If Ray Mercer Had Being An Opponent For Marciano?

I actually break fights down I don’t just stare at the male physique. I would wait for some technical analysis how a man who’s best win is Tommy Morrison (who was absolutely kicking his ass the first three rounds), tires easily, stands right in front of you, doesn’t have anything but an ok jab is gonna beat a punching machine, power in both hands, better defense, better stamina, and better style for the fight. I won’t hold my breath but I’m expecting it will be something along the lines of but ummm he’s big.

 

Frazier was faster, considerably bigger, with a better defence.

Toney was a very skillful defensive fighter with a shoulder roll type defence.

Marciano was getting dropped by Light Heavyweights he's 5'10 with the shortest reach of any Heavyweight champion in history and he fights in an overly aggressive manner.

Again as I stated you're talking about Marciano coming forward swarming a fighter who has a 40-50 pound weight advantage and a 11 inch reach advantage.

Mercer is built like a brickwall and he's considered to be one of the sturdiest Heavyweights in history in regards to his chin.

No Heavyweight in the last 50 years has overcome those attributes and I don't think Marciano would suddenly change that trend.

I think people get too hung up on reputation of fighters no one is saying Marciano isn't greater than Mercer. But he'd be competing as a Light Heavyweight or a Cruiserweight not as a Heavyweight and that's the point.

Marciano hasn't got the dimensions, size, or the right type of style to compete against much bigger modern Heavyweights.

 

Wow getting his ass kicked and came back to score one of the most brutal KOs. That good right? Like when Rocky was getting his ass kicked by Walcott and finally caught him right?

 

Walcott > Morrison by a mile

 

Do people not understand why there are different weight classifications? Weight is not the only factor in determining who wins but it’s the single most important along with skill.
If there were no weight divisions only heavyweights would be champions.

 

Funny how Marciano was always listed as 5"11 and he was measured by ring magazine - Sonny Liston was considered a very big guy for the time and Sonny was slightly taller than 6" he's listed at 6 1/2 inch. Ali said himself he was 6"2 but he's been listed as 6'3 forever. Tyson Fury has been listed at 6"9, even though when he stands next to someone 6"6 they look even in size. James Toney was listed as 5"9 and he wasn't a tall middleweight, but he moved up in less than a spartan manner = fat

There are picture of Marciano and Liston together and Marciano Patterson and while Marciano was retired, he sure didn't look diminutive.
Revision will continue to serve a purpose and someday Marciano will be 5"2 and Tyson Fury will be 6"10 depending on who's telling the story.

Ali who is considered the GOAT had trouble with Doug Jones close decision (who weighed 188 and listed as 6") Ali got dropped hard by 185lb Henry Cooper, Ali got caught and cut by 180lb Bob Foster, got dropped by 190lb Sonny Banks and we know Ali had his hands full with 204lb 5"10 Oscar Bonavena and Joe Frazier who was about 5"10 and 205

Ali weighed 206 when he ko'd Sonny Liston in 1 rd.

I met Frazier and I was in the gym many times with Oscar Bonavena and I met Ali. I was at a party with Holmes and Frazier in AC and there were many heavyweights there- Frazier was the scariest of them all - think neck - solid and serious - Jersey Joe Walcott also scary in person - thick and solid and just a hair over 6"

who were the most successful giant heavyweights in the last 100 years. I think more importantly especially when fights were 15 rounds - Willard- Carnera- Abe Simon, Buddy Baer- Ernie Terrell - and now let's look at Fury- Joshua- Lewis -Wlad K who were all good fighters and specimens but beaten by smaller men.

 

Don’t know what pictures you’re looking at there are many where Marciano looks downright short. 5 11 should not be short. Burt Reynolds you can find videos talks about how he knew Rocky and he was surprised at how short he was. I’ve watched every one of Rocky’s TV episodes that have video out on the internet. It’s a great little looks back if you ve never seen them you should if you like Rocky. He had many of the stars of the day on but he looked average height. If you told me he was 5 9 1/2 wouldn’t surprise me.
From playing basketball I can tell you what is done and probably other sports similar. They measure themselves with sneakers and socks on then round up. So 6 4 1/2 becomes 6 6 etc. Sometimes you ll get an honest height. I think Listons probably was at 6 1/2 but he seemed bigger. If you view the instructions at start of the Ali fights you can seen Ali was clearly taller.

 

Look I know there are positives that come with more size but not an emphasis on it.

Jarell Miller fought the other night, and he weighed in at 300lbs and he lost 50lbs. His leaning on an opponent definitely wears you down. His opponent Lenier Pero fought the wrong fight, but Jarrel was fit because he kept punching for 12 rounds, in the meantime he can't crack an egg for a guy the weighs 300-350 The same with Nikolai Valuev who was 7" and 300lbs - size did not help him with power. In fact most people feel Valuev lost to Holyfield who was stopped by 5"9 James Toney 5 years earlier in James's 1st heavyweight fight.

Could Joe Louis or Jack Demsey or Marciano beef up with Modern techniques and muscle gain = YES - Could they adjust to gearing up for 12 rounds instead of 15 =YES
Could these Heavyweight today gear up for 15 round fights or maintain the size without modern methods =?

Liston was a bit taller than 6 feet and that was good size then. Liston is also listed as having anywhere from an 80–86-inch reach - we know that not accurate but revision - why because that would mean Sonny who was 6 1/2 inches tall had a 7ft 2-inch reach.

 

Rocky cites himself at 5”10 and a half often

 

No one is saying smaller Heavyweights couldn't have success but it also depends on the style aswell.

Marciano is a swarmer who relies on breaking down his opponents.

That style with Marciano's attribute and size isn't going to be as successful against much bigger Heavyweights.

Because Marciano is going to be fighting against much bigger/stronger Heavyweights in which he can't impose his style on.

Even if you want conjure up a fantasy that Marciano weighs more in the modern era he's still at a huge disadvantage with his T-Rex arms with only a 67 inch reach.

Marciano would be a Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight in the modern era not competing in a modern Heavyweight division which has elite Super Heavyweights which didn't exist in Marciano's era.

 

Tyson is probably about same height 4 inches more on reach but he out weighs Rocky 30 pounds take a look at them most of that weight is solid upper body muscle. When a guy has that kind of weight pull of muscle they aren’t the same size just cause they’re the same height.

 

How much does Rocky weigh with weight lifting and PEDs? He would have the same access to things Tyson and Tua did, if you think Tyson or Tua come in weighing 220 in 1950 you’d be wrong.

 

OK and we ll train Tyson with the latest stuff also. Then he ll have another 15 20 pounds of muscle. Remember he trained under Cus a guy from the 50s.
This stuff with saying I’m going to transform the guy into a much better fighter where you can make him into whatever you want. It’s enough to analyze P vs P and say who wins without saying oh we can take all the new training and make him X amount better. No way to tell how someone holds up or develops with different training.

 

Mercer would definitely give Marciano a much tougher night than most of his actual opponents. He had a great chin, good fundamentals, and wasn’t easy to bully or wear down quickly.
That said, Marciano’s style is a nightmare over 15 rounds. Constant pressure, crazy stamina, and he just keeps coming. Mercer could hold his own early and land some solid shots, but over time Marciano probably breaks him down.
I don’t see Mercer getting stopped early, but late rounds Marciano’s pace might be too much.

 

One only needs to watch Holyfield v Mercer to see how this goes. Except Marciano would finish him in the 8th instead of a knock down.