George Foreman Vs Rocky Maricano

An outstanding breakdown,and one in which you didn't lose your temper.
Maybe because your statements were so emphatically obvious to all but blind fan boys.

 

Rocky may have faced heavyweights as big and some bigger but you are right, he did not fight an exact example the same as George, but neither did most champions.

George was raw, hot headed, wide open, wild but extremely strong and hard hitting. He also, even as champion, had stamina issues because he was not yet able to pace himself.

Rocky did not fight a young big guy like that but I think there are enough flaws there that could be exposed, even by Marciano since some smaller swarmer types were able to smother their way into the later rounds with him without any of Rockys talent.

Early Foreman is a danger for anyone. The Later it goes it could be Rockys fight.

 

So as I understand you, Marciano's best chance is to weather and absorb Foreman's big punches in the hope that he tires and that will enable him to come on strong in the latter part of the fight?

This supposes that Marciano in doing so manages to avoid shipping enough punishment to necessitate the referee intervening and rescuing Marciano from unecessary punishment and incurring further facial damage. That is a mighty big if, imo.

 

I don't disagree but feel that "always" is a sweeping statement. Experience, pedigree, defence and other factors have to be considered.

Granted they got it wrong but didn't the odds makers pick Frazier over Foreman?

Generally of course the bigger slugger has the advantage and I am as aware of this as those very odds makers were. In most cases it is correct.

However, given the form of George (and his run to the title) his size advantage, his punching power and those advantages were overlooked in favour of Fraziers proven record against Ali who was even at that time a more outstanding contender than George was. They knew that bigger sluggers have an advantage over smaller swarmers generally but not always because stuff like defence and experience has to be factored in.

Of course nobody could predict how much the Ali fight took out of him until he was tested and as it turned out how vulnerable Frazier had become to a puncher like that. George did good. He landed first and overwhelmed Frazier. It was an upset. Perhaps it was an upset because Frazier wasn't Frazier anymore? Perhaps it was a bit of both. George had talent but he was still raw.

 

I don't think it impossible that Marciano could wrestle and maul his way into the 4th round of an untidy fight when George might start to slow down. As strong as George was his leverage could be effected at close quarters. He was open to right hands where as Rocky was awkward and difficult to nail cleanly. After 4 rounds the superior size could start to wear on George. He would hurt Rocky too I am sure but if fighters like scrap Iron Johnson and peralta can tough it out to the mid stage why not Rocky?

 

Foreman has a real chance of winning for sure. I just think Rocky has a chance too. The more I think about it George would be hard to overcome. One stray punch could injure Rocky, one too many knock downs could end it with George winning but prime for prime George is against an awkward, tough little puncher hard to hit clean who always made his own punches tell. Everyone hit George clean. Rocky was crude, small but reliable. George big but even cruder. I cannot entirely rule either man out unless it goes over 5 rounds, then I imagine Rocky takes over. That's the difference. The later rounds. Rocky was good enough to tough it out past 4 rounds even if it means hanging on. If he won Rocky would be in worse shape than Frazier was after TFOTC. It would finish him win or lose.

 

old george ko'd bert cooper, joe frazier, ko'd dwight muhammad qawi, scott ledoux, why would rocky fare differently?

 

Because Rocky had a right hand. He was a different to those guys. He was tougher and harder to hit. Better. It would be hard, I accept that, but Rocky would make better use of the openings those guys had against Foreman. I think that's why he would fare differently.

 

Yes all these fighters only had a left hand. It's amazing they got as far as they did.

 

How far exactly in ATG terms did Scott LeDoux and Bert Cooper get?

 

Depends on criteria, division ally speaking I don't rank past the top ten so they don't make it.