If Rocky Marciano didn't retire. Who in all likelyhood would have been the first man to give Rocky his first defeat?
Depending on when Sonny Liston came into the picture and how fast Marciano declined (his handspeed had already clearly slowed by the Moore fight) Liston could have stood a good chance at being the first. I think Ingo and Patterson would've been KO'd by Marciano, which is why I didn't pick either of them.
Yea, I would also say Liston would make him his *****. Rocky wouldn't be able to sit down for a week.
I think a prime Marciano gives Liston some problems. But by the time of Cockell and Moore, he weren't prime no more. And the wheels were coming off his proverbial wagon quicker than **** moving through a goose. It's actually quite probable that Patterson would take him.
Probably not Patterson or Liston. He probably gets past Patterson and has already lost by the time Liston is in the picture. If I had to take a stab at it I might say Edie Machen.
I would say Liston Can't forget when Machen eated Ingo's right... Patterson didn't had the durability or power to get past Rocky
Has anyone heard a story about marciano losing a fight at the beginning of his career under a different name? I'm not saying its true, just wondered if anyone had heard it
Rocky had back problems by the Moore fight. He tried come back ideas in the gym, but realized it was over for him. Wisely, Rocky retired. One point of view is Rocky ruined other fighters, and I agree he did. However the reverse is also true. Tough matches with Charles and Walcott took something out of the Rock as well.
Marciano was all wrong for Floyd and Ingo not the right caliber. I think it would be determined by when Rocky started to slip and how badly. Condition was not an issue. A prime Marciano a hard man to beat but by the time Liston was ready I would assume Rocky would be on the slide maybe the wars would get to him and would lose to someone before. It is hard to have an extended prime with the relentless swarmer style...I get tired just watching Rocky fight....Rocky may have been the smartest Hvwt Champ ever besides Tunney, when he no longer had the desire to kill himself in training he got out of the game. We can only judge him near and around his prime to his credit. Also Al Weil and his greed may have shortened Marciano's career, He wanted to make the Valdes fight but Nino lost badly to Bob Satterfield and lost the appeal. Patterson was not going to move up with Marciano at the realm, Cus knew this was the wrong fight for Floyd
No, he won all 49 of his PROFESSIONAL fights. He did however lose as an amateur, and at least one of those losses happened AFTER he had made his pro debut. He made his pro debut under the name "Rocky Mack" because he still wanted to box as an amateur but took the pro fight for a bit of cash. He then went back to the amateurs boxing under his real name, Rocco Marchegiano. After having a few more amateur fights (incl. at least one loss) he went professional. That's why there's about a year or more between his pro debut and his second pro fight, if you look at his record.
Rocky would be past prime and may have been taken by Floyd/Ingo/Machen/Folley. Especially Floyd who was special. If you stay at the top long enough, eventually you'll lose
Fighters who fade lose to lesser champions they would beat in their primes. If faded Ali loses to Leon Spinks, faded Holmes loses Michael Spinks then sure, By 1959 it would be no disgrace if a bald, faded 36 year old Marciano would lose to Liston, Patterson or (dare I say it) even Ingo.