I read some comments from writers that were there at the event, that they thought Marciano just killed Walcott on lived TV with one punch or something in that order. Lets say Marciano wins the title, Walcott never gets up, Walcott is dead as a door nail. Marciano retires at 48-0 with 42 kos. Would this jump Marciano up in the rankings? Were would Marciano's power be rated? Over the likes of Foreman? Tyson? Shavers?
Good thread. I think they would look at Rocky as a modern Max Baer. But I still don't think he'd be rated over Tyson or Shavers. Killing an old man with one punch would get him criticized.
Does Marciano end up going 48-0, winning all those title defenses though? All things considered, Marciano was known as a rather decent guy, and was said to have been disillusioned at first with what happened in his fight with Vingo. Maybe it would've affected his "killer instinct" (pardon the expression) in the ring and he would've lost one of those defenses, or retired.
I took out the Walcott rematch, because well he is dead. I sure Marciano would mourn and say nice words, but I have the feeling as with Vingo, Marciano would get over it.
After his career was over, Rocky was absolutely unequivocal that if Carmine Vingo had died he would have retired then and there, this having been said with the knowledge of all the success, fame and fortune which came after. Don't forget that this is a man who walked away from an opportunity to win a magic number 50 pro bout. He wasn't Max Baer, Charles, Robinson or Griffith. There's nothing to indicate he might have continued on beyond any fatality which occurred at his fists. If Walcott had never gotten up, Rocky would have quit at 43-0.
He didnt just walk away, look who he was offer. Vs Liston and a rich Texen offer Marciano over a million for a title shot vs Ali. And past his prime, Marciano was wise to turn down the offers.
Rocky would have retired...he would have quit as undefeated heavyweight champion at 43-0. With his brutal one punch knockouts of Layne and Walcott I on film, rocky would have gone down as possibly having the hardest right hand shot in history. The Vingo tragedy really affected Marciano. Walcott dying would have devastated him.
This is by far the craziest ****ing thread I have seen on classic this week. Would Marciano be ranked higher if Walcott ****ing died...?... This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
"If Butterbean had killed Larry Holmes, how would you rank him as an ATG and would he be considered more powerful than Shavers?"
Arthur mercante thought ingo died when he refereed patterson-johansson II. He was absolutely horrified as he tended to the stricken Swede. At that moment kindly Howard cossel (forever caring about his fellow man) put one hand over his mic and asked Arthur "is he dead?" so that he could no doubt go down in ring history as the man who sensationally announced the death of a champion in the ring! Now there is a thread on its own. what words would cossell use to sen-sation-ally describe a ring death?
"Ingemar Johanson dines tonight amongst the valkyrie in the halls of Valhalla, as he has just been sensationally man-slaughtered by a brilliant Patterson left-hook...."