I would have to say no. That was probably the single fight in Rocky Marciano's career when he was most like Joe Frazier in his execution.
Yes S, the "KID" has a chance !- To escape alive.! Harry Mathews was a beefed up lightheavyweight....
Frazier destroys him. Matthews was a blown up light heavy with a built up record from the west coast. Decent fighter but as we saw with Marciano, not the kind of fighter who could deal with the likes of Frazier.
harry had a good first round against marciano and he probably would against Frazier too. maybe if harry could of kept that up without getting hit he could have outboxed marciano, he was clearly a master boxer but not getting hit against ATG heavyweights is a big ask. Frazier would also get outboxed in the first round, he often did, but would hunt harry down in the next round just like marciano did.
The fact that Marciano knocked him out early by bombing left hooks over the jab doesn't excactly fill me with confidence in the Kid's chances. Matthews was a tough good boxer though.
