Personally I don’t think Martin has the tools to trouble Marciano much, he likes a fight, has ok boxing, but relatively average and not exceptionally athletic. Maybe he scores a flash knockdown at most if he’s lucky, but I think based on the styles, he gets slaughtered, Martin succumbs around the 7th, Martin would be forced to fight, Marciano would get chest to chest, destroy the body, land uppercuts. Martin doesn’t have the feet to stay away or the timing to consistently time Marciano with hard punches on the way in, he had ok power and that’s the only part that could give him success, which would be, at most, a flash knockdown, he doesn’t have the combinations to finish him. He’d get under Martin’s average combinations and close the distance consistently due to Martin’s average foot speed, then he’d tear him up on the inside.
Martin wins. Chops him up and guts it out probably by late KO. Liston couldn’t knock him out Rocky’s sure not gonna. Martin is tall fast talented has power and boxing ability. He’s as good as the old guys Rocky fought except he’s in his prime.
You always pick against Marciano. Martin is not a modern day super heavyweight. He's in the same size range as the 50s guys. If Martin was around in 1949-1959, no one would look at him as some giant dwarfing everyone. And he wasn't particularly any better than the fighters of 49-59. He would have accomplished what he did in the 60s.
I would favor Marciano to win but this might be an entertaining fight. I think Martin could nail Rocky with some of those right hand zingers he threw making it a fun fight.
Not complaining if it's an honest opinion, but he seems to always pick against Marciano no matter what if you put him against a post 1955 heavyweight, even it's a 190 pound contender
I haven’t see enough of Martin but his beating of Liston might’ve been his own, scaled down version of Douglas beating Tyson. Meaning, it was an inspired, personal best performance. He was copping a drubbing, dropped hard in round 4 but showed enormous heart and stuck to his game plan - and part of that plan was pumping and landing a no mean left jab at every opportunity. I’d take prime Rock but it wouldn’t necessarily be a walk in the park. Rocky ultimately beat Moore clearly by the end but that was one tough fight for Rocky for the better part, all the same.
I saw him v Spencer ,it was a fine fight . and a terrific performance from Martin. Marciano wins a competitive fight by decision.
Martin had an impressive amateur background and was a former sparring partner of Sonny. He knew him well. He was also ten years younger. Sonny was about 40 years old and would only fight once more, a brutal win over Wepner. Martin's career was ended by Sonny when he suffered a detached retina from the fight. I don't see much else to suggest Martin would beat Marciano. If he couldn't beat Bonavena I doubt he can pose much of a threat to Rocky.
Martin is 6 1 a solid 200 pounds. Go watch how he fought Liston he could stick and move was rangy and quick. He also showed he had power. Marciano never fought anyone like him who was actually in his prime. Rocky gets beat up. He fights courageously of course but too much size and speed from a guy who is talented and tough.
Marciano would stop him and it wouldnt be that competetive. Martin was a decent fighter but he was at least a class below Marciano.