Marciano..... the greatest cruiserweight.... if he was around today?

Did you see what Frazier did to him with just a few left hooks and then that final left hook? Frazier never really just crushed a guy out there with one to a few big hooks like that. Don't think Bob's durability holds up. Marciano gets at him early and badly.

 

Not really.

Marciano would kill him.

 

Marciano weighed 196 for Ezzard Charles rematch, and was fit, no fat. He could move up easily. He was greatest heavy ever, IMO. I can't see anyone beating him at cruiserweight.

 

Holyfield at cruiser could outbox Rocky when needed and trade in the pit too. Now, I am not comparing him to Marciano, but Qawi was a strong, veteran bull who knew all the tricks to frustrate a young fighter - and Evander was on his 12th pro fight against Qawi and showed all the necessary skills you need to deal with Marciano. Now, add experience and more strength to Holyfield and take that into a fight with Marciano.

 

"He who lives on hope dies farting." Benjamin Franklin.

 

James Toney at 190 would give him a good fight.

 

A lot of guys would give him a good fight. Some would beat him. The point is that based on his size, strengths and limitations this is where he belongs to be judged. We don't judge Monzon against light heavyweight legends like Moore or Foster, either of whom would have knocked him dead. We judge him against his peers.

The heavyweight division has become antiquated. The fighters too large, the gap between a 184 pound guy and a 235 pound guy too big when it is a rule rather than an exception. It is why cruiser was created. It has never captured the glory but it does not change the facts.

 

If your going to hold Marciano on size and weight, should Louis, Dempsey, PRIME Ali, or any other pre 1960's heavyweights be held in the same regards.

I mean Louis would be dealing with the same problems vs VK that Marciano would be, Same goes for Dempsey.

 

You have to draw a line somewhere ...

Louis was much taller than Marciano, had a much longer reach than Marciano and if he fought today would have added effective pounds to his frame. Today Louis would easily be a 220 pound fighter.

Dempsey could have been 215 as he was basically built like Holyfield when Evander was 190 ...

I simply don't see Rocky cutting it that way ... what would he do, look like the Qwai that fought Foreman ...?

 

I'm split as to how Marciano would do today. He didn't have a big frame...very short reach, 67 inches or so, and lacked height.

He'd probably carry about 205 quite well, given modern training and nutrition, but I'm guessing not much more than that. I don't know if he'd be very effective above 205 or so, given that an almost freakish workrate was one of his greatest strengths, and that the added weight would take away from that somewhat.

205 for a modern heavyweight isn't much weight at all, and given his lack of height and reach, he'd have a tough time with some of today's guys...I think.

On the other hand, Evander weighed only 208 during his first few years as a heavyweight, and he won and defended the title at the weight. His lack of size did cost him against Bowe, who basically through just being bigger was able to win, but there aren't many guys with Bowe's size and ability around.

Obviously Evander being taller and with a greater reach than Rocky was able to be more adaptable and employ assets like the jab and lateral movement to his game. Rocky didn't have that, but he did have a huge punch for such a little guy (comparatively speaking) and I can only assume the added muscle would add slightly to that, rather than detract from it.
Add that to his naturally good stamina and great chin and he'd be probably too much for a lot of heavyweights around now, some of whom are barely any bigger than Marciano, aside from 20-30 pounds of no-good fat.

The best of the big guys like Bowe, Lewis, Klitschko etc. might simply be too big and strong, but aside from them, he'd do okay, imo.

 

Janitor, your point is what? I don't know how much clearer I can make my point on Rocky.

Do you actually the Marciano that defeated Walcott matches up well in size and style against Vitali Klitschko? I'm not talking about the small and old guys he feasted on when he actually fought. I am stressing based on his size, skills and style he has a very poor shot of dominating against much larger fighters on a consistant basis. What series of world class 6'3" or larger 220 or larger fighters did Marciano take on time and again? Better yet Janitor, why are there weight divisions? Why not simply put everybody in one group and let the best man win?

 

How about look more like Tyson? In terms of strength/size/modern nutrition/supplementation. Obviously Tyson has a slight edge genetically. But Marciano could've trained with weights and such. He stopped weight training due to somehow saying it could mess him up in boxing.