How long would Cleveland Williams have lasted against Marciano?

And Rudy is just a 'lil too much for Cleveland Williams to handle here, what a pity. Men of William's size were in Marciano's era; Marciano was simply a victim of Archie Moore beating all of them

I seem to remember your super modern athlete getting knocked out by the guy who got stopped by a post-Marciano Rex Layne. Or perhaps I should point out when Satterfield was stopped by a notoriously non-heavy-handed Ezzard Charles in 2 rounds

We would have to put some of those Dianabol muscles onto Williams' chin, if he wants to contend with a young, explosive Marciano.

 

Careful; Jake Paul might read this and try to challenge Marciano to a boxing match, believing Rocky to still be alive at 101 years old.

 

You might as well mention Marciano being in trouble against Ted Lowry.
We are matching prime versions aren't we?

 

About as long as Archie Moore did probably.

 

Williams was im his prime with 35 pro fights, no more excuses here.

 

This ...

 

Charles was "non heavy handed?"
He stopped,
Satterfield
Layne
Barone
Lesnevich
Kahut
Reynolds
Oma
Ray
Wallace
Valentino
Harrison
Beshore
And floored Bivins,Layne x4,andWalcott


Williams was stopped 8 times, 5 of those stoppages came after he had been shot.

 

Williams was 20 years old and a last minute sub.

 

This upscales Marciano so I do not mind you having the opinion, but Charles was a sharp puncher and a good counter puncher; he was not actually blessed with power. It is the same instance as Usyk dropping Fury and Tunney dropping Dempsey. The right punch at heavyweight can drop anyone.

 

Dangerous fight for Marciano, he never fought anyone like Williams with youth speed power and length. That said, Marciano has the fortitude, durability, and tenacity to survive an early onslaught and grind Williams down. Williams was kind of a front runner. He simply lacked the mental stability and toughness of a great fighter. Marciano’s intangibles would see him through here. Also, Rocky was freakishly strong and would not allow himself to get rag dolled around the ring

 

45 year old George Foreman would KO Jake Paul. But in fairness, 45 year old Foreman would make quick work of 2024 Tyson.

 

"Williams was kind of a front runner. He simply lacked the mental stability and toughness of a great fighter. "
All due respect, I don't see the basis for this? We're talking about a guy who was shot, died 6 times on the operating table, lost ten feet of his intestines, suffered permanent partial paralysis and still came back to the ring.

Even when badly outclassed by Ali, he still gave it his all.

 

Marciano never faced a modern super-athlete. Now the sport is rife with them. If they shut down the NFL and NBA tomorrow, it would be a flood beyond imagination, with the Top Ten of a single month becoming the Top Ten of All Time. There is no place for a specimen such as the rock in discussions of head to head talent. He simply doesn't measure up in any regard.

 

Not long, since Williams would inevitably try to brawl with Marciano, which won't end will.

Williams had all of the physical tools to be the heavyweight champion, but his lack of focus always let him down against the best of the division. I don't see this going much different than his fights with Satterfield or Liston.

Here is a piece with Williams talking about how he'd take Marciano in 1953.

He was a large dark man with a gold tooth that shined when he grinned, and he couldn't sit still.

"I can beat any man in the world. Any man," he said.

"Calm down," said his manager. "Get outta them trunks and get in the shower, We gotta get our money."

But Cleveland Williams did a soft shuffle and jig in the dressing room, sweat streaking his back in dark rivulets and the gold tooth shining happily.

"Any man in the world," he repeated, not to anyone in particular, just to himself, to the world.

"He's crazy," said his manager to the newspaperman. "But I swear I agree with him. Give Williams a year and he'll be able to take any of the top ten heavyweights. I'm having trouble getting fights now for him. He's just too damn strong."

"I seen Marciano two times." said Cleveland Williams. "He comes in looking mean. I can hit that kind of man. Like this, biff! biff!"

Williams, who had just hammered Claude Rolfe senseless in 2:10 of the third round with an awesome right, did a fast one-two, showing how he would cool Rocky also.

"I was mad at Rolfe," said Williams. "Oh, man, I wanted to get him a good one and it shore felt good. That ol' right hand went six inches, biff and he as gone."

"You had him good in the second, too," reminded a visitor, "and then he got you in trouble in the third."

"Yeah," said Cleveland, frowning, "I shoulda had him but I got anxious in the second. He never hurt me none. Messed up my left eye a little, but he never stung me even."

"That Rolfe, he made me mad talking about me. He told all the gals in Tampa that he was sick last time I knock him out. Took me nine rounds last time and he said he was sick."

Cleveland laughed big and stretched. "Well, I like to hear what he's saying now."
https://imgur.com/3OrkEsJ

Here is a piece in 1962 with Cleveland Williams wanting a third shot at Liston and mentions advice Jersey Joe Walcott gave him.

Cleveland Williams, heavyweight slugger managed by former Hartford resident Lou Viscusi and rated one of the hardest hitters in the division, was kayoed twice by Sonny Liston in the third in 1959 and second in 1960, but would like another crack at the new champion.

Williams, from Houston, gives these reasons for believing he could defeat Liston if given another opportunity.

"I've talked to Jersey Joe Walcott. He told me he flopped twice against Ezzard Charles because he pressed too hard, but stayed cool the third time and kayoed him. I let my-self fight Liston's fight. I won't make that mistake again if I get another chance."
https://imgur.com/GuXxGA9

 

I honestly don't think Marciano would last 6 rounds against Duncan Dokiwari. A new breed took over after Marciano's mid-century modern reign. And there is simply no way to cope with what they brought to the game.