what would have happened to marciano if...

Possibly not much different.

As it was, he stepped back down in competition after the fight and was tentativley worked back up again.

 

The only obvious answer that I can think of, is that the loss would have taken the legendary "0" away and it might have diminished his standing some. I do however think that he would have reegained the title and been the division's first two time champ.

 

Sorry I thought you meant "what if Lastraza won the fist fight".

I dont think LaStraza was in any danger of winning the second fight. If you want Marciano to loose the title then a more plausible scenario is him dropping a fight to Ezzard Charles.

 

Was Ezzard the best fighter Marciano fought, or do you think it was Walcoott from the first fight?

 

On papr I would say that it was Walcott from fight one as I actualy think Charles might have been a bit further gone.

Marciano himself said that Walcott was his toughest fight but Charles was the best he ever fought.

Either way I think that Charles was the only title challenger in any danger of seperating Marciano from the title once he had it (which is what the scenario called for).

 

True,

I really don't see how Roland Lastarza could have been considered a serious threat. He had noticeably diminished since his first meeting with Rocky, and never really had the power or tools to do any damage to him. Charles and Walcott were the only fighters of that era at least had the boxing skills to keep Marciano at bay, and land some decent shots without getting hit too often. Consequently however, it still wasn't enough.

 

Marciano also impove greatly since the first fight, and got better with evey win since LaStarza. He was a differnt fight by the time of Marciano Walcott I, than he was in that fight. Rocky was still green.

Assuming Rocky loses fight I, I dont think it will hurt him. Marciano still clean out his era, and the divsion. Which is what he SHOULD be rated on, and not just the Zero. Dont agree with the arugment that if Rocky loses, he is out of the top ten. Marciano was still the man in his era, and clean out his era. He be rember more like a Lewis though.

Now assuming LarSarza won the rematch, I think Marciano may have been rank HIGHER, because we all know he would have regain the title. and still clean out the divsion. Patterson might have a higher ranked if he clean out his era, instand of the soft picks he keep choosing.