1997 Roy Jones easily beats any version of Rocky the BUM Marciano

Marciano's best opponents - once great but at the time - old geezers past their prime, natural light heavyweights, counterpunchers - all of them gave the BUM massive problems. Rocky the BUM Marciano never beat ONE legit opponent in his prime

Roy Jones - faster than every single one of them, much more elusive, just as good a counterpuncher, and 1997 version of him was not washed up and past his prime like the BUM Marciano's best opponents


In detail

1) Jersey Joe Walcott - natural light heavy, had 15+ losses over the course of 23 years by the time he got to Marciano, 38 years old, and 2-2 in his last 4 fights prior to Rocky the BUM Marciano. Also won a questionable decision against Ezzard in one of those 2 wins. In spite of all those disadvantages, he gave a boxing clinic to Marciano for 12 rounds, but then the blind squirrel Marciano found an acorn and KOd Walcott.

a smaller, washed up, old geezer losing 2-3 of his last 4, and in the last 2 fights of his career easily outboxed the BUM Marciano for 12 rounds.

2) Ezzard Charles - over 90 fights with 10 losses in 14 years. Charles was only 2-2 in his last 4 fights prior to Marciano. Despite being a prime natural heavyweight against a past prime washed up light heavyweight, Marciano was barely able to squeak out a 15 round decision. in the rematch, the BUM Marciano was in danger of being stopped due to cuts.

3) Archie Moore - 39 years old, had 175 fights with 19 losses, and was past his prime by far. Fought at light heavyweight 1 fight prior to Marciano. Despite having every imaginable advantage, again, Marciano got dropped by a nearly 40 year old Moore who was well past his best. He can't even dominate 40 year old geezer light heavyweights that are past their prime. He barely squeaks past them.

Now look at Roy Jones of 1997

Basically undefeated, prime, faster than all three of the above opponents by far, never ever came close to losing or getting seriously hurt, much more elusive, and just as good a counterpuncher as those 3.

everything that the old men past their prime greatly troubled, and Ezzard and Walcott nearly beat Marciano with, Roy has that in one package, and we are talking about a prime Roy Jones at the peak of his career, not somebody who is 40 years old, washed up, past their prime, 19 losses, and who was STILL able to knock down the BUM Marciano.

 

What he did do is struggle badly, and several times almost lose, to a bunch of beaten down, washed up, old geezer light heavies past their prime, despite the bum marciano being in his prime.

 

We have seen many people beat a bunch of old men past their primes. Right place right time - nothing more.

Holmes went 48-0, arguably 50-0 and with far more defenses and against much better opponents

And only 7 of marcianos fights were title fights, not 49. He wasn't fighting number 1s his whole career

Show me a fighter who is undefeated, and I'll show you a fighter who hasn't fought anybody - whitey bimstein

Larry Holmes is right. Rocky couldn't carry his jockstrap