Who, under 200lbs., has the best chance of beating Marciano?

And by best chance, I mean someone you would pick to win 2 out of 3 fights or better. I am tired of all the comparisons of him against contemporary or relatively contemporary behemoths. I want to put him into the context in which he belongs.

So, who has the best chance or are there dozens you think could pull the feat?

 

I say a master boxer like Gene Tunney who was also tough and durable.

 

I also picked a prime Jack Dempsey although as a slugger you would not think he had the ideal style to beat the Rock. I just think Dempsey had everything Marciano had and in addition much faster hands.

 

Tunney, CW Holfyield, Dempsey, and obviously ATG CW AND HW AND P4P Haye.

 

Joe Louis at 197-199 qualifies.

 

I think this is an excellent question.

It seems to be broke down into two categories. The technician or the hitter.

You would think the technician, Lead by Tunney but perhaps even Corbett (though you would think his chin would fail). The problem here is that Rocky seemed to eventually find this type of fighter. He caught charles and Walcott, both of whom are similar to these two guys. And you would think that Rocky has the perfect style to beat the aforementioned fighters, so i dont think it would be those two guys.

This leaves us with the hitters. Fitzsimmons, Langford and Dempsey being the three most obvious and best options here. Problem is there is no evidence that Rockys chin would fail him, and while he does appear reasonably easy to hit, the fact that he always has his defence set, seems to indicate that he is harder to hit cleanly, which wouldnt be good for the hitters, and you would expect Rocky to outwork these guys and maybe even out hit them too. Id probably give Dempsey the better chance of the three, but Rocky probably starts favourite.

I wonder though if there is a third option. Rocky normally wins his fights with Stamina and Workrate. Maybe there is someone who could beat him at this own game. What about a Harry Greb vs Rocky Marciano. Maybe Harry could cause problems by putting the rock in the unfamiliar place of being outworked and outlasted. Might make things very interesting. I also think Cruiser Holy might do a similar thing. I am not sure whether either would do the job, but they have as good a chance as anyone.

 

my thoughts so far... Dempsey liked the zeppelins, the big, slow guys to take down in fine fashion. He had problems with guys who were smaller, shifty (which Marciano was) and who made for hard targets. And I don't think Dempsey's beard survives Marciano's power.

Tunney has always been my go-to answer in this dilemma. However, I am beginning to doubt even this. Greb destroyed Tunney in one fight and made several others close. Marciano is Greb with devastating power, bonecrushing power. No...

OK, got to get back to domestic life. Holyfield is a good one...

 

Dempsey.

 

Nobody 2/3 times I don't think.

I think 197-199 Louis has the best chance to beat Marciano. And he actually might be able to do it 2/3 times. Swarmer-slugger going after a puncher. Real tough.

After that, I think Tunney has the best odds followed by Dempsey and Holyfield.

Tunney with the great chance to find the strategy. One of the greatest strategist of the early 1900's. He had speed, foot-speed, and might find a way to nullify Rocky. Would be hugely tough. Tunney is fast, but not neccessarily as slick as Walcott, nor as technical as Charles. It's interesting, though.

Dempsey can hurt Rocky early, but I don't think he finishes him. Under the rules of the hammer him when he lifts a glove, maybe. If that's not the rule for the match, then he has to get a kind ref to stop the fight. Honestly, though, in the 1920's Rocky would get every and any chance. Rocky would find a way. I feel his superior stamina, and the fact that he can shift and get low troubles Dempsey. On the inside he will win that battle and be a low center of gravity. Dempsey has speed and power, no doubt. But I wouldn't make him a favorite.

Holyfield is great, but he's basically a CW with a great out-put, a bit of height, boxing skills, and speed. But Marciano has the power to really destruct Holyfield in this type of a fight. So I just feel Holyfield is too young and inexperience at CW to find a way to beat non-stop machine like Marciano. Marciano is definitely better than Qawi who fought a close fight with Holyfield.

 

I also picked a prime Jack Dempsey although as a slugger you would not think he had the ideal style to beat the Rock. I just think Dempsey had everything Marciano had and in addition much faster hands.[/quote
Jack Dempsey was picked by virtually all the boxing scribes who were polled during Marciano's reign 1952-56 to ko Rocky were they to have met. And so do I ! Dempsey hit so much faster than Marciano..He would beat rocky to the punch constantly,and anyone Dempsey could hit,in his prime he kod...Dempsey's inside punches were like a blur and had concussive power,and he would stop Rocky in three rounds I believe...
Styles make fights....[/quote]

Burt i have great respect for you and your opinion,and I am a big fan of both fighters, but I would disagree on dempsey beating the rock.You give some good points with jacks speed and other skills,but I also remember jack saying rocky hit harder than himself and well dempsey was ko'd during his prime by jim flynn's right hand.I put rocky in the class of "you can drop but don't stop" the fighters who you can get hit REAL hard and flush yet they will get up over and over again quick(although rocky was only dropped twice he got hit flush by good punchers and got up at like 4,another person in this class joe frazier also a swarmer).I believe jack was more of a swarmer than a slugger he liked to come in and land rather than hang out and give his punchs room.So I see this one as a war but I see the rock winning by ko or decision based on his power and sheer heart +determination and ability to get hurt and come back and fight HARD and win.

 

Hey, the racist is chiming in.

Do you have tape of the first Charles fight? Do you really think he won that but got robbed?

 

I would bet on Tunney and Holyfield having the best shots to beat him. He may catch up to Tunney late, but then again he may not, Gene would need to be on top of his game. I can see the CW Holyfield also winning on points against Rocky, Evander is really hard to knockout and I think late Rocky would need a KO. I am undecided about Marciano vs Dempsey, I will have to think on that one a bit more...

 

I pick Dempsey ,everything Marciano could do, Jack could do better with the possible exception of one punch power,imo.

Louis, Langford?

 

louis, peak charles and maybe moore too.
bob foster, michael spinks and max schmeling also have a chance