Willard and Marciano

dempsey would do it better always because his style. dempsey was taller,faster,more explosive too, and he had longer reach than rocky, marciano should work more than dempsey here.

 

I think that Marciano would need a lot longer to do it and would be in a tougher fight than anybody imagines.

 

yes sr, styles make fights...

 

well , rocky wasn't really as explosive or as fast a puncher compared to Dempsey , he did have great punch , but he would a lot more rounds , and if im correct , marciano was a sortof a slow starter.

 

Willard is grossly underrated. He had a long, strong jab, man-killing power and a granite jaw. He had just as much stamina as Rocky - c.f. his ability to wear down an opponent over the course of dozens of rounds - and an iron constitution. I'm not sure if even the Rock could take a beating as well or as gamely as big Jess Willard could.

 

Especially if it's the Willard of Havana Rocky has to deal with, somebody who could absolutely match Marciano's stamina. Jess had some mobility to go along with massive physical strength, and was adept at using his height to evade or ride out punches. In close, Willard could execute that lethal right uppercut. Dempsey had three inches of height and ten inches of reach on Rocky to go along with vastly superior foot speed. The 6'4" Shkor's height and weight gave Marciano some issues for four rounds before the Blockbuster finally began to find the proper range, while he described his war with the 6'4" Vingo as his toughest fight. Havana Jess could actually eclipse this.

 

Willard could take only so much of the methodical, relentless bludgeoning to his arms and shoulders before the inevitable lowering of the guard took place and Marciano detonates a Suzy Q number on his chin. It may have been round 10 or 11, but it would be a stoppage for the Rock..and yes, Willard is underrated...but the fight's ending would have nothing to do with the three judges.

 

Hadn't thought of that.

Marciano would surely have requested 15 rounds.

Back onto topic!

 

I dunno... Tunney's footwork could have caused Marciano major problems...

But back on topic, I think The Rock gets to Willard eventually for the stoppage.

 

I used to not think that Tunney could hang with the Rock, but I believe now that it would have been a real possibility that he could have very well have beaten Marciano. His chin, speed, stamina, jab, right hand and more than anything else, his incredible discipline, would have met the Rock's stamina, strength and power for a fight similar in nature to the FOTC.

 

Willard is a BIG assignment for Marciano.

Willard was huge, strong, and durable. He may not have been slick, but he was fundamentally sound.

Remember, he'd been out three years when Dempsey beat him. He wasn't in tip-top condition.