Better Fighter: Marciano or Frazier?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by David Hanssen, Oct 27, 2014.


  1. Two different types of fighters.

    Frazier was a rhythm fighter, an energiser bunny with a pin point left hook he could double up and land at any range. He weaved his head as much to transfer his weight from one foot to the other to launch a shot as opposed to avoiding a punch. If his head went down it was coming back up even if your punch was on its way.

    Marciano countered his way in. where as Frazier led.

    Marciano drew a fighter into him as opposed to chasing him out of the ring. He had no rhythm but that made him deadly because there was no pattern to follow. You moved in to reach him then he hit you. Frazier met you with a punch, it was already coming.

    With Frazier what you saw was what you got. Marciano looked crude but there was method to the madness that could catch you out. rocky also had two hands and he did not swarm for the sake of swarming. Both could fight all day but only rocky made his openings. Frazier had one gear flat out, straight at you. That's why he was such an easy target for George Foreman.

    The Rock made his style work for him...he was very awkward...he dipped...you really didn't know where the punches were coming from...he looks beatable ..and you always have a plan...but when you enter the ring..and Rocky imposes his will on you...your fight plan goes out the window..and then you go into survival mode...and try to survive his onslaught

    A. Who would have won had they fought?

    B. Who was the better fighter in general?
     
  2. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    My pick is Marciano because he had two fisted power,Frazier's right hand was an effective tool but it did not carry the power that Rocky had in his secondary gun,his left hook.I also think Marciano hit harder with his right than Frazier did with his left and had a better chin.
    Frazier had better handspeed was more accurate and did not cut ,but he lumped up badly and that can be just as bad.

    Frazier was probably the more polished of the two , but Rocky is the winner for me.
    It would have been a great tear up.
     
  3. tommytheduke

    tommytheduke Active Member Full Member

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    Ultimate Dream fight imo, i think Rocky wins based on his superior punching power.
    Rocky was also the better fighter, he was more powerful, physically stronger and could take a punch as well as anyone.
     
  4. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    good analysis, if they met it would be a war for several rounds, fast pace picking up steam but Marciano had 2 KO hands Frazier had that potent hook. I like the Marciano right hand to make the difference here. As far as who was the better fighter Frazier said only 2 fighters would beat him Louis and Marciano (respect) Ali said he felt Marciano was better than Frazier and I rate Marciano higher but this fight would not be easy for anyone.
     
  5. RockyJim

    RockyJim Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Take Marciano in this one...as much as I like Frazier...The Rock with heavy two-fisted power...so strong...great chin...beats Joe...
     
  6. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This is one where my 'eras' theory is tested. Not a lot of years between the two of them. I want two beers and two hotdogs ringside for this one!
     
  7. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Obviously the first to land a series of killer punches takes it. 50/50 in my opinion.

    There is a chance that Joe could cut Rocky's face up
     
  8. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Regarding chin IDK who had a better chin.
    Markegiano was floored by lighter hitting (respectively) fighters than those whom Floored Frazier.

    Marchegiano was floored by well done versions of Cream and Wright, especially Cream.
    Frazier was floored by prime versions of Foreman and Bonavena .
    Bonavena also floored Gregorio Peralta whom was a superb underrated durable fighter and also arguably/possibly floored George Chuvalo twice so I guess he could punch harder than Archie Wright.

    So IDK where the notion of Rocco had a better chin comes from.
    Regarding punching power
    Frazier fought "Rocco era" sized opponents in Doug Jones and Jimmy Ellis. Quarry may qualify for as such too.
    Against them he did not win as conclusively as Rocco did, however despite their size they were not as old and damaged as Rocco's opponents, but Rocco might have punched harder.

    Regarding defense I suppose Rocco's might had been better.

    Regarding speed I think Frazier was faster.

    Rocco was a dirty fighter but Frazier was not a clean fighter himself (i.e George Chuvalo) and won twice due to cuts vs Quarry and once due to cuts vs Stander.

    Frazier's opposition was superior h2h, but/and he was less convincing against it in terms of net/sheer performance.

    I believe that if swapped, Rocco would have fared worse than Frazier did, but Frazier would have fared at least as well.

    It means that h2h I think Frazier was better.
    P4p, it gets closer and IM less certain about who takes it.
    In terms of wins record I think Frazier's is somewhat better.
    Rocco did not have the losses Frazier had, but it is only due to him never fighting comparable fighters to those that beat Frazier and I consider the 1st Bonavena vs Frazier fight as win for Bonavena while not sure if Frazier even won the 2nd (I watched both)
     
  9. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Hello 49-0, Your post is identical,. cut & pasted from Duggerman's Ranch. Yet it is a good analysis!

    I have never heard Frazier doubted as beating Bonavena the 2nd time!

    Though the assessment seems sound overall.
    An argument can be made either way. I will say that the big difference in speed & accuracy would likely mean more than the better 2 handed power.
     
  10. Balder

    Balder Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    The better Fighter overall was Marciano.

    But if these 2 met it would be all Frazier. Despite the similarities in the fighters and their styles ( puncher/swarmer) they were significantly different in how they did it.

    If Marciano had a weakness it was starting out slow. Frazier was faster and would catch Marciano early. Rocky had a great recovery but could be dropped. ( Moore/Louis) Both of those two nailed Rocky early and so would Frazier. Frazier hit harder than them as well. I think rocky gets up and makes it a fight.

    But another thing than clinches this forFrazier is the aggressiveness. Rocky might finish Joe at any moment as he is coming in, but there is one overlooked fact about Rocky that will hurt him in this fight. Rocky always dictated the PACE of the fight eventually. He would slow it down and turn into a brawl. But against Joe there is no slowing down. As one poster stated earlier. Joe had one pace, in your face.

    So in this fight I just never see Rocky getting control enough to impose his will, or to back Frazier up. I don't think he could get set on his punches enough to finish Joe. Both Joe and Rocky could go down, both would get up, neither would quit, but Rocky would get out swarmed by the best swarmer of them all.


    If there is a re match, I would take Rocky as I think it would take Peak Frazier to beat Rocky, and it would be beaten out of him by Rocky in the first one.
     
  11. slender4

    slender4 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Ali always said Rocky was better.
     
  12. Woller

    Woller Active Member Full Member

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  13. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Hard to say... I can't see Marciano beating Muhammad Ali but then again I can't see Joe Frazier lasting to 49-0 regardless of what era he may have fought in. Its up in the air for me.
     
  14. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    There was no doubt Frazier won the second Bonavena fight,in my mind,Frank. The first one was debatable. Certainly a good case for 'Ringo'
     
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Both are getting underrated significantly today.

    We have had two dominant champions who were super heavyweights, in close proximity, and that means that the swarmers are getting squeezed.