How would the heavyweight lieage be different? I am going to assume that Jersey Joe Walcott would not have reigned untill Floyd Patterson came allong.
Good question. Rocky nearly died when he was a baby, so haivng an absent Marciano in the heavyweight division almost happened. I think you're right. Joe Walcott would have lost the belt long before Patterson. I can't say who would have beat him, though. But I can assure you that he would have lost his belt to someone, especially since he was aging rapidly during those years.
Would Ezzard Charles have become the first heavyweight to re gain the title? That is one possible scenario.
Would Moore have capitalized on a possible opportunity for the title? I never thought of that matchup... He has a great chance.
If you put one less rung between Moore and the title then he likley fights for it a little earlier. We might have seen Charles Moore 4, or Moore Valdez for the title.
I think JOe Louis could have been a decent chance at still regaining the World title. And while unlikely, I wonder if Sugar Ray Robinson might have liked a shot at an old Joe Louis, or even Ezzard Charles, Moore or Walcott. Unlikely, but certainly a possibility. Imagine Joe Louis vs Sugar Ray Robinson. That would be absolutely huge! EVen if both were starting to age.
Robinson did turn down a shot at Marciano, so I dont see why he agree, even with a old Louis for a match.
...sugar ray dismissed any discussion of his fighting charles, once by saying, "man, you people want to get me killed?" as for the hypothetical of marciano never having been born, i would have enjoyed boxing a lot more at that time...but i don't know how i would have known that he hadn't been...
I do agree, but it would have been a big dollar fight, against an old and arguably vulnerable opponent so you never know. Charles and Moore, are naturally smaller fighters who Robinson could concievably be competive against, although i do agree with the consensus, it wouldnt happen, just thought it might be an interesting scenario.
sonny liston could have come along earlier and settled everything and then still have been beaten by ali.