Rocky Marciano vs Joe Frazier

It always amazes when people say diminish Frazier's right hand in H2H matchups.

Not really disagreeing with you McVey because in reality nobody's beaten Marciano. You have to give him that advantage respectfully, based on his career and his accomplishments.

George Chuvalo once told me that Frazier's right hand although not as deadly as his left hook, was a pretty hard shot when he used it. An underappreciated right hook and straight right. Remember, when a fighter finishes his punches, the power is generated from the legs and transferred from the other side. Frazier had strong legs and generated very good power in his punches. Let's not get into a debate about who's got the stronger legs, but I think too much is taken away from Frazier's power base because of his reputation with the left hook.

Frazier on points or late stoppage, round 13-15.

 

Good post Pete, but Frazier wasn't that seasoned a fighter in the first Bonavena fight and did a whole lot better the second time out.

 

Frazier's right uppercut was more of a stand-out than his straight right. He did have a good right to the body though.

Marciano had a decent left hook but he would be well-advised not to trade left hooks with Joe Frazier.

 

Bonavena also fought as a counter-puncher looking to time Frazier off the ropes.

 

Yep.

 

They both had excellent stamina. Frazier's only weakness would have been in his left eye where he was poked in training during sparring in 1964. Otherwise, Frazier would have won this fight very easily. Marciano fought during a time where there were a lot of undersized heavyweights. Rocky also fought guys that were past their prime. Outside of older guys he fought a lot of tomato cans. While Rocky fought in a good crouching style, Frazier would have worn down the body and taken him out in the late rounds very easily.

 

Doubtful. Marciano fought men who were of comparable size to Frazier and came out on top. They may have not been as skilled as Frazier, but I don't really see his size as being a major factor in this fight due to Marciano being used to having a weight handicap.

But he rarely was hit cleanly. About the most universal comment I've read from his opponents is that he was almost impossible to hit cleanly because he used a very subtle defense. I'll look around for the actual quotes, but I think even the likes of Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles said this.

 

I know people keep bringing up Moore vs Frazier's power, but they forget that Moore caught Rocky when he was standing on one foot.

 

It was difficult to catch him flush but he was hit a fair amount nonetheless. Anybody with his style would be and there's a reason why his ability to take a punch gets rated highly.

Rocky did not face too many able opponents who were over the 200 pound mark so I would not discount it as a factor.

 

Therefore, should that be considered half-a-knockdown ?.

 

Not being able to hit him flush would make it insanely hard to knock him out. I'm not saying he didn't get hit. I'm saying he avoided damage.

Point taken, but still don't think its a huge factor, just a small one.

 

Marciano would've stopped him late IMO

 

Frazier, no question.

 

I like Joe Frazier's handspeed, upper body work rate, left hook and additional size to prevail over Marciano.. There is no question that the rock would be a dangerous proposition for Joe, and could very well have beaten him. But Frazier in my opinion had the right set of tools to give Marciano all he could handle, and if Walcott's left hook could drop him, then I have no doubt Joe's could do that and then some..

 

I like Marciano. Better two fisted power and stronger which I think are key attribute when two swarmers clash head to head. I think Marciano wears down frazier late after both take hellacious punishment the first 12 rounds. A couple huge Marciano right hands stops frazier in his tracks and the referee stops the fight to save Joe.

Rocky TKO 14 Frazier