Larry Holmes Circa 2002 Versus Rocky Marciano Circa 1951

I rank Rocky No. 5 all time among heavyweights based on his accomplishments against the people who were on the other side of the ring from him. He beat them all. But my ATG ratings are not based on who would win head to head and I think Rocky would be KTFO against anyone else in my top 10, although he would literally die trying.

He represents IMO a kind of “Everyman” deal to his acolytes, and a time and a place and era that was seen as special.

 

You put it better than I could. Not sure of his ranking but we’ll all disagree on that one. He has his place. No one can take that away from him.

 

That's a 52 year old man

 

Yes…he could. Watch Shavers fight w Holmes. Earnie had no tricks, no stamina, poor defense, etc. he was still able to wear down Larry who looked exhausted. Although Marciano didn’t fight a ton of men over 200 (11 w 11KOs) he handled the ones he did rather easily. The men he fought and beat were better than those 210 plus men of the time (notably Baker and Nino). Larry wasn’t overtly large even for Rocky’s time. I don’t think he could compete today without the assistance of steroids and PEDs but in the 70s he could compete w anyone. After steroids who knows.

 

Wasn't 2002 the year where Holmes got dropped by Butterbean lol

 

Rock takes on ALL challengers, like it or not. Another amazing scalp for the GREATEST!!!

 

And what is the problem with that?

My man, Butterbean, always packed a serious punch.

 

What tricks did Rocky have. Earnie was a lot bigger than Rocky. That’s not the point. Rocky is too small. And for all the knockdowns Larry suffered he got up except for one. And that took Tyson 3 knockdowns. I know that was a 38 year old Larry. But it was also a 21 years old Tyson.

 

It was the year he slipped against Butterbean and it was counted as a knockdown.

 

Pick em.

 

Rocky was skilled at cutting off the ring, countering the jab, crowding, inside fighting, had a better arsenal of punches, had feints better stamina by a mile and better defense this one small vid gives a good example about why he was such a pain to fight it wasn’t just the amount of punches he threw he just didn’t stop moving In the clinches and pushing his opponents back on their back foot , head control, used angles. He was a master inside fighter,

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He did have a knack for taking a beating from old men before nipping the fight when their wheels fall off.

But are you seriously contending that Marciano had a better arsenal of punches than Holmes? Better feints? Better defense?

Man, I want some of what you're smoking!

 

I love Holmes, but let's not exaggerate. Rocco is much better than Butterbean.