I love Marciano but I think we’re looking more at a stoppage win for Bowe. In addition to having a considerable size advantage, Riddick also had plenty of power, durability, stamina and great inside fighting game. This match would be fought on the inside and in this case Rocky would have too much going against him
This. Marciano was a smarter fighter than Holyfield and wouldn’t stand directly in front of Bowe and would be coming under most of Bowe’s shots. Bowe would be better off trying to wrestle Marciano and wear him down with his size, since Marciano isn’t as easy to land clean on in comparison to Holyfield. Rocky stayed in the shoulder more and he’d be attacking Bowe’s body and connecting on the solarplexus like there was no tomorrow, since Bowe was a big target and easy to land on. Also, Holyfield fought an incredibly stupid fight against Bowe and let his ego get the best of him to the point that Benton was disgusted and ended his relationship with Holyfield. I remember seeing the first Bowe-Holyfield fight live and Holyfield absorbing brutal body shot after body shot simply because he tried to stand toe to toe with Bowe and it didn’t work. Holyfield fought smarter in the rematch and didn’t stand in front of Bowe as much, took a lot less abuse and won, but in the 3rd fight Holyfield went back to trying to fight Bowe head on and got crushed.
Yeah Bowe was open but as others said he could also fight inside. Marciano would give a good account of himself but i think it's too much force and size from the other side.
You mean a fight between one of the great warriors in Heavyweight history...against the guy who threw the belt into the trash so he wouldn't have to fight the #1 contender?.....too funny!!!
I've thought about this some more. Rock had big problems with old man Louis' jab. As great as Joe polished it up for that fight....I'm not sure even Joe's best jab was as good as 1992 Bowe (though of course Joe was overall the better fighter than either imo). If Rocky struggled with his, Bowe's would give him fits. And I can mentally see that RB uppercut rearranging heads. Bowe frustrates the hell out of Rock over the course of the early part of the fight, and knocks him down 3 times in the 7th (with RM getting up each time and ready to fight). Rocky makes it to the end of the round, but gets knocked down right away again and the ref stops it in 8, with hearty Marciano protestations.
Bowe had the absolute perfect skillset to beat smaller fighters. Off the top of my head I can't think of anyone sub 6'2 that beats him.
