so you equate Marciano with Joe Hipp now? you never really watch the Rock but still you feel qualified enough to say “I don’t think Marciano is the house wrecker he is made out to be”? I see this a lot with Marciano detractors...
I think the most important word of my post would be ------ not a lot .. actually the word was a ton….. I have seen enough to form my opinion of which I stated...
It’s been rightfully pointed out in this thread that Tony Tucker’s controversial decision gift over Orlin Norris was far better than Marciano’s wins over Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles or Archie Moore... while Norris’ critics point out that he was a 5’9” small heavy with no power better suited at crusierweight and lost to Bert cooper, Olian Alexander and a fat aged Tony Tubbs, The thing of real importance was that he was born in the 1960s as opposed to Rocky’s opponents who were born in the 1910’s and 1920’s.. with the hippy and equal rights movements of the 60s, better babies were made and it made for a magical decade of the 1980s - the decade of home answering machines, Video cassette recorders, Atari game system and of course the almighty Tony Tucker...
George, I'm sure you already know this, but Tyson fought in the D'Amato "style", one of the basics of the "style" was the fighter was supposed to fight "square." Tyson didn't cross his feet though and he had good balance. Tyson was well schooled in the style he was taught. jont, I don't watch much of RM either, why watch something that is not impressive or interesting? The first time I watched a complete fight of Marciano's was the first Walcott fight for one of the "Fights of the Week" on this board. I was surprised that two fighters I had heard so much about looked so "unimpressive." I am using "unimpressive" to be tactful. I've watched a few more RM fights since seeing the Walcott fight and it doesn't get better. "Unimpressive" should be taken as a compliment.
Ruiz's fast hands, good balance, and fluid combos have a helluva lot more in common with Tyson than Marciano. And I think he would KO Marciano, too, for stylistic reasons I have already outlined.
Norris was 213lbs, typically 28lbs heavier than Marciano. Marciano has two very controversial wins of his own.The first Lowry fight and the first Lastarza one.
Tyson absorbed the punches of Ruddock,Bruno,Smith [last round] without going down ,all of them imo hit harder than anyone Marciano faced.Tysona lso took shots from Ribalta,Thomas, and Stewart three good bangers Tyson would not be floored by Walcott or Moore imo. Marciano was safely retired early tucking into pasta. He did not have the obstacle of being incarcerated in his prime for 4 years ,he never fought the likes of Lewis and Holyfield both of whom would have beaten him imo. Marciano was never stopped and he never faced a modern sized prime heavyweight who would could hit like the three I mentioned therefore his chin is unproven in that respect. I actually don't think Marciano faced many top drawer punchers at all. I believe the Buster Douglas who beat Tyson would jab Marciano's face into mush before finishing him off with a right hand. Tyson was not a perfect fighter, that man has not been born but he had all the gifts I mentioned and that is very rare in a fighter,certainly Marciano lacked some of them. eg good defence,handspeed,footspeed,blistering combinations good balance ,accuracy are six he did not possess. Mentioning this is not absurd it is objective fact.The absurdity is in denying it.
Charlie Goldman said he wanted Marciano either in the gym or fighting because , if he had an extended break he forgot what he had taught him.
Marciano did face modern sized HWs they weren’t the best and he destroyed them. Douglas stands zero chance against Marciano...zero. Holyfield doesn’t stand much of a chance either. Lewis would do a fine job and dance around him for a decision. The fighters of the 80s were worse then the 50s imo or they were really close in comparison. Tyson and Marciano had different skill sets. Not many fighters looked more aesthetically pleasing then Tyson. He was a smooth operator but he had a lot of holes as well. Obviously his balance was better (when thinking of HW champion skills I don’t think balance has ever come to mind maybe the least important attribute), hand speed was great maybe top three, and combinations and punching from different angles also superb. But he threw a lot less punches. His stamina was ****, And mentally couldn’t handle adversity. Those are some glaring holes that aren’t up for debate.
