Rocky Marciano vs Michael Spinks

a very difficult type, theoretically Spinks was more athletic, faster, more versatile, looked better in the ring, was more complete... hell, he was even a lot bigger than Rocky. I think Spinks would dominate for many rounds giving Marciano a tougher fight than Moore, Charles or Walcott I... but eventually Rocky would find a way with his style. Maybe he would have broken Spinks' ribs, maybe he would have caught him with some desperate punch out of nowhere... I just can't bet against Marciano... maybe I remember the Tyson-Spinks fight too much, it's funny that if Spinks had ended his career one fight earlier, it would have been completely different he was perceived today and I bet a lot of people would bet on him in a hypothetical fight with Tyson in 1987.

 

I think Spinks would stop Marciano before the fifth round. Spinks beat men like ATG Larry Holmes and stopped big Cooney, although a faded version of Gerry. You are probably tired of my Marciano rants, but here I go again: Marciano was the worst world heavyweight titleholder ever.

 

At last a fan that has a functional brain. RM stopped faster and easier than giant Cooney was.

 

I do. RM too small and not talented enough. RM gets stopped early.

 

After further review ,,,I agree with you, as you say, it's not a foregone conclusion

 

Ok, so you are telling me, that a Marciano, who barely managed to beat a shot 34 year old former lightheavyweight, Charles, beats a man, who beat Holmes twice and a giant Cooney? I don't think Marciano could beat Wepner, Le Deoux or any other 210 pound+ ranked contender. This Marciano nonsense has got to stop once and for all. Marciano, good man, but he barely managed to win over smallish old men and 3. raters. It is an insult to real ATG heavyweight champions, to even suggest that this overrated midget is an ATG.

 

Marciano would get him over 15. 12 would be more open but i'd still favor The Rock.

 

Larry Holmes was 36 when Spinks beat him, and well past his best.

Cooney was an empty shell when Spinks beat him, and never that good in teh first place.

If these criticisms can be leveled against Marciano's opposition, then they can be leveled against Spinks's opposition in spades.

 

Good luck stopping us.

 

Well In fairness, you DID just list two of the greatest fighters of all time above.

 

I pick Spinks to slice and dice Rocky up, either winning a decision or a stoppage. I think Spinks height and reach would be too much for Rocky to overcome, then add Spinks hard and sharp punching and Rock would be constantly walking into a buzzsaw. Spinks looked spindly but he was very strong and sturdy. Rocky never fought anyone with Spinks physical advantages and skill level. If Roland LaStarza could give Rocky a hard go of it, then Spinks has to have an edge here.

 

My words... Rocky would have a hard time finding job as a sparringpartner for the skilled more up to date boxers

 

There is a world of difference in terms of talent and level of competition. Marciano fought old, very, very small heavyweights, who, at the time Spinks was active, would have competed in cruiser/lightheavyweight/supermiddleweight divisions in the 1980'. I am just shocked and amazed to learn the level of exageration in terms of RM's chances vs modern elite fighters. Marciano fought when the talent pool was maybe the worst ever, so Marciano fought old, small, shot men and 3. raters. Marciano would not go four rounds vs todays ranked supermiddleweights, he was that bad, that overrated, that small, and that clumsy. His socalled punching power is overrated too. Yes, I know he kayoed old, small Walcott, but aside from that he grinded down all the fat , small and old losers, he 'fought'.

 

I give the original poster credit for at least matching Marciano with someone that is actually closer to him in weight.

 

Not that it would be easy, or at least it probably wouldn’t, barring a big punch early, but I’m very confident of a Marciano victory. Spinks doesn’t hit as hard as Walcott that’s for sure, & has skill & craft to keep Marciano at bay, but no power to follow it up with.

At some point Marciano’s durability & endurance will almost certainly tell, IMO.