Marciano In Tyson's Era

Marciano would have very little problem with a prime Tyson's opponents. Tony Tucker would give him a good fight. Buster Douglas,on the night he fought Tyson would beat him,imo.

 

Tucker would beat him.

He would lose to Tokyo Douglas.

Spinks probably beats him on points.

Ruddock would beat him.

Old Holmes would give him all sorts of trouble.

 

Marciano started late and was only active for roughly 7 years with rapdily decreasing activity once he captured the title. This gives us a window of 85-92; maybe less. Where as Tyson defended the titles frequently against all comers, Marciano only defended twice a year against the top #1 or #2 contenders. Rocky wouldn't bother with busy defenses against Douglas, Tubbs, and the like.

I could see Rocky probably closing his career with multiple defenses against main rivals Da Truth, Ruddock, and Evander(possibly his Archie Moore), calling it quits just as Bowe and Moorer started to emerge.

 

For all the talk of old timers fighting more frequently, Tyson actually has an edge here in 38 months Tyson fough 11 X's to Rocky's 7 drom 11-52/11-55; while Rocky holds a slight edge in rds 66-62...but that is probably due to their styles. I think rd limits could be major factors in this, if we are going under the 12 rd limit that Tyson dealt with Rocky might have more problems than he experienced under the 15 rd limit. I think those 3 rds would weigh in Rocky's favor, while the 12 rd limit could see him in some close decisions, or possibly behind on cards he might take over 15....but since we are moving him to tyson's era I will try and gauge what I feel off othose rules.

Berbick- His move to Futch/Dundee were a good move for his career and helped Berbick become a formidible opponent. I don't think this is the same Berbick who lost decisions to Gordon/Snipes. I think he gives Rocky a good fight, but Rocky probably takes him out sometime after rd 8 or 9.

Bonecrusher- Bonecrusher caught a distracted Spoon at just that right point in time, but was not equipped to deal w/ tyson. I don't think he will hold on for dear life like he did w/ Tyson and again think he would spell some early trouble for Rocky and might even knock him down once or twice. I do think again however Rocky would take him out late. If not I think the cards would be close, but edge towards Rocky.

Thomas- Thomas has an underrated jab...makes me think of Rocky vs moore, in the rds where Moore was able to succesfully use his jab he did good, in the rds where he was inneffective or Rocky got inside of that he did not fare as well. I think Moore has a lot more going for him than Thomas, but again I think Pinklon's jab would trouble Marciano often. I would excpect Rocky to take him out aroun 9-10, but think it would be a very competitive fight.

Tucker- For his nice record he has really been brough along slowly as far as competition, untill recently before Tyson. He through over 450 punches against Tyson and landed in the 40% range which was phenomenal against Tyson at that time. He was the first guy who did not look like he was merely trying to merely stay alive. I think this is a bad match-up for Rocky and will trouble him more than any of the others. Over 15 I like Rocky to win this...over 12 I would see an ultr close decision...I will fall off on the side of Rocky, but a S/D draw or even a loss would not surprise me. I will give Rocky the benifit of the doubt and give him a slight nod.

Biggs- How does Rocky deal with a 6'5 opponent, would be a nice curiosity point. I don't think he would have a whole lot more trouble than Tyson getting to him though. I don't see Bigg's causing Rocky as much trouble as some of the others...If he holds on like he did w/ Tyson around rd 8....if he does not find Rocky as intimidating as he found Mike I will go rd 6.

Holmes- Holme's is clearly no longer at his best, but he does have some nice moments against Mike (not that Mike was in jeoprady)...I think Rocky does not come on as strong or as early as tyson and that makes me see a very close fight perhaps even after 6, before Rocky closes the deal in 7 or 8.

Spinks- I don't think Spinks really wanted tyson as much he wanted a pay day (maybe that's we he opted out of unification for Cooney...which also looks to have paid him more)....I am not certain he would be as cautious w/ Rocky??? I think Rocky catches him around rd 5 and ends it.

Bruno- I don't think Bruno would trouble Rocky that much although it would not surprise me if he dropped Rocky in this one early, but wouldn't count on it. I think Rocky wears him down gradually and takes him out around 7 or 8.

Williams- I am not a big fan of the Truth, and think Rocky takes him out between 1-3, rds and would be surprised if lasts longer..

Douglas- This would be around the time Rocky retires, and would be a test of all he could handle, based more upon the Douglas of Tokyo than the Tyson. I think Douglas gave a brilliant performance, but do not believe this was the same Tyson of a year or 2 ago...I think that Tyson closes the deal. Likewise even though I think Douglas will pound Rocky and give him a good fight, I will take Rocky in rd 9.

I don't think Rocky would have much trouble w/ Tillman or Stewart to any major degree.

Ruddock- Hard to gauge this as it would be based upon Rocky's title run and in comparrision would come a year after Rocky vs moore. I will beas it upon that Rocky as it is all I have to go on. I think Rocky takes a solid points win or a late stoppage (not sure if he can count on Richard Steele to give him that stoppage though???)...I don't think Ruddock was as vertile a fighter as he was 2 years ago. I think Ruddock of weaver-Smith gives Rocky a super tough fight....at this stage I favor Rocky, to a higher degree!

I think Rocky could survive this and remain unscathed, and find Tucker, Berbick and Thomas as the stiffest tests.

 

They were both very active: Rocky squeezed 42 fights into his first 5 years, Tyson about 40. However Rocky did slow down once he won the title. Styles play a role but I would say the age factor is the real difference. Tyson turned pro at a much younger age than Rocky.

 

As **** as a prime Larry Holmes was , Marciano lacked the speed to KO the old Larry Holmes .
Douglas , Ruddock , Bruno , Holyfield , maybe even Smith or Tucker if they are in the appropriate mood would have KOd him too. This is a h2h comparison between a small 175 lber and relatively modern HWs , not good for the little midget. Marciano's opposition , as technically good as it was , was not far above him in terms of size . "Jersey Joe" was a good fighter , but not the size of Bruno . Bruno would have been a much harder to find target just because his head was in heights Marciano was unfamiliar with and his punch was in force Marciano was never hit by. We watched what happened to Marciano when he was hit by much lighter punches , down he went , and although he might rise a few times against the fighters I mentioned , he just won't win. Weight classes are for a reason. Marciano's true weight class was never HW.
He was smaller than "Archie Moore" and "Jersey Joe"

 

he would break tucker late, marciano would do pressure always, charles could not beat rocky so tucker would do ****
tokyo who? marciano would **** in the face of buster douglas
spinks would be similar to marciano vs charles, rocky would be the aggressor, marciano by decision or maybe by late ko
rocky would ko ruddock
rocky would beat holmes88 or any version of holmes because styles make fights.
honestly i think that rocky would beat all them , evander and lewis included. rocky was a big boned guy he would increment his weight to 205-210 pounds so he would be very strong and durable

 

Ahhh----I wasn't factoring in a whole career..rather the championship opponents, and years. Rereading the thread, not sure why I had that impression???? Oh well!!!

 

Fantasy. He was an attrition puncher with no footwork and was slow. He would get planted on the end of jabs all night and then start eating overhand rights against anyone rangy with decent movement.

He fought at 185 for a reason and that's because it best suited his attributes. The weight isn't the problem it's his style.

 

The Mongoose, you've put your finger on a very important point in asking how Marciano would do in other times. To what extent do we acount for the influence of WWII on Rocky's development? I normally like to think of fighters in other times as developing in analogy to how they actually developed in their own time. But WWII affects Rocky's development in a way that's unlike how the state of boxing technique, or training, or nutrition, affects boxers. All boxers must deal with the state of their sports technic and conditioning regime, and both the general and athletic nutrition of their times; but not all boxers have to deal with extended military service. (There's also the difference between military service interupting a boxing career, and it's delaying deciding upon such a career. It is true that Marciano did get some exposure to boxing while in the army).

 

well. every opinion about fantasy matchs is fantasy, just opinions but still i think that rocky would beat every rival of tyson, simply marciano had incredible hitting power, he had too much heart for any rival of tyson except holyfield, but marciano had the perfect style to damage evander slowly and break him late. rocky fought at 185-190 pounds because his rivals were not big so he did not need to increase his weight, like you know, rocky was heavier before he started in the boxing, he was not small, he was a big boned guy it is because he was slow at 185, so the speed would not be a factor if he increments his weight

 

He would have beaten all the same people. He might well have come out of the era with a better win loss record on paper.

What would be different is that he would have been far less dominant in many of those wins, and would have looked less impresive doing it.

In a final interesting twist, he would probably have declined much faster than Tyson past a certain point. Despite Tysons lack of focus latterly, his physical atributes were better suited to longevity.

Marciano would have been quick to pick up on it when the jig was up, and likley retires before he starts loosing to second raters.

 

The bloated, knee-brace version?