How skilled was Charles, Walcott, Moore when Rocky beat them

Moore was one of the greatest hw contenders of all time and was on a terrific win streak

Walcott and Charles were both top 15 heavyweights and in their prime for the first fight.

Both are great wins

 

If they had p4p rankings at the time, Moore would've been #1 when he fought Marciano.

 

Not Robinson? Or Saddler?

 

Skill was not their problem. Age and the wear of long careers were what diminished them. I'm sure they all had as much skill as one could desire, especially Charles and Moore.

 

Robinson won the title a few months after Marciano-Moore. Saddler at the time had been upset by Lopes and Elorde. Elorde was a nobody at the time. I wouldn't put those guys above Moore in '55. Moore had gone 54-2-1 over 7 years. He lost to Harold Johnson whom he had beaten twice before the loss and twice after. Also lost to Bacon; a fight Moore was winning before being disqualified for low blows. Avenged this loss too. During this run, Moore beat Harold Johnson 4 times, Joey Maxim 3 times, Jimmy Bivins twice, Nino Valdes twice, Bobo Olson and plenty of top contenders (LHW and HW). He was the #1 p4p fighter at the time imo.

 

Good argument

 

Moore and Walcott were on top of their game, Charles slightly past his. The thing is Rocky's pressure style made them fight.

 

I wouldn't say that Walcott was "on top of his game". He was clearly at the end of the line. Nothing about his skills cost him the fight. Old legs and Marciano thumping him cost him that fight.

 

Walcott's prime is hard to pin down because he was hot and cold and fighter who had good performances in his mid to late 30's. He was most certainly near his best for the first Marciano fight. A fine losing performance.

 

Keith Thurman, a guy who can thump, had a 40 year old career worn Pacquiao in front of him, and couldn’t beat him.

Somewhat worth considering when weighing in career length and age.

 

"My legs were gone when I fought Rocky." Moore

 

Yes that's why Walcott retried after ,because he was in his prime.lol

 

I'd say things have changed somewhat in the last 25 years regarding age in boxing.

 

Moore was one of the best fighters in the world, not only at HW. It's not his absolute peak in my opinion, but he was damn close to it.

Same with Walcott, though it's visible on the footage that he was tired throughout the fight. In some way because of Rocky, in some because of his age.

Charles was past his best, but he was still excellent fighter and his technique didn't got any worse.

Most people here would pick all of them to beat Rocky, but somehow he was 5-0 against them. That's why being cute doesn't make you better.