Who is the truly stronger, more devastating puncher here ? And who's relentless, exhausting style would break the other? 15 rounds
There is no pre 30s fighters that fair well against post ww2 fighters. Different sport by the mid 30s. He had a ton of natural talent to hang but the styles were not fleshed out yet and primitive. Dempsey Langford Jeffries even Tunney look primitive on film. Marciano by KO
Well let's give Langford time in the 1950s ,to climatize so to speak. One thing I've read about Langford,an extremely intelligent guy. A master of feints, of defence and timing. I actually think his plan would be to punish every single mistake in Marciano's reckless advance. We have to remember to,we can't exactly call Marciano a defensive wizard either. Whilst I agree some fantasy fights are too mismatched, with too much time between the fighters, I don't believe this is one of them. A pretty even fight possibly even.
Can't see Sam in this one. I've always had trouble considering him to be an all-time great heavyweight because of his lack of size. Much of the weight he added was at the expense of conditioning. He just wouldn't have the strength or stamina to stand up to Rocky's pressure for 15 rounds. Marciano was always in condition. Sam wasn't. And the combination of Rocky's good chin and ability to avoid getting hit solidly or with combinations would allow him to survive any early-round difficulties. With Rocky gradually ramping up the pressure and tightening the vice as the fight wore on, I think he'd stop Sam in the later rounds as he did LaStarza and Jersey Joe in their first fight.
Marciano was excellent defensively. He was inaccurate but he sure wasn’t reckless. There is nobody who becomes hw champ who was reckless. Langford like Dempsey or Johnson had enough natural talent to be trained in any era.
He could definitely be wild and careless at times. He made up for it with his power and non stop aggressive punching.
Marciano too strong - Marciano by KO in fact Charles and Walcott and Archie Moore would beat Sam Langford.
Marciano batters him. It would be like the Moore fight but without Moore's workrate. Controversial opinion but I don't find Langford that stylistically impressive on film. He relied on rear hand parries, infighting and kept his left low alongside a measured workrate. Sounds like a recipe for disaster against the Rock imo.