Marciano was down just twice in 49 pro fights- vs. Walcott (round 1 of their 1st fight, he got right up)... who he stopped in the 13th round. He stopped Walcott in the 1st round of their rematch. At 6' and 197 Lbs. Walcott was taller and heavier than Marciano. vs. Moore (round 2, he got right up)... who he dropped 5 times and stopped in the 9th round. Moore and Marciano were almost identical in height and weight. Moore had the longer reach. As good as Charles was he did not drop Marciano in their 2 fights. Charles lost a 15 round decision in their 1st fight but fought very well. Charles did split Marciano's nose badly in the rematch but was stopped in the 8th round. Charles was 6'1" and weighed 186 and 193 Lbs. for their fights. Charles was also one of the best P4P fighters ever. So... who are these "smaller" fighters that dropped Marciano?
This Fitzsimmons guy sounds like a comic book character. Marciano would win in a feinting contest, let alone a boxing match.
I respect Fitzsimmons but lets not get caught up in all of these old stories. I'm not saying they're not true... I'm just saying who cares if he beat 7 bums inside of 19 rounds. If I beat up 10 guys just like my bis ass cousin who is huge, solid, athletic, and dangerous looking but can't fight very well... what would that mean? NOTHING! Just because you beat a guy who is similar in size to Lennox Lewis, that doesn't mean you can beat Lennox Lewis. It doesn't even mean you can beat a guy who is much smaller. It doesn't mean anything to be totally honest with you. When Fitzsimmons faced a big man named Jim Jeffries he was stopped in the 11th round (1st fight) and the 8th round (rematch). Jeffries was 206 and 219 Lbs. for these fights. He was 6' with a 76" reach. That's a hell of a lot smaller than Lewis btw lol. Fitzsimmons was great though, no doubt. I do think he'd have some good moments vs. Marciano but in the end I think Marciano would stop him.
Corbett had Fitz out. Fitz had to grab on to the corbett to save himself from being counted out. He cheated, in essence. Jeffries also knocked him out twice, and Bill Hall sparked him. I think his chin is far from granite.
It's ridiculous really. No 165lb fighter in history can hang with Rocky Marciano. Period. Can you imagine Fitz trying to take a couple Marciano Suzy Q right hands? Can you imagine Fitz stopping a bigger stronger human windmill who throws non stop punches for 15 rounds?
Fitz was strong, hard punching and a seasoned vet, but he meets his match against Marciano and gets KO'd inside 7 rds in a gruelling battle of willpower and guts.... MARCIANO!!! MR.BILLbbb:hat
Sammy Langford was great for an overall dude of 178 pounds or so, but no way he stops Marciano in a time machine...... No way, Jose... MR.BILL:hat
And Benny Leonard would've KO'd Roberto Duran at 135 pounds...... NO!! B.L. was a 135 former great, but he gets toppled by the greatest (Duran) at 135.. WORD! MR.BILL:bbb