For the people insisting Rocky was "hard to hit" and had "underrated cleverness"

Better balance improves defense as does tightening up punching technique - this is boxing 101. In Rocky's case quite a bit. They also targeted specific defensive improvements to go along with the improvements already achieved by association.

 

Of course, as does tightening up punches.

 

You might as well not have mentioned it, because whilst Joe Louis is using a superlative (vastly improved fighter), your sentence frames it as more of a rudimentary, ad hoc inclusion of certain defensive maneuver (he had to actually learn how to bob, weave etc.)

Label it as moving the goalpost if you will, but my point stands.

Those two do not convey the same message and attempting to equate them is insensitive to nuance of the language, if not outright intellectually dishonest. It's twisting Louis's assessment to suit your point. The very same point of which premise is fundamentally flawed, because it attempts to use a version of Marciano at a point in time to attack a strawman, generalized opinion without providing context for his subsequent development as a fighter, and him being a late starter learning on a job meant he could rapidly adjust under proper tutelage.

I wasn't even attempting to pick sides with my initial comment. Genuinely tried to inquire whether you not consider future Rocky to represent what you claim he was not at the time of fighting Louis.

 

Nobody came close to beating Roy prior to 2003. We should assume Marciano can based on what exactly? A faded Walcott was ahead on points after 12, Charles gave him a terriffic battle. Roy is quicker, more athletic, a good puncher, where is Rocky's advantage?

 

It's crazy that the right he finished Walcott with probably wouldn't even knock down a game Foreman

 

Cheers bud. No hard feelings.

 

Foreman
Liston
Holmes
Lewis
There are others who'd keep him at bay

 

4 guys people consider ATGs? Keeping the 185-190lbs 5ft10 fighter back? Colour me unimpressed? for a start I think Lennox smothers Marciano’s chances every time he gets close, Holmes just keeps him back and busts him up (he’s too big too skilled) Foreman might be stupid enough to let Marciano beat him up inside… he doesn’t keep him away but he probably beats him. Liston I’m positive Marciano beats he like Foreman I never saw play keep away with his jab lol.

 

Problem I have is that you completely ignore the part of the quote where Louis states “by the time he fought Marciano he had vastly improved”. Can you tell everyone why you completely ignored that part?

Also Marciano by fighting low, slipping, parrying, bobbing and weaving and most importantly moving back and forth from back to front foot made himself a difficult target. An aggressive puncher is going to get hit certainly but absolutely Marciano is underrated in this regard.

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The equivalent age of 37 would probably be Liston from the Leotis Martin fight. So do with that what you will in determining whether Liston can duplicate Joe's feat...

EDIT: Unless Liston was born in 1930, in which case you're talking the version who was knocking people out in Sweden, I guess.

 

How can you dwell in a void? Are ypu a black hole?

 

The answer to that question is a trade secret known only to other Void-Dwelling Weasel Persons.

 

Rocky's advantages are granite chin and ability to absorb punishment. Both of which come into play when he lands a Suzy Q on Roy's ceramic chin.