The Quality of Marciano's Opponents

He didn't face a decent, proven fighter until 2/3 of his career was over. They kept him under lock and key at the Providence Auditorium. It's not my fault he turned to boxing later in life. The facts are what the facts are. He was just good enough to take care of what is very likely the worst 5 years in the division's history. No shame in that. But the fan boys who try to take that accolade into more developed, better talented eras, are just an embarrassment.

 

Yeah after FIVE years of fighting. Marciano was champion by then. It’s a similar time line for most champs but you characters like to nit pic only one. Saying it’s a weak time is fine if that’s your opinion (don’t agree) but some of these arguments are absurd ridiculous even

 

Its not how many years for his development ,its how many fights,which is something you do not address.
If Rocky's fans were not so deranged and unrealistic about his chances with modern sized prime class men,perhaps Seamus and I would not be so anti? Rocky was spoon fed a collection of journeymen at best,liberally sprinkled with out and out set ups,that would not be countenanced as viable opponents today,if you could just admit that you wouldn't be getting half the negative reactions that you do!

 

This is true, they weren't sold on Rocky early on and had serious doubts due to how clumsy and awkward he could be. Once they realized he had a lot of potential, they began managing his career very carefully and logically as opposed to just throwing him in there with anyone.

 

On the contrary when the subject is the quality of Marciano's opponents the argument is absolutely,germane and to the point!

 

I'm typing in caps to try and get it through to you that if you compare Marciano's early opposition to that of many,many fighters it is very ,very weak!
You try to imply that Rocky had it tough for his first ten fights.well lets look at that.
1. Epperson,another debutee fair enough.
2.Bilazarian,3-5-0 lost his last 2,won 1 of last 5 .a light heavy175lbs.Four month after this fight ,Bilazarian was fighting at168lbs
3.Edwards 1-1-0 another lhvy 173lbs.
4.Quinn 8-0-0 a very decent opponent on paper.
5.Ross 175lbs A middle weight/lhvy, a month earlier he had weighed 166lbs.
6.Meeks 9-3-1 won1 of his last 4.
7.Jackson 4-2-0
8.Hardeman,lost last 3 won 1 of last 6.
9..Cardone ,a Debutee.
10.Jefferson 172lb2-2-0 ko'd in his last fight by a 176 pounder.

Now you tell me ,apart from Quinn whom I have no info on,where are the stiff tests among that ten,four of whom were light heavies?

 

lol left off Ross 15-0 record. You’ve read Marciano’s biographies. You know well enough he was NOT protected or managed in the slightest in his first ten or so bouts. Nor was he a “protected” fighter. There are far more champions with much worse HW records than Rocky’s. He was properly developed once the promise was shown. He was developed in the same amount of time as other champions. Not sure why you’re arguing this and coming back to it but I have nothing more to say on the matter. It’s not something that’s even arguable. And I never said he had it tough I said he wasn’t protected nor was he.

 

I gave Ross' record up to the time he faced Marciano.If you want I can give all those ten opponents subsequent records,but I don't think that would be doing you any favours!lol
The subject of this thread is the quality of Marciano's opponents,that's why we are examining them,if that makes you uncomfortable I'm sorry.

 

Nothing “uncomfortable” about the record. It’s a completely normal record for a HW champion and exceedingly exceptional overall record as compared to his contemporaries. That’s why he’s consistently ranked in the top ten. If that makes you “uncomfortable” that’s a you problem. Not of the general boxing community and historians.

 

I'm not uncomfortable ,I'm proving all my points!
Where others rank Marciano is up to them,he made my top ten for years before we being displaced by Holyfield,Lewis ,and Tyson,now he is around11/12th ,and there's a few I rank below him ,I think would beat him.Vitali,Bowe, Fury being three of them.

 

Some of yours? Who would that be?Liston was 6ft 1 in , 212lbs how many champs before him were? Willard,Carnera ,Baer ,who else?
Marciano fought 19 men 185lbs or under. Nine of whom were light heavyweights.
Liston fought 36 men of 195lbs and over, he fought 26 men of 200lbs and over.
Who is deranged here?lol

 

I've given the men Liston faced who were 195/200 plus your argument doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Liston would be a threat in any era,as would Tyson.
Sonny was the dawning of the Modern Heavy.

 

Similar time line?
Charles took 9 years to become champ
Walcott 21years!
Moore 18 years!
Marciano was fast tracked because of his complexion.
Layne was recognized as the Great White Hope,when Rocky ko'd him he assumed that mantle.