He could, he would have it keep Marciano honest with his counters. Marciano would have to strictly be on top of him all night and out work him.
No worries pal. I actually think out of all the modern guys, that Byrd is one those where Marciano isn't totally out classed or beaten down by sheer size and weight. I'm not hundred percent sure who wins to be honest, certainly don't think it's one sided on either part.
Byrd in top form certainly has a chance against Marciano or any other great heavyweight that’s passed through the division, but I wouldn’t favor him over Marciano.
Could, but I doubt it. Basically anyone could, the men who failed could. Pretty much everyone has the skill set AND the physical traits like reach and weight to beat Marciano. But have they the heart to go through his attrition? Doubt it.
The fact is Byrd has beaten Vitali he's beaten Tua two guys I very much doubt Marciano would be able to beat. Byrd is also slick skillful Southpaw and Marciano has never come close to meeting someone like Byrd. And whilst Byrd was quite small for the modern era he's still 6'1 210 pounds with a 74 inch reach compared to Marciano with a 5'10 185 pounds with a 67 inch reach. Byrd was also quite durable despite being defensive the punch that Ibeabuchi caught him with would've knocked out 90 percent of Heavyweights and Byrd still got up. Byrd also took a beating for 12 rounds from a huge puncher like Wladimir who was much bigger than him. Byrd would have a great chance of beating Marciano.
I disagree Ibeabuchi was 245 pounds compared to 185 pound Marciano. Byrd was facing an elite Heavyweight who outweighed him by 36 pounds and who hits considerably harder than Marciano I don't think there's any comparison. The punch Ibeabuchi landed would've KO'ed most Heavyweights in history and Byrd still got up. Marciano is not in the same league in regards to power as a 245 pound monster like Ibeabuchi. Byrd was durable and took a beating off a huge puncher like Wladimir for 12 rounds who also hits considerably harder than Marciano and weighed 238 pounds. Over 12 rounds Byrd would have a good chance of outpointing Marciano.
Good points. Byrd's chin and toughness gets overlooked nowadays but he was surprisingly really sturdy when factoring the size disadvantages he had to face. I can see Byrd giving Marciano all kinds of hell similar to that of the Tua fight.
Byrd would win. Proven against elite superheavies, faster hands, better balance and foot speed, underrated toughness. Fought better competition imo. Just would give any fighter under 200lbs hell. Rocky would get pieced up and would not land his big bomb. Byrd ducks under big swinging shots so well. To beat him I feel you need to impose physicality and track him over time and wear him down.
Agreed. Marciano knows how slippery he is so he will aim for his arms, shoulders, anything he can take. All night. He hits extremely hard.