Could Evander Holyfield make it 49-0 in the 50s?

But then he wasn't facing188pounders was he? How would Marciano do against Bowe,Lewis ?

 

Was this “This left over post WW2 division” so much different to the 1970s? Sure in his 32th fight Rocky fought 4-14-3. Harold Mitchell but in 1972, during a much better era, George Foreman was also fighting 1-14-1Joe Murphy Goodwin in his 32nd fight.

The difference being between Marcianos 32nd fight and his title shot Rockys next opponents had a record of 416-116 between them where’s as George Foreman’s opponents between his 32nd fight and his title shot had a combined record of 70-60.

 

Maybe...Herbie Hide? Eek.

Rodriquez looked very promising when he fought him. Golota, too.

But yes, though I admire Bowe's fight game in Holy I, he didn't exactly have a roster of ATG opponents.

People will always bemoan Bowe's sorry management for botching the Lewis fight in the early 90s, and they're right. A fight against Tyson, too, would have helped his overall credibility.

 

Almost like there's a big difference in the career progression between people with very different levels of amateur experience.

Does that mean Wilder proves modern boxing is terrible?

 

The fact is, after Holyfield, Bowe did not beat any other good fighters. He got beat up both times he fought Golata.

it leaves a thread bare, sorry looking resume during a time where Bowe might have fought Mercer, Ruddock, Lewis, Bruno, Morrison, Tyson, Moorer, Grant and Tucker who would all have been available.

In order to become a Great fighter a champion must have great wins, at least Bowe beat Holyfield. But so did Moorer and John Ruiz at world level..so it should damage his resume and I think it does.

 

I'd have to agree with that. Marciano took a while to get into the harder opponents because he was such a greenhorn to boxing. No way does 12-fight Marciano beat Qawi. On the other hand, the quality of Marciano's opposition toward the end of his career was very high.

 

Foreman fought
4th fight Wepner19-4-2
16th fight Peralta 77-5-8 no 10
22nd fight Chuvalo 59-15-2
24th fight Kirkman 22-1-0
28th fight Peralta 82-6-8
36th fight Paez 48-15-13

Rocky's 1st 32 fights
Opponents had 356 wins, 316 losses.

Foreman's 1st 32 fights
Opponents had 651 wins,372 losses.

 

No, there isn't anyone who can match Marciano and certainly not juiced to the gills Holyfield.

 

The cruser Holy would dominate all of Marciano's opposition

 

Holyfield doesn't need to pack on HW muscle to compete with Rocky's opponents. He only need the mass to have a chance with the SHWs of the 1990's.

Cruiser weight / late 1980's Holy should be favoured to beat everybody Marciano did. Whose going to beat him Charles , Mongoose? Nah.

 

Evander would not need that"Juice" fighting sub 200pounders who were 38,39, and 41 years old .

 

That is true although Bert Cooper almost had him out of there, and Bert was a smallish heavyweight.

 

5’7” Qawi had his moments too.

 

215 pound Bert Cooper would be the heaviest opponent on Rocks resume and would be sure to cause him some trouble as he did with Holyfield.

And? 181 pound Ted Lowry had "moments"

 

The point is all of this is comparable. We both know they had a similar run. George Foreman and Rocky both had some learning to do.

I don’t think Wepner , Peralta, kirkman or Paez would beat old Joe Louis, Rex Layne or even Lee Savold.

you could say vingo compares with Kirkman. Peralta compares with Lowrey. Paez with Reynolds. Chuvalo compares with Savold. It’s swings and roundabouts.

But for such a bad division, where were the Men from the 1970s that represented Layne, Lastarza, Louis and Mathews on the pre championship record of George Foreman?