Rocky Marciano vs. George Godfrey

This is a very difficult one to address, and I will tell you why.

Based on their respective resumes, you woudl not conclude Godfrey to be in Marciano's class.

However there is a mountain of anecdotal evidence, that Godfrey was much better than his record suggests.

With most fighters, the more you learn about them, teh clearer the picture becomes.

In Geoffrey's case, teh more you learn about him, the more confusing the picture becomes.

Obviously I have to make Marciano the favorite, but the question is at teh back of my mind, what could Godfrey have done had he been managed to have the most successful career possible?

 

Godfrey may have wore the cuffs a lot, but regardless, the real big wins just aren't there. Fulton, Uzcuden, 1-1 with Gains. I don't know for sure, but I think a lot of his reputation came from Dempsey using him as a sparring partner, because I do remember reading an article about that and Dempsey saying he was real good.

The slim evidence he have is that Marciano could handle big boys. He beat 6'4.5" John Shkor who had victories over Flynn, Payne, and Mauriello. He beat 6'3" Bill Brennen who did not have any great wins by was at least above .500. And he beat the fighters who beat the big boys.

I would say Marciano comfortably.

 

I will take Marciano to win on a DQ.

 

There you have identified the salient point about Godfreys career, because the facts only support two possible conclusions.

Either he was a worse hot head than Golota, or he was using low blows as a mechanism to throw fights.

 

Brennan was 6'1".
Schkor had won 3 of his last11 ,would have one more then retire,as you say slim evidence.

 

Then you will have to decide whether the problems picking Marciano over Godfrey, surpass the problems with picking Godfrey over Marciano.

Personally I woudl rather assume the former set of problems.

 

I hadn't made a pick,but now you have assumed I have .I pick Marciano,too many imponderables with Godfrey.

 

You assumed that I assumed.

 

What is a Boxer?

 

Was Marciano ever in an easy fight against a legit, good heavyweight? Was Layne easy? (Was Layne any good?). Not going to count Walcott 2 as he seemed to be retired before entering the ring. I think Godfrey would give him some definite trouble, a good chance of even putting him down. I would bank on Marciano to come back and dish out enough punishment to get the decision. George would be a very live underdog at worst.

 

Which again, and again, and again, would have made him an appropriate test for that point in Marciano's career.

I meant Bill Wilson. Thanks for that correction.

The ultimate test was that Marciano beat the guys who beat the big fighters. The idea that Valdez or Baker or Bucceroni would have presented some kind of challenge is stupid.

 

It isn't important .

 

I really do not need to get into a flame war over this,so carry on without me.