George Foreman Vs Rocky Maricano

I now believe Frazier/Foreman to Marciano/Foreman is perhaps not the most well thought out analogy. Its certainly not very creative or fun anymore.

Frazier and Marciano applied pressure in two very different ways. Frazier relied heavily on bobbing movement and was subject to being timed, Foreman himself said this is why he had such an easy time finding him with his big sweeping uppercuts. Frazier also didn't do himself any favors by not taking Foreman very seriously.

Prior to winning the Championship, Marciano fought in this way, especially against Louis. However, he later adopted that exaggerated leaning back stance that made him very difficult to find with the jab or uppercuts on the inside. He also didn't wait to counter like Frazier unforunately did with his left hook, using feints to confuse his opponents and create openings.

I would still favor Foreman because of his physical power and ability to just muscle swarmers off and move them into his punches, but I think he would have a harder time landing his bombs early than he did against Frazier. Marciano could make a game go of it.

 

So you believe Marciano would be more effective leaning back to maximize Foreman's 13 " reach advantage .. unique insight .... and he's going to survive eating Foreman's jackhammer jab that way how ? Try hard to answer without blowing a rod ...

 

Marciano's leaning crouch was effective against Moore's 9 inch "wingspan" advantage. Notice the normally razor sharpe Archie missing triple jabs at points and struggling to set up his right cross and uppercut.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzmlTHnd5KE&feature=related[/ame]


Now watch how Foreman beautifully sets up Frazier with the fight changing first 2 knockdowns. Frazier is ducking the jab by bobbing forward up and down, so George finally follows up with the uppercut. Perfect.


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI8EQTa1cbM[/ame]

Marciano did not bob forward to avoid jabs once he peaked as the Champion. He leaned waaaay back with his crouch to stay away from follow up uppercuts and crosses. Even against Louis when he bobbed and weaved more, you can still Marciano dipping away from the punches instead of toward them, avoiding uppercuts. Naturally he wasn't as explosive a swarmer as Frazier but against FOreman...that's a good thing.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbl1ly8vyrE&feature=related[/ame]

 

At no time, for any reason what so ever, should it be said that Marciano has a hope in hell of defeating Foreman. SHOMMEL...... you idiot.

 

:good

 

If Foreman doesn't get him out of there quick, he's in big trouble.

 

george was a super talent but he was super green. I dont care how big and strong a guy has to be, he beter not be green if he fights marciano.

 

apart from the " shommel you idiot " everything else was bang on.marciano doesn't even have a punchers chance

 

Wait a second, WHO are these experts ?

 

you kidding me, marciano 6'3 tall would win, but in reality marciano was around 5'9 and foreman was around 6'3 weighing endless pounds more than marciano. foreman by mid rd KO.

 

back beofre the comeback the common wisdom was that Foreman was formidable but would lose to a man with an iron chin, steely determination and stamina.

George's stock has gone through the roof since.

Problem for me is that your asking me to bet on 2 power punchers where one has the reach advantage of what is essentially the same as holding a small shovel in either hand.

 

Moore was close to forty years old with legs in no condition to fight a prime Rocky , 5' 11" and not half as strong or hard hitting as Foreman. No one is saying Marciano was not terrific. The question is a match up with a 73 Foreman and Archie has zero to go on as a Foreman reference ... the 37 year old Louis is slightly more of a reference but again he was 37, his power diluted by age and had no legs.

With all respect to Rocky, it's simple a terrible match up for him.

 

And who would you pick Adam ?

 

It actually has COMPLETE relevance to the point he was making - the point was that people think a reach advantage is something that is just completely impossible to overcome which is ridiculous - this isn't top trumps??? And people way way WAY over rate Foreman's jab - more often as a young fighter he would paw with his left at long range - yeah he might stick a stiff one out every now and then like any fighter does - but he in no way had a consistantly stiff quick jab at all - Jersey Joe Walcott's, Archie Moore's, and Ezzard Charles left hands were all MUCH MUCH better than George's - and none of those could establish their jabs properly in the fights they had with Rock - Foreman would be feeling around and pawing around and wouldn't be able to find Rock - it has become a modern myth to talk up Foreman's jab into the best since Liston which is completely inaccurate

 

have you seen the way foreman set up lyle with the jab when the fight was in the balance ??
lyle had no answer to it and it just took his heart away.