I agree with you. It is not interesting and probably not fair to match modern fighters with the fighters of earlier eras. For whatever reason, but I suspect supplements plays a major role, heavyweights have exploded in size in recent decades compared to earlier eras. I think anyone has to pick a 6' 5" 250 lb Lewis over a 185 lb Marciano, but it is about as interesting as matching Sonny Liston with Sugar Ray Robinson.
Lewis wins by tko. I don't see him knocking marciano out clean but gradually wearing him down with with his physical advantages. Rock was too small for lewis and would have to lunge in, leaving him wide open. Marciano would have at least a punchers chance, however. Lewis didn't have the sturdiest chin and he could be ko'd (as he was by haseem rahman) and it's concievable that rock could floor him.
It seems most Lewis backer s ave picked size as reason. We gotta remember that guys like Chris Byrd were only lightheavy, and Gomez is fighting Klitschko at 230, but was best at cruiser. Also matchups where little guys took on big guys have often gone in smaller mans favor. I'm dissapointed lightheavies and cruisers are encouraged or driven to bulk up so much. If Billy Conn had fought Joe Louis at 200 lbs, he would have got ko'd quick, IMO. Bob Stallings beat Ernie Shavers in Shavers prime, and did it by staying in 180's. 179 pound guy who's name I forget broke Sonny Liston's jaw in one fight, winning, and floored him in rematch, losing though in that one. If those fights were today all would be up over 200 lbs, weight lifting, and whatever else.
Walcott wasn't out of it....... Walcott was dropped on his ass by Marciano's sneaky uppercut.... Walcott still had his wit about him, but he took his sweet-ass time getting up to his feet..... The ref's count also seemed kinda' quick, too....... Had I'd been there ringside in '53, I'd have been pissed at that stoppage..... "Louis-B. Baer 2" "Marciano-Walcott 2" "Ali-Liston 2" "Holmes-M. Frazier" "Tyson-Spinks" "Tyson-C. Williams" "Bowe-Dokes" "Bowe-Ferguson" "Tyson-McNeely" "Tyson-Seldon" "Holy-Tyson 2" NOTE: All these fights were either for the title or high-profiled in the press..... PLUS! These are the type of Heavyweight fights that either hurt boxing or cause a severe black eye for the sport / business....... MR.BILL
I do have a version of the film with a stop watch in Marciano Walcott II, it was about the right time.
And, to me, the ref should've allowed Walcott a chance to get a grip on things..... Walcott was on his feet at the count of 10, but not fully erect.... Walcott blew the count by a **** hair..... Myself, I'd have wiped off his gloves and motioned for the two (Marciano & Walcott) to continue..... Granted, I think Joe Walcott was more interested in checking his bank account more so then carrying on with Marciano in 1953.... Peace.... MR.BILL
A slickster can get away with a disadavantage in size, but for someone like Marciano, who always came forward, it's hard to see that this disadvantage isn't going to be crucial against a guy like Lewis.