Frazier vs. Marciano

Frazier would win by early knockout. The stronger man wins.

 

Frazier never had a great "build" but at 205 he didn't seem to have any excess weight either:

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A pic of his legs:

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Marciano:

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What would happen if Frazier & Marciano switched careers. Meaning what if Frazier fought in Rocky's time frame and Rocky fought in Joe's.

I honestly feel that Joe would have as good a record as Rocky did BUT Rocky would have been hard pressed to match Joe's.

I just can't see Rocky beating Ali at no time. Frazier only lost to 2 boxers, Ali and Foreman and I can't see Rocky beating either one of them either. Plus I believe Frazier would beat 37 year old Louis, 38 year old Walcott, Charles might have given Joe some trouble if they fought in the late 40's or early 50's BUT at the time Ezzard fought Rocky, Joe would have had no trouble.

Over 51% of Frazier's bouts were against boxers that were rated in the Top 10 at one time or another (13 different boxers 19 times in 37 bouts), Marciano is under 33% (13 different boxers 16 times in 49 bouts).

While there opponents were rated in the Top 10 (counting Light Heavyweight Champions at the time), Frazier fought 37.8% to Marciano's 22.4%.

 

All were Great punchers, BUT I think that Frazier's left hook was much faster. Like I said, my friend Bert Sugar has his left hook 2nd all-time, behind Dempsey's. Some other boxing historians & experts have it on top as well.

 

Well ",you pays your money ",etc

 

Marciano by knockout

 

I don't know any way to settle an issue like who hits harder than by taking a look at KO percentage. Does anyone know a better way? It certainly gives us concrete and behavioral data to measure the punch for one of the fighters is rendered unconsious or nearly so. And dang near everyone can see that and take the measure of the punch or punches. There will always be the experts and their opinions but what do they rest their opinions on?

Marciano was a KO specialist. He had one of the hightest KO percentages of any fighter. Higher than Frazier's.

And it seems to me another point regarding KOs should be mentioned.

We must distinguish between a KO and a TKO though often these are conflated. The KO is usually definitive and there isn't much argument about it. A TKO, on the other hand, is often up for debate. For it often isn't thought to be a definitive end of the fight. We hear things like "he could have gone on." And the sissy modern age calls offs fights pretty quickly compared to the old days.

Looked at that way we notice that Frazier's so called KO record is much lower than Marciano's for many of his KOs were in reality TKOs. All in all there were few TKOs on Marciano's record. He basically knocked his opponents unconscious or nearly so. It is the other way around with Frazier. But Marciano may have one of the highest, if not the hightest, of pure KO finishes.

Now tell me how hard a puncher punches can be settled any better? Of course, it goes without saying there are many other ways to end a fight than by hard KO punches. But that is not the question here.

As to whether Marciano had a two fisted power, well, can some of you informed folks show Marciano knocking out a man with his left hand? It seems to me, if I remember, Marciano had Louis out on his feet with the his left. Louis' is basically limp with the shot, his eyes closed and arms down at his side while still standing. The right only comes to knock Joe outside the ring.

But perhaps that question is mostly irrelevant given Rocky knocked cold most of his opponents and did so more often than any other fighter.

On these grounds there is little comparison of Frazier to Marciano as far as punching power goes. Marciano hits a lot harder.

 

A well argued post with which I agree.Who exactly did Frazier render unconscious? Walcott said Marciano had greater one shot power than Louis,anyone think Frazier is in that league?

 

I disagree with your last statement. If Frazier fought the same opponents as Rocky did he would have just as good if not better KO%.

If we go by what you have, Lamar Clark would be rated as one of the hardest punchers ever.

Frazier's Left hook was much better then his right BUT before he was Champion, he had as many KO's with his right hand as he did with his left, according to Jim Jacobs.

 

How do you know Frazier was stronger than Marciano?

 

I do think people are underating frazier's one punch power, his left hook was lethal, just one was all it takes to put you on ***** st. On the otherhand, I think people are also overlooking marcianos huge advantage in having two knockout punches, to fraziers one, which I think makes the difference in this fight.

 

Not too many boxing historians or experts would agree that Rocky had even a good left hook. He did have KO's with it BUT Frazier also had KO's with his right, especially early in his career.

 

Why are you sure Frazier is the stronger man?

 

Who did Frazier ko with one punch ?

 

Could you name ONE ko Frazier acheived with his right cross?