Could Bugner Have Gone The Distance With Marciano ??

Durability was Joe Bugner's strong suit, and while a number of good fighters defeated him, they had to work for the win and seldom looked good in doing so. He was the type of fighter that could really frustrate an opponent. But against Marciano, as long as Joe was in the ring Rocky would be glad to throw punches. Durability and stamina were strong suits for Marciano as well and while it is possible that Rocky could grind him down for a late round stoppage, I think the more likely scenario is that the fight goes the limit with no knockdowns and Marciano winning a clear decision with Joe taking a beating to the body and arms. (To digress from the thread topic a bit, I would have liked to have seen bouts between Bugner and Jerry Quarry and George Foreman. Bugner's durability could really come into play the further these fights went.)

 

Joe ends up peeing blood after a very gruelling battle in which he just barely survives 15 rounds of relentless clubbing shots to his mid section, hips, thighs, and arms. Rocky has a hard time landing more than a few glancing power shots to the head. In spite of his huge gas tank and conditioning, Rocky is frustrated and completely exhausted toward the end by the big man's long jabs, stinging flurries, lateral movement, and frequent clinching and leaning. No amount of money could lure Rocky into a rematch and Bugner is equally happy to never go through that ordeal again.