Why was the 1st Godoy fight a fluke? It went a full 15 rounds. The Marciano wasn't a fluke either and any way you slice it Louis was embarrassed by Galento. The best three " Swarmers " Louis faced. That how they went down. You can make up you own mind, but do watch Louis vs Godoy 1. There were other swarmers of the times for Louis to fight . Turkey Thompson for sure. Louis didn't like to be crowded. He even said so. Transcribed Joe Louis's comments on Marciano from the audio-extra's on the Ali-Marciano Superfight disk. Murray Warner Computer Tournament "Louis-Fitzsimmons post fight interviews" (plugging the Marciano-Baer contest) Comments begin at 1:03:15 (as found on the Ali-Marciano Superfight dvd extras: Audio Fights -- Marciano/Baer) Interviewer: Joe, what about a fight between Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano? Joe Louis: Well, I could say that very easily. Marciano beat me . . . beat me tough.... Interviewer (interupts): Oh, yeah, now that wasn't when you were at your best. I'm talking about when you were at your best, twenty-eight years old. Joe Louis: Oh, I don't know. Well he still --- Marciano's the type of fighter I think is good enough and strong enough and takes a good enough punch to fight anybody, anytime. I don't think that no one, no time before, I mean either Dempsey or me, could say "I could beat Marciano". I think the fight could be . . . It's close, it'd have to be a close fight even if he don't get a knockout, because he's too strong, thing was he don't never get tired, and he could take a good punch, and he just . . . you just can't say that I could beat him. I'd like to say that I'd fight him, alright, but who would win, I wouldn't know; but I'd like the pay for the fight -- i think it would draw money, though. Yeah I would like the pay! (laughs) (inaudible) too strong no matter the age (inaudible)." Interviewer: "Oh yeah, he's strong though. But just how ---- " Louis: This content is protected Interview: "Do you -- " Louis: "He crowded me good."
Because of what he did to him in rematch. No, it wasn't. It was an old, washed up fighter without reflex and right hand getting a beating from one of the best pressure fighters ever. It's not a fluke and it has nothing to do with prime Louis. He felt embarrased by this lucky KD and destroyed Galento within a few minutes. Galento took the biggest beating of his life and was dominated in every second of this fight except that one lucky punch. This fight proves nothing, other than anyone who can hit hard can land on anybody. Maurelio went at past prime Louis and got destroyed. Shot Louis dominated Valentino, another pressure fighter. Another example? Al Ettore, he had more success than the rest because at least he lasted to 5th round. Another one - Jack Roper. Other than Marciano, your examples also got destroyed. I did.
After their fight in October 1951,Marciano's great trainer Charlie Goldman was asked how a prime Rocky would have done against a prime Louis? Goldman told the writer that the fight would have ended sooner. The writer asked why. Goldman said:"Because you don't come "at" Rocky Marciano!!!"
Louis was clearly greater than Marciano overall. Head to head against all comers or in accomplishments. Rocky would be too small to be competitive against some bigger HWs that Louis could take or might be able to-he did well with size, & swarmers struggle more with sluggers, & Rocky never fought a near great one. And Louis by the age of Rocky at retirement & after more fights than Rocky had only one loss. While Rocky should have lost the first fight with Ted Lowry. And counting boxing exhibitions-so many-in World War 2-& that nobody was a realistic challenger to him for those years-& comparing their competition, you have to favor Louis. But against each other, I still pick Rocky. Why? As pointed out here Louis did not like, & had some difficulty with, swarmers. Like Ali-though so different in temperement-he would make no prediction of victory against Marciano. And given the difference in speed, I think Ali, not Louis, would beat Rocky. Also nobody mentioned that pre-title Marciano was *not* peak Rocky. Like almost everyone before they win the championsship. He had not yet perfected his crouching & moving attack.
I've always thought a young Brown Bomber would have been able to find Marciano whenever he wanted, I actually think he'd have stopped Rocky around the fourth round with blistering combo's.
