Peak Louis vs Peak Marciano.

Don't think it would have made any difference to his standing really. No one counts his late losses against him.

But it would be a nicer way to go out, that's for sure.

 

Hmmmm!

Thanks, McVey. That is a relevant circumstance.

 

All the people that dropped Louis and someone Rocky doesn't have a chance? Odd. Especially considering Rocky had a style that Joe admits would give him fits. ****, Joe even admitted after the Rocky fight he wouldn't have had a chance even in his prime (though that was probably largely him just being a nice guy, but he said it anyways). Point is, to suggest Rocky doesn't have a chance is simply ludicrous. Joe is his prime was dropped by lesser fighters than Rocky, it wasn't exactly like he was hard to time or find.

 

Louis, after Godoy II, would have had the number of any version of Rocky. Not an easy fight, and Joe would definitely need Blackburn's guidance and preparation for this one, but Godoy II showed he could slowly give ground while tearing apart a low target with accurate punching. It was not the Bomber's preference to be crowded and give ground like that, but for Godoy II he was effective at it.

Marciano would need the same hook he actually did surprise Louis with in decking Joe the first time, the same hook he desensitized Matthews with.

People often forget that when they did square off, Louis not only was essentially a one armed fighter, but Rocky emerged as a two fisted banger for that showdown.

Best for best means each man at his peak of evolution, with Marciano having mastered the hook (which clearly wasn't there yet with Layne), and Joe having mastered Godoy.

Nobody put Louis down and out with a single shot. Rocky might have his moments, but accumulation is the difference here, and the resulting facial damage. If Marciano gets wounded the way he was in Charles II, he will not be able to save himself with an urgent attack to save the fight.

 

Rocky's great trainer, Charlie Goldman was asked how a fight between a prime Marciano and a prime Louis would have gone....Goldman said it would have been a shorter fight than the one in October 1951...the reporter asked why...Goldman said:"Because you don't come AT Rocky Marciano!"

 

Louis certainly can win and he should be the slight betting favorite, but to think Rocky doesn't have a chance or all the KO'd inside 3 is simply ridiculous

 

I see it the same way :good

 

Ko'd within three is silly,as is saying Rocky has no chance, but stopped he would be imo, in the mid to late rounds tko .

 

I don't see Rocky beating a prime Louis. Giving him a tough fight? Yes but not beating him. It took Rocky 8 rounds to finally put a 37 yr old Louis out for good and that version of Louis was basically a 1 armed fighter. Imagine Rocky facing the Louis that fought Baer. Joe was a coiled spring with 2 fast powerful hands. He would make Marciano pay for every wild miss he would throw. I think Rocky would have some early success as his awkwardness may give Joe some trouble and I even see Rocky dropping him with a quick overhand right or left hook, but I don't see him keeping Joe down. Once Joe gets warmed to the task and establishes the jab and following combos it's curtains for Rocky. I'll say Joe by KO or TKO around the 10th after some rough early going. Prime Louis was the complete package.

 

..a tough, rugged fight for a while, but joe louis was one of the greatest finishers ever and he'd win it, probably by cutting marciano's face to pieces and scoring knockdowns.

 

True. Too true...

 

apart from the Agramante fight film.

Louis beats Marciano though, Joe will win. but there is an awful lot of scope and evidence to suggest Marciano could be the hardest type of opponent for Louis. But that would only be first time around because Louis worked everyone out, he was a machine.

 

I loved both fighters so i hold no favouritism either way. When they fought Marciano was at the peak of his powers whereas Louis was pretty shot, his reflexes were gone as was his stamina, he was a very old 37.
It could go either way but i feel Louis at his best knew enough to out box Marciano and win a unanimous decision over 15 rounds.

 

Joe,s hand speed wins it for me, hitting and hurting/cutting the Rock as the rounds go by, for sure Marciano would be in the fight as long as he is standing, but sadly his super human strength and conditioning, I believe on this occasion wouldn't pull him through, for what its worth, can,t see Rocky on the floor taking the ten count, his heart wouldn't allow that, so Louis batters him, cuts him, and the ref humanely steps in, then Rocky trys to push him out of the way, and get back to the fight ala Basilio/Fullmer 2.