Marciano (First Walcott fight) Vs Liston (First Ali fight)?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Sep 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM.


Who takes it?

This poll will close on Sep 16, 2025 at 6:14 AM.
  1. Liston

    72.2%
  2. Marciano

    27.8%
  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    This fight is a little different than the usual Rocky v Liston fantasy fight s.

    The Marciano that battled to come from behind against Jersey, never giving up.

    Liston who came in as a defending champion, heavily favoured, but retired against the younger Ali.

    15 rounds, the pressure is on both guys?
     
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  2. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Imo, either Liston dominates early, hurts Marciano coming in and stops him before the half way mark.
    Or Marciano takes advantage of a past best fighter, takes his lumps and stops a tired Sonny .
     
  3. BoxingFanMike

    BoxingFanMike Member Full Member

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    I always lean toward Sonny. The version Ali beat to win the championship was still great, Ali was greater. That’s not a knock on Liston.
    Anyone coming right at Liston is in for a really awful night. Rocky would keep coming and I think Liston would really tear him up. The only caveat is that if Rocky could keep it up Sonny may get discouraged. Problem there is even if that happens Marciano is going to be a hurting unit and may not be able to capitalize. No doubt Marciano could hurt Liston if he gets the opportunity but size and styles make me heavily favour Sonny.
     
  4. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Definitely an hard fight for Marciano, it's a tighter fight than Jersey Joe.

    For me, it's Liston's fight for rounds 1-6 , this is where Marciano really takes his lumps.
    Now after that Marciano best chance is to try to grind Liston down,tire him out, make him gas out.
    But he's still taking those Killer punches from Sonny and his face will probably be busted up by now.
    It's a 60 - 40 fight in favour of the bigger man for me, with Rocky a live under dog.
     
  5. Showstopper97

    Showstopper97 The Icon Full Member

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    Liston in 6. Liston looked great the year prior again Patterson. Marciano would be similar to Patterson, in that he was a short, crouching fighter that would come forward. He'd last longer, but would lose every round en route to being stopped - either on cuts, corner or ref stoppage.
     
  6. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    IMO there is no worse stylistic matchup for Marciano at any point in either of their careers than Charles Liston. Marciano will not take a step backward and will not stop throwing punches but at some point either his brain and body are going to be rendered senseless or he’s going to have to be rescued from his bravery.
     
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  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Liston beats him up badly but Rocky goes out on his shield about round 3.
     
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  8. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I used to lean Liston. But the more I watch Liston fight the more I think Marciano will make him fight his fight. Marciano prob has to get up off the canvas once or twice. This fight prob looks a lot like Tua v Ike…a lot like it. They both throw a ton of punches but Marciano was better defensively by a mile than Tua. I’m gonna say this oddly goes to a Marciano decision.
     
  9. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This content is protected

    strange you get two future fighters so similar in heights and reaches and style go against one another. Tua being to fat to be proper defensively though
     
  10. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Tua was a fit 226 for this fight, a great weight for him. He was just a naturally much bigger guy than Marciano, a strapping cinder block of a man not a bird chested, small jointed fellow. And that showed by his output against a giant, dangerous, fast twitch, young opponent. Having higher output against such is much more difficult than doing so against a doddering pensioner looking to take off half of every round.
     
  11. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You don’t know much about fitness. Please just stop. These are two people who would prob weigh exactly what Liston and Marciano weighed in 1950s. These are just two geared up versions of the same people. Marciano walked around 210+ at times. Give him steroids like these two what do you think he weighs?
    Ps Tua was to fat here. He losses ten pounds prob performs better
     
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  12. slash

    slash Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Marciano finds a way. He fought some rough, tough customers and found a way through it. He's a little smallish, but he is a heavyweight and he could KO anybody. I just can't imagine Rocky being bewildered, taking mandatory eights and looking for a way out. Like, beaten to a pulp.. looking like a chump. He's too mentally strong (which greatly aided his training too).

    But I see the majority picking Liston. Hmm....
     
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  13. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Yeah, sure. Bro. Climbing Mt. Rainier next spring at 55 years old. Wanna come along?
     
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  14. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Would prob take you to long with your slow twitch
     
  15. Turnip mk3

    Turnip mk3 Active Member Full Member

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    Liston early or not at all. If it go's past six Liston will ground to paste . fight of the year
     
    Fergy likes this.