What modern day cruiserweight would you give the best chance of beating prime Marciano?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Jul 18, 2025.


  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Excluding ATG's like Usyk and Holyfield, which cruiserweight who has competed since the start of the division would you give a realistic chance of beating Marciano at his peak over 12 rounds?

    Please don't pick Holmes, Ali etc. as these men never actually fought in that division. Nor Usyk and Holyfield.

    The candidates are as follows, in no particular order:

    Mairis Breidis
    Vassily Jirov
    James Toney
    David Haye
    Murat Gassiev
    Dwight Qawi
    Jai Opetaia
    Marco Huck
     
  2. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    None of those, most entertaining fight would be Qawi
     
  3. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Briedis, for the ability to box or punch.

    I like Qawi, but Marciano, the guy who could hit with either hand and throw 94 punches in the 15th, just out-buzzsaw's him. And the Rock is the bigger man by a good measure.

    Haye- too chinny
    Jirov- not good enough as a pro
    Opetaia- maybe in five years ask again and this will be the answer
    Toney- just gets outworked...too economical for Marciano
    Gassiev- Good fight but I'll hedge and say he loses on injuries
    Huck -Forgetaboutit.
     
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  4. Jackomano

    Jackomano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Definitely Qawi, since he was the toughest type of opponent for Marciano stylewise and Marciano hated fighting shorter fighters.
     
  5. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    I always felt Qwai would have been a fun fight but that he'd not stand up to Rocky's power ... Toney is an obvious interesting fight especially over 12 but I can't see him going 15 and standing up to the punch output and power ... he may survive but not win. The others, nope.

    If you want to grasp insane stamina watch round 15 of the first Charles fight. Period.
     
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  6. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    great post. Marciano's stamina was indeed insane.
     
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  7. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think Toney could deal with Marciano's workrate.

    Jirov threw 1000 punches vs Toney and he dealt with that just fine and he had to deal with the Southpaw style aswell.
     
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Huck-Marciano would be incredible for six rounds, I promise.

    Jai has the best chance.
     
  9. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Good point, but Jirov didn't have Marciano level power.

    In any event, Toney is one of my ten favorite fighters too, so all well and good either way.
     
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  10. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    I agree and it was a 12 round fight , an important issue for this match up .. the longer the fight the better for Rocky ..
     
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  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I would favor each and everyone of those over Marciano. Maybe Qawi is a pick-em.
     
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  12. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Seriously ?
     
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  13. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Hundo P.
     
  14. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Yup. And I don't think Marciano could deal with Toney's countering rate.
     
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  15. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Believe it or not… I can see Johnny Nielsen being a potentially frustrating evening for Marciano. Not that I’d favor him to win but I can certainly see how he’d be problematic.