If Ray Mercer Had Being An Opponent For Marciano?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Apr 22, 2026.


Who's winning?

  1. Marciano

    57.6%
  2. Mercer

    42.4%
  1. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    My great Grandfather was shorter than my grandfather and my father was taller than his father and I am taller than my father. If we are talking about Marciano time traveling than yes, he would be the size he was in the 50's but he was born in 1923 -over 100 years ago - If the current crop of heavyweights were born in the 1920's 1923 like Marciano or Marciano born in 2000 you would have to add or subtract weight etc.

    Anyway, Marciano is still in listed top3 to top 5 in most of the respected boxing people's opinion- Ali himself said Marciano would be his toughest fight and Frazier said Louis and Marciano were the only ones that could beat him in his prime and felt they would both beat Ali. Marciano retired in 1956 so that's 70 years ago so not bad, but everyone has their own haters for whatever reason.
     
  2. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    Mercer is way too big and strong for Rocky. Work rate and heart and all this stuff won’t matter when your knocked unconscious. Anyone thinking Marciano can win is totally discounting size and weight. If you want to look at style and other periphery things and not look at the physique like someone commented then you could make a case for Ruben Olivares or Pernell Whitaker to beat Mercer as well.
     
  3. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Again I'm not saying Marciano doesn't rate highly nor am I saying he wasn't great for his time.

    It's just his style and attributes don't translate well to the modern era of Heavyweights who are simply too big.

    Marciano should be pitted against Cruiserweights not modern Heavyweights the size difference is simply unfair.
     
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  4. slash

    slash Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    There is no way Mercer is in Marciano's league. Modern era blah blah blah
     
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  5. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    So you’re admitting that Marciano could not beat Frazier and Ali etc unless he was born later and was bigger. OK at least that’s having better judgment than the folks intoxicated on nostalgia to point of delusion.
     
  6. SixesAndSevens

    SixesAndSevens Gator Wrestler Extraordinaire Full Member

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    He walked backwards through his own farts, admittedly. What's hilarious about this is that Mercer himself says, "Y'know, he was whooping my ass for three rounds, but he made the fatal mistake of breathing hard."

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  7. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    Not sure what this proves anything against Marciano. Either of those 2 would have knocked him out. The size difference is too great.
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2026
  8. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    :lol:
     
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  9. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Or maybe a guy like Beterbiev could knock down the future hw champ. Something big bad monsters couldn’t do. Step foot in a ring against a big punching 190 pound guy maybe your opinion will change
     
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  10. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    Hey there are people with clarity on this issue on old era vs new. Well done.
     
  11. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    Usyk may have been the best cruiser of all time but when he goes to fight heavyweights he doesn’t go in at 190 or 195 or 200 no he bulks up to 220. Why is that do you think?
     
  12. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No, I am saying that even Ali and Frazier said Marciano would be Ali's toughest fight and Frazier said Marciano and Louis would beat Ali - Ali said Marciano was better than Frazier.
    My top 3 heavyweights are Louis Ali and Marciano -

    you are emphasizing size - my point being there really were no great Big Guys until recent years Wlad-Vitali-Lennox- Fury -Joshua- before that it was Willard and Carnera
    Harry Greb was great because he fought everyone- Marciano fought the best of his time and was a great fighter and never drew the color line and fought his # 1 contender 5 out of 6 times-

    If he was born today, it would not take much to gain 30-40 lbs. of muscle (I did it) and still have great stamina for 12 rounds because you think size is important.
    I don't think any of the big guy's Wlad-Vitali-Lennox- Fury -Joshua would be able to make it to the top with the resources available in the 40's to the Ali era - only Vitali had whiskers.
     
  13. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Usyk's documented fight night weights at CW range from 207-211lbs. Why would he trim down to 200lbs or below to compete at HW?
     
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  14. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Because he can with modern steroids and 12 rounders, you don’t think Joe Louis would be coming in 220? You people make no sense. What did Foreman weigh in the 70s vs the roided up 90s?
     
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  15. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    But either you think Marciano was a close fight with Ali or it’s only if he was 30 lbs heavier so that he has a chance. My contention is simple the fighter Marciano as he was wouldn’t have a snowballs chance in HE double sticks of beating prime Ali. If you want to talk about a 220 lbs heavier version of Rocky because he was born later or he trained differently then go ahead I’m not interested. People can ascribe whatever improvements they know he would need to actually give him a chance.