If Rocky Marciano had hung around too long ...

Liston would not have made it to the title until 1961, that’s too far off into the future for rocky, he would not have made it that long. 9 years as champ?

There were no big fights out there and the viable options were possibly baker, Jackson and pastrano. Hardly world beaters.

Nobody established themselves as "the" outstanding contender until ingo beat machen in one round in 1959. folley was unable to entirely establish himself beter than machen so I dont think there would be excesive clamour for folley v marcinao.

Perhaps if marciano was declining and poor in a baker/ jackson/pastrano fights maybe cus would have launched Floyd as a heavyweight in the 1958-59 season but he'd beter not be matched with ingo before fighting marciano!

A fading marciano would struggle against machen or folley but older champions become more selective. maybe he takes radmacher and brian London waiting for either to establish themselves then retires in 1958 when the two drew in an eliminator?

 

Marciano was losing his speed, losing his stamina, he probably would have become easier to hit flush, he would have been easier to outbox, easier to hurt and against Moore and Cockell he seemed to not be quite the same powerpuncher either for whatever reason. Who knows though maybe he could have adapted or turned the clock back. But if he continued to deteriated he would suddenly look old over night against prime versions of Patterson or Williams or maybe even stooping to losing men way below himself like Machen and Folley as he ages not to mention Liston. Ofcourse in 1956 De Amato wasn't going to throw Patterson in the lions den with Rocky at the age of 21, he's waiting until 57/58 so Patterson is coming into his pomp, Williams/Liston wouldn't get the meaningful fights to propel them to no1 contender status, so those aren't happening. So because Rocky wouldn't have a meaningful challenge until 57/58 he's hanging onto the championship until then, gradually ageing, he may rematch Moore (would there be a demand?) or beat up Valdez/Baker giving him a big man on his resume, Tommy Jackson probably gets a shot at the title as Patterson wouldn't be rushed to fight to him.

So he probably doesn't have a real challenge until 57/58 when Patterson, Liston, Williams, Machen, Folley, Ingo have earnt their stripes. This is possibly part of the reason he retired, he was past his best, his manager was robbing him but there wasn't any imidiate challenges, no fights to wet his appetite

Anyway the spoken answer to this thread is said perfectly below (ENJOY):

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DicYF4RQBnU[/ame]

 

It wasn't Marciano's style to give a pro-debuter a shot at the title; all of his defenses were against legitimate high-ranking contenders.

 

This is a pretty good assessment, though I think you overrate Cleveland Williams when you seem to place him a tier above the likes of Machen and Folley, who were, in truth, more accomplished fighters than Williams. Regarding a Marciano-Moore rematch, this was the fight which many journalists thought was in the cards before Marciano announced his retirement, though they were generally not wildly enthusiastic about it, since the first fight had seemed decisive enough.

 

Liston would have crushed Patterson and Ingo on the same night in 58, 59, 60 or 61 ... no contest.

 

I think Marciano looked terrific against Moore and did not appear to have lost a step. That being said, Moore simply could not keep up the pace he set after the first three or four rounds ... it's one thing to go up against B fighters ... against an A level like Rocky he was forced to fight at a pace he could no longer maintain ...

 

If the money was right and he already wanted to give up his gloves Marciano would take that fight.

 

Charlie Goldman called the Moore fight Marciano's "Finest performance" despite being dropped by the Old Mongoose. I don't quite grasp PP's mention of Marciano's stamina. It was probably the only thing intact; quite possibly it was when Rocco felt the best fitness wise. Rocky realized not to burn himself by training for so long like he had against Charles. Thus, he felt much fresher for Moore. It's a legendary fight display of Marciano's stamina. I do think physically, he was a tad slower, though. The combinations and quickness weren't quite at the level they were against Louis and Walcott. However, technical, he was quite nearly a finished product. Thus Goldman's praise.

 

His back was going south and he was getting really bad headaches. There is a chance any top-10 type might take him. He was not the same fighter versus Cockell and Moore that he was versus Layne or Walcott. I think people are assuming a perfectly stable trajectory. The reality is he was on the decline.

 

Denial is not a river in Egypt.

 

Eventually would have lost.

Probably he would have defeated a green Patterson.

Probably he would have ducked Liston.

But Williams, Machen or Folley would have beat him in 1956-1958.

 

He would have probably made it to Bowe.

 

Reading is also not a requirement in Egypt.

 

Yes, he was invincible, created unlike any midget who ever lived. He would still be champion today at 88.

There, the deluded masses should be pleased.

 

Do you hate having to live with yourself?