With (hopefully) very close match behind the doors Bivol vs Beterbiev.... Let's do a comparison to a previous topic Beter vs Marci. Who did you get Bivol vs Marciano? I say a dominant UD in favor of Bivol. He would completely outpoint Marciano, show him what is a proper jab, high Guard, head movement and footwork. Bivol is too complex to get exposed by Rocky.
Marciano knocked out some quality 200 pound plus fighters. You have to remember it was same day weigh in back in the day compared to the 24 hour re hydration they get now. The 1950's same day weigh in version of Marciano would probably be too much for a 24 hour re hydrated Bivol, akin to Golovkin vs Brook. If Marciano was born in the 1980's he'd have access to modern nutrition from youth and have 24 hours to re hydrate. You could make an argument he'd be 6'2 and 220 pounds on fight night in 2023. If that was the case the current light heavyweight version of Bivol would get sparked within 3 rounds.
Marciano's height was fixed by genetics. No amount of nutrition or PEDS would have changed that. I always thought he looked fleshy and his peers at HW weren't that big in comparison to modern HW's. They'd be CW's today. I think Marciano would be a pudgy CW or a trim LHW today. His work rate was immense but his skill set is far behind more modern fighters. Tough guy - but someone like Bivol would dance rings around him IMO whereas someone like Beterbiev would probably bludgeon him to a TKO.
“Marciano's height was fixed by genetics. No amount of nutrition or PEDS would have changed that.” I think you’re wrong there. The average height for a male has jumped 2 – 3 inches in the west over the past 60 – 70 years. It’s all about what you’re putting into your body. How much protein, vitamins and red meat is getting absorbed. I’m talking about if Marciano were born in the 1980’s and not in the 1920’s. In terms of the rest of what you’re saying, it’s all about context. What year would this match take place? What year were they born? At what weight division would this hypothetical match up take place?
Bivol hasn't even beaten a top Light Heavyweight yet his best wins are against fighters who moved in weight like Ramirez, Canelo. And now we're picking Bivol to beat a Heavyweight who went 49-0 ? Come on...... I'm not even Marciano's biggest fan and I think he loses to quite alot of modern Heavyweights who are far too big for him, but Marciano beat many skilled Light Heavyweights/Cruiserweights like Charles, Moore, Walcott. Marciano all day every day.
Bivol was wary of Canelo’s power and refused to engage him, a 168 lber. He’d run away from Marciano, a 190+lber who has fought 200 lbers and won, the whole fight which will end the moment Marciano lands the first unguarded hit. Marciano by brutal KO, round 1. Round 2 perhaps if he wants to feel out the first round to see what Bivol can do.
Marciano is 3-0, 2kos against the two greatest LHW's in history. Let's be completely honest here...................
