Maybe Johansson has a slight chance against the worn-out 1955 version of Marciano.... But, I doubt it.
Ingo drops Rocky in the first round, has him shaken up badly. But despite his best efforts he's unable to put him down again. Marciano keeps bullying away and hitting the Swede with A bomb s. In round 8,Marciano bull rushes Ingo trapped against the rope s and smashes him with the suzie Q. Ingo goes down like a ton of brick s. Somehow making it before 9,Johansson trys to throw a counter shot but is beaten to the punch.! Ingo is down again but this time no hope of getting up.
IMHO: I could see Johansson stunnng Marciano with the right hand early, possibly even getting a knockdown (as Fergy said), but I also see even a past it Marciano finding that dimple by the middle rounds. I'll go with Marciano by KO 9 after surviving an early scare.
I think that by 1955, Rocky Marciano is nearing the end of his career, he somewhat struggled against Don C, and against Archie Moore. In 1959 Ingemar Johansson was at his peak, the year before, he knocked out the no. 1 contender Eddie Machen in round 1. Then in June 1959 he bounced champion Floyd Patterson up and down to win the title with his famed Bingo. Rocky was already well spent by 1955, after recent wars in the ring, he was even balding, and had suffered problems with his back. Given his back issues, in a match with Ingo, he walks into a right hand thrown by Johansson, spilling Rocky, as Walcott and Moore did before. Ingo knowing the start of stamina and back issues, begins to box Marciano moving and flicking out his left jab, catching Rocky coming in, causing him to stagger.by round 7, the referee is thinking of halting matters in favor of Ingo. Al Weill explains to the referee that Marciano needs one more round, and is undefeated. The referee allows Marciano to resume the next round. Rocky in one last gasp nails Johansson with Suzi-Q, Ingo goes down, unable to hear the referees 10 count, Rocky wins by KO 8, both of Marciano's eyebrows are severely leaking a flow of blood. A fighter by the name of Sonny Liston climbs up on the ring apron, he is waring a sharp suit, his huge 14 inch fists make Marciano's look like mitts with Vienna sausages. Sonny tells Rocky You Are Next, 1959 Is A Very Good Year, I Just Knocked Out Cleveland Big Cat Williams, I Want To Fight You. Weill hearing this says to Sonny, We Will Think About It.
Rocky loses. How not sure. He was already struggling to train to peak. He himself said so. So he’d struggle to get back into peak condition.
