Dempsey vrs. Marciano

I agree most probably, i just thought that Marciano's will was the determining factor MOST of the time in his bouts. I wasnt discrediting anyone BTW, i said it lightly and in respect of Marciano more than anything else.

 

Both pretty much had almost the same fighting style, I'd pick Dempsey over The Rock any day as he was slightly more skilled as a boxer.

 

Their styles are actually pretty different. Marciano was more patient, stalking his opponent and breaking him down. Dempsey was more aggressive out of the gate. I do see the similarities though, they both fought in low crouches much of the time and exploded like a coiled spring with dynamite power.

Saying you'd pick him over Rocky any day though simply based on skill level is strange, though. Marciano has the better stamina and takes the better shot, and if skill was everything Moore, Walcott, and Charles would of all beaten Rocky.

 

Marciano's been put down before, it's not impossible that he gets stopped. Dempsey is the more skilled fighter and he's durable aswell, I see Dempsey countering Marciano's wild overhand rights with hard, punishing left hooks and leading a two fisted attack with speed and power and eventually stopping Rocky. He would have to take a few overhand rights and left hooks for his troubles though.

 

Moore, Walcott and Charles could very well of beaten Rocky if they were in their primes. The fact is though Moore and Charles are natural light-heavies and all 3 fighters weren't in their respective primes.

 

Marciano could take a beating, there was no doubt about that whatsoever. The guy didn't go undefeated his entire career for nothing. Dempsey's extreme aggressiveness and monster power in both fists would be too much for even The Rock to overcome. I do not think Dempsey would knock out Marciano, however. He'd win by decision in 15.

 

This is something I failed to mention: All of these guys were older, past their primes. Any one of them in their respective primes could have given Marciano a boxing lesson.

 

They were up there in years, but all men were freaks in terms of fighting younger than their age. Charles wasn't that old either, he was in his early thirtees. Moore and Charles started out at Lightheavyweight, but they both weighed around 190 pounds when they faced Marciano and had been competing at HW for some time. They weren't Billy Conns.

Archie Moore was unbeaten since 1951 when he faced Rocky in 1955 and coming off of a good win over Nino Valdes. As well as wins over very highly regarded Bob Baker, and Harold Johnson shortly before he faced Marciano. He would win his next 11 fights as well after he faced Marciano before falling to Patterson. Keep in mind Rocky also was getting old as well when he faced Moore and hardly at his best.

Walcott had an up and down career but it is safe to say that he was still near to as good as he ever was. He was coming off of two wins over Ezzard Charles prior to his first fight with Marciano and on film didn't look much slower, weaker, anything different than he did early in his career. Keep in mind Walcotts game was using his advantage in skill, The Walcott Shuffle, etc. and that doesn't erode as quickly with age. He didn't rely on his physical ability to win as much as most other fighters so if his power, speed was a bit slower it didn't effect him as much.

Charles was only 33 when he faced Marciano and coming off of several good wins. While he may have been a little slower than his previous self he was still a great fighter.

 

Dempsey was knocked out of the ring by Firpo, a guy who is much more crude and wild than Marciano. He would have to go through hell to get a win over Marciano and would take much more than a few overhand rights and lefts.

Marciano was put down a few times, but against counter punchers who caught him off balance (Walcott, Moore). Dempsey would be going right at him and it would be a fight in a phone booth basicly. Faulting Marciano for being put down for a very short time against Walcott, and Moore while not mentioning Dempsey was nearly knocked out by the crude wild swinging Firpo is one sided and not a balanced argument.

 

I like The Rock to grind him down and stop him, anywhere from 6 to 13.

 

I like Dempsey. I think he hit harder, was much faster and could take it at least as well .. no disrespect for Rocky. Just think Dempsey was better ...