Do you think Rocky Marciano would be successful in today's heavyweight division?

I think he would score his fair share of knockouts based on the conditioning difference- he might not be scoring flash KO's over the big guys when they're fresh, but Marciano was extremely fit in an era where the average heavyweight had to be in better condition. The difference today between him and most heavyweights would be even more profound and a massive advantage, probably the best one Marciano's got. The stamina difference would lead to a number of out of shape heavyweights getting stopped at the later stages of fights, IMO.

Discounting the conditioning factor I don't think his punches would have as devastating an effect on today's heavyweights. The Rock having to punch up would diminish the effects a bit, as well.

 

He would get owned at heavy but would beatdown the light heavys of today

 

yes.

He would lay a beatdown on most heavies. Would probably find a way to get to Wlad as well.

Most of the heavies today are B class lardasses. Marciano would hospital them.

 

Successful yes, would he beat the bro's Klit? Maybe, especially Wlado. He had power and we all know Wlads problem with someone that can find his chin, the question is, being sooooo badly out weighed, and having a massive height and reach disadvantage would he be able to get to them. Waaaay lesser fighters have dropped Wlad for the count so why not the Rock?

 

See new thread titled "The top heavyweights were all cruiserweights".

You should be asking whether today's heavyweights would survive Marciano, not the other way around.

 

Fact is he wouldn't stand a chance against modern Heavies. People need to stop making out that fighters of the past were supermen.

 

Silly.

There's probably 2 or 3 guys in today's HW division that would have a chance (and yes, they are at the very top).

Size means very little, especially with today's HW division. Having 50 pounds of fat does not give you a better chance of beating someone. It just makes you slower and more prone to gas out earlier (which spells trouble against the Rock).

And out of the fitter "bigger" HW's of today, only 2 or 3 would have a chance. And only a chance at that. The others just don't have the skill to compete with ATG HW'S, regardless of size.

 

If size means so little and our current crop of Heavies are so woefull then where are the light heavies and cruisers comming up and cleaning out the division without putting on weight? I mean The Klits and Haye only have a chance at beating Marciano so the current 170 -200 pounders should be able to make light work of the rest of the bums in the division. They must be lining up around the block.

 

Against certain opponents? Absolutely. He would murder anyone in the cruiser div. IMHO.

Probably have a tough time with the Klits.

 

He'd be a cruiser. He was 185 lbs soak and wet. Todays heavies are too big.

 

He was also a soft 185.........i mean if he the same bodyfat as say Haye or Wlad he could well be 175... So maybe he would have fought in the super-middleweights.

 

People seem to miss the point that style and technical ability alos improves over the generations,not just physical abilities.

If you watch a fight from Dempseys era for example,it has all the skill and technique of a modern era toughman contest.

Just like old timey basketball, its not just the fact that the players are bigger and fitter. The skill is MILES superior too. Sports evolve.

Marciano,would be massacred by the top heavyweights today. 5'10 185 pounds vs the Klitschkos? c'mon!

 

Its not even his size, just alot of other things.

He reigned for 3 yrs and fought at the top level for 4 yrs.

When you compare to-

J. Louis fought at the top from 1935 to 1951
L. Lewis from 1993 to 2003
M. Ali from around 1962/63 to 1980
L. Holmes from 1977 to around 1995
Tyson from 86 to 2002
Holyfield from 1985 to 2009

The one reason he was unbeaten is he fought at the top for such a short period of time.

His opponents in title fights were LaStarza, Walcott x 2, Charles x 2, Moore and Cockerill.

Even the variety of fighters he fought were not much....they guy had like 2 good wins Walcott and Charles....and Charles was really a light-heavyweight back in those days....Moore a light-heavyweight. Cockerill is aweful.