George Chuvalo Versus Rocky Marciano

George’s face would look like steak tartare and he’d probably still be on his feet as he loses a lopsided decision or gets rescued late by the referee.

 

Having the S**T beat out of him by Jersey Joe Walcott in the title fight in 1952...being decked for the first time...staggered time and time again...cut and blinded for 4 rounds...behind on all score cards going into the 13th round...then "BANG"...throwing the best right hand ever and winning the title...that's not being tested? Are you kidding? Sonny Liston QUIT sitting on his stool for a hell of a lot less! Having your nose split open down to the cartilage against former champ Ezzard Charles in their second fight in 1954...after going thru a 15 round bloodbath 3 months earlier against Charles...they can't stop the bleeding...letting it go one more round...Marciano storms out...KO's Charles...keeps the title...then having plastic surgery to put your nose back together...that's not being tested? Marciano went thru more pain in those 2 fights than most of todays "fighters"...and I use the term very loosely...have in their whole career! Chuvalo is not a puncher...if he was...he would have beaten Ali in their title fight in 1966....Marciano wins this....next question!

 

Refs stopped the fights before they could.

 

Marciano stops him in similar fashion to Frazier.

 

Chuvalo withstood the most incredible punches, and, believe me or not, there are a series of gentlemen in here, who believe Marciano could stop a peak Chuvalo??? If you permit, I'll laugh inside, thus hoping these gentlemen don't get offended.

 

I think Chuvalo could have made a very lucrative second career working as a freak case to show in neurology symposiums...

 

Sadly, he was made to prove just as resilient psychologically as he was physically. A beyond tragic personal life, but it shows the depth of the man. Mentally & physically, Chuvalo is virtually super-Human.

 

I actually think chuvalo’s punching ability is often overlooked. He did manage to win 64 of his 73 wins by knockout or stoppage

 

He used the technique popularised many years later in the 90’s by former Heavyweight contender Homer Simpson, allowing the enemy to exhaust himself throwing punches, then pushed them over.

 

Yes he does have a chance, I think it goes the distance,, Marciano was a good puncher but Chuvalo has all the physical advantages and a better chin.

 

Rocky (swarmer) vs Chuvalo (slugger)

Power: Rocky
Speed: Rocky
Chin: Chuvalo
Technique: Rocky
Footwork: Rocky
Stamina: Even
Accuracy: Chuvalo
Timing: Rocky
Offense: Rocky
Defense: Chuvalo
Body shots: Chuvalo
Ring IQ: Chuvalo
Versatility: Rocky
Heart: Even

7-2-5 advantage Rocky

These two have a lot of similarities. Both were rugged, tough guys who let their hands go and never back off. Both had very impressive stamina and a will to win. Both could crack hard, but Rocky has the edge in raw power and combinations with either hand. Although Chuvalo was larger, it wasn't by a lot and isn't enough to be a major factor in this matchup between two guys who will probably immediately meet ring center and go to war at close range.

Rocky would probably feel like he's fighting his older brother. As noted above, Chuvalo has many similarities to Rocky and was arguably tougher overall, but was less athletically gifted and was the less skilled boxer. Still, there's a few things he's bringing to the table that can keep this from simply being a one sided fight where Rocky pounds out a win. For starters, Chuvalo was a hell of a body puncher and few people went to the body against Rocky. This would be uncharted territory for the Italian who may have a hard time keeping up his high workrate as his stamina depletes. In addition, if Rocky tries to throw a lot of left hooks/gazelle punches, he may end up trading with Chuvalo who had a very strong left hook himself. You don't want to trade hooks with a bigger, stronger man. Lastly, Chuvalo had slightly better defense and might be able to exploit holes in Rocky's game as Rocky could sometimes get pretty wild and reckless.


Verdict: Although there's a slim possibility of an upset if Chuvalo managed to fight a cautious, defensive fight punishing Rocky for his mistakes and working the body, I'm not sure Chuvalo has the patience and smarts to follow through on this plan from start to finish. Chuvalo had a tendency to get suckered into brawls and could get very aggressive. The most likely way the fight goes is both guys fighting at a rugged pace with Rocky landing the heavier, more frequent shots and Chuvalo landing the cleaner ones. Eventually, Rocky gets into his groove around the 8th, controlling the pace, and having Chuvalo on the defensive unable to land more than 1 shot at a time. Rocky causes major swelling on Chuvalo's left eye with his Suzie Q right hand bomb. Rocky hammers away with hooks, crosses, flurries, causing welts and bruises all over Chuvalo's arms, chest, and forehead. However, by the 11th Rocky has slowed down and even his vast stamina reserves are going down fast with each round as Chuvalo diligently digs into the body causing major redness. By the 13th, the two of them are exhausted leaning on each other and barely throwing. Rocky throws a big wild hook, and Chuvalo counters with his own putting Rocky on the canvas for the first time. Rocky is more surprised and tired than hurt and is up at 5. Round 14 and Rocky himself gets to work on the body but keeps his guard up. Chuvalo throws a few head shots but they don't have much sting on them. Rocky catches his 2nd wind trying to end things before the bell. He's like a honey badger thrashing about and punching even when Chuvalo is blocking. Rocky throws another big right hand Suzie Q with all his might, which bursts blood vessels and turns Chuvalo's face into a grotesque lump resembling a Halloween mask. Rocky is stunned by Chuvalo's returning 1-2 down the middle. Not bothered by the blood and swelling, Chuvalo fights back and the two exchange furiously as the crowd is on it's feet roaring. Rocky grits his teeth and throws a sweeping right to the body, a hook to the jaw, right to the eye, and finally a big leaping left uppercut that makes Chuvalo's head bounce left and right like windshield wipers and makes a stream of blood and sweat stain Rocky's trunks. Chuvalo goes into his shell covering up but is still getting nailed by an invigorated Rocky who is pushed back by the ref as Chuvalo's towel is thrown.

Rocky wins by brutal TKO round 14 with 20 seconds left on the clock. He and Chuvalo embrace and compliment each other on such a grueling match.

 

George Chuvalo wasn’t well rounded enough to defeat Rocky Marciano, they’d meet in the middle and you’d see the difference in inside fighting unfold.

 

Wow, that was quite a colorful depiction. I like way you threw yourself into it with gusto! A couple of comments: I was thinking to myself that George Chuvalo is bigger than Marciano but is he really stronger? Rocky was super strong, man. He was all gristle and bone and he put his whole 185 pounds into every shove and punch. And he'd make it hurt, too. Chuvalo was also very strong, so I think they're fairly equal in strength. Take your pick, the Italian or the Slav. (George is a Croat.) I don't think Chuvalo's punching power compares to Marciano's. Rocky's hitting power is on another level. It's concentrated power and it inflicts unusual damage, which you do capture nicely with bloody welts and bruises.
One sentence bothers me. It's when you say Chuvalo lets himself get suckered into brawls. George DOES NOT get suckered into brawls. He openly invites them. He lusts after them in the most atavistic manner. Any course in George Chuvalo 101 has to begin with his 10-round aggravated assault of Mike DeJohn, which anyone can watch on YouTube. Talk about ugly! Chuvalo didn't pistol whip him but there wasn't much else he didn't at least try. Poor Mike spent half the fight protecting his double hernia and the other half dangling backward over the ropes getting hammered. George punched and mauled and even STRUMMED him and before it was over DeJohn had surely decided it was time for a career change. He would talk to the boys and see what they might have for him in Vegas.

 

Granite has height weight (at least 30 lbs) and reach on the Rock, same speed same power, tough as nails- like Angelo Dundee says in a close matchup, the man who throws the most punches WINS.