. He was a blip in HW history who earned his 30 minutes of fame against Lewis at just the right time. The fact McCall had already won basically the same way years prior further proves Rahman was mostly in the right place at the right time.

 

This is all true. Right place right time throwing the right punch, just like the punch Rocky threw, And it’s all over for Lewis.

But being an intelligent, thinking man’s fighter…this kind of thing only happens when Lewis disrespects the other guys power.

Lewis knew to be switched on to the power of Lionel Butler and Tua.

And that’s why I pick Lewis to do a cautious safety first points win over Rocky because he most likely does his homework. Lewis won’t chance blitzing Rocky out. He won’t chance it.

Two good reasons why Lewis won’t chance going for the knockout are Rahman and McCall and the memory of Right handers that sparked him out:

 

Interesting information. Didn't know that.

It's not my problem if you don't agree with the things that boxing experts have to say about Marciano's great work ethic.

Again, with 12 round fights and better nutrition, Rocky becomes a heavyweight with ease.

 

Great fight that!!!

 

100% this, threads like this show you how hero worship can affect ppl ability to see clearly.

 

This is a reasonable question to ask as long as the forum continues to treat fighters a few years after Marciano -- like Liston -- as heavyweights rather than cruisers / LHW under modern hydration rules.

Ultimately, the people who want to maintain that 60s Ali was a great heavyweight (rather than a blown up LHW / cruiser) aren't going to give up Liston or the other guys from Ali's first career. They must remain heavyweight victories. It is written. So threads like this will persist.

 

Of course there is a way around this. Don’t Regard the modern guys as heavyweights!

they are superheavyweights. They are Nothing to do with heavyweight history. They are a new division.

just like they are in the Amateurs

this means Ali, Holmes, Louis, Dempsey and co…the real heavyweights champions, can continue to be remembered as great heavyweights!

Super Heavyweights are not the real heavyweights.

 

And let's not forget Usyk, other great heavyweight who would never be able to beat one of the Super heavyweight champs of today. Look if people are saying Rocky is too small, then you have to say the same about Dempsey, Ali,. Louis ete.

 

I would say Usyk is a heavyweight and as a pro, he’s always been one. He is not and never could be a super heavyweight. He just beats SHW fighters. You could say he beat the SHW champ. But he is what was historically regarded a heavyweight.

Above this you have giants. In the old days you had the odd SHW beating the heavyweight champ like Willard, Primo, Lewis and the klits.

Nowadays it is the SHW division not the HW division . So it’s the other way around. The odd heavyweight can beat the SHW champ.

But nobody should be calling past heavyweight champions “modern LHW” or even cruisers. Those guys are the real heavyweights.

Anything bigger is the SHW

just like they are in the Olympics

 

Usyk is 6’3 220lbs. Comparing him to Dempsey and Marciano is hilarious.

 

I already specified I'm talking about H2H

 

Rocky had excellent nutrition. He had plenty of first generation Italian immigrant food to eat. His mother surely wasn't missing many meals.

I'm more concerned about which stumpy, short, slow heavyweight accomplished anything in the last 50 years?

 

Marciano was a one off
he'd smash anyone to pieces
or
give it a damn good try

i think even the guys who might beat him would leave the ring knowing they were in with a very serious fighter