If Marciano had carried on, how much longer would he have ruled?

I have found the magazine article, it had been cut out if a Ring Magazine from about 1998. When I got married I had to make room for my collection so I cut out all the intresting articles of the then more recent editions and thew out the rest.

The interview was conducted by freelance writer Robert Mladinich.

Keene Simmons: "Rocky could take a good punch and give one too" said Simmons. "He was not a fancy boxer, but he hit hard and just kept putting combinations together. I managed to cut his eye, and thought I was winning. But Rocky had so much power and determination, I really can't take anything away from him. Every time I hit him, which was a lot, he came right back with more." Two years after this heartbreaking loss, Simmons faced another murderous puncher, Cleveland Williams, and lost a close decision. When asked who hit harder, HE PROCLAIMED WITHOUT HESITATION THAT MARCIANO DID. Simmons went on to become a long time sparring partner for Marciano after he became champion"

 

Thank you for taking the trouble.:good

 

Great find!! Thanks!!

 

Not saying that we should read a lot into this, but people who sparred with Williams, went all the way into the 80s.

His power has been favourably compared to Foreman, Lyle, Cooney, Bruno!

 

Point taken. I believe Williams was a special puncher too. He clearly had heavy hands but he only knocked out fighters up to a level. Punching power can be measured on machines and sensed in sparring sessions but the better puncher is always the one who knocks out the better fighter.

 

No problem. :good

The summing up of the article mentioned how Simmons got on after his career. Described as "still a fine physical specimen at 79" He drove a NYC bus for over 20 years and was only five pounds over his best fighting weight at the time of the article. Married for 42 years and a regular attendee at the monthly ring 8 veteran ring association meetings he was photographed at the time with his dukes up wearing a leather jacket and news boy cap. He looks pretty tough for 79!

 

I'd bet my house that Liston would have destroyed any form of Marciano. I never entered Louis, Lewis, Tyson or anyone else in this thread ..

 

I know the Pope very well but Hauser is correct. Not sure the Pontiff's thought on this match up.

 

that's great that your confident but I dont see anyone great or even very good in Liston's win column, Patterson was the best but Floyd got bounced around an awful lot by INGO as well

I have seen heart and will make a big difference in a battle and I am not convinced that Sonny would survive a big puncher with a big heart in fact I have my doubts that he would

He quit once against the alpha dog Ali and tanked the 2nd time around, he got his jaw broken and dropped by 180lb Marty Marshall and was Ko'd late in his career by sub-200lb Leotis Martin

 

Floyd was not at the least "very good"? I thought we just determined that Floyd was a top-20 All Time Heavyweight. Your (note correct usage) cutoff for very good seems fairly steep.

 

Floyd had excellent skills and I was very good friends with his brother-in-law and met him many times, a wonderful man but I would not bet a dime on him vs a pressure puncher and even though he got the best of INGO in 2/3 of their battles Floyd had some very shaky moments and was the most dropped heavyweight champion ever

 

good find, Thank you for your efforts

 

He got his jaw broken in the 4th round by Marshall but finished the fight to lose a split decision if he lacked heart why did he continue?
Why didn't he just quit? The break occurred when Liston knocked Marshall down and he got up shouting ,Liston was laughing and got popped whilst his mouth was open . The jaw was cracked in another place in the 6th round.

Liston finished the 8rds fight,and lost a split decision .

Liston travelled to Detroit on his own for that fight he had no regular cornermen ,and had to tape his own hands ,neither his manager Frank Mitchell,or his trainer Monroe Harrison , or his second were there. Sonny gets his jaw broken in two places carries on, and finishes the fight ,yet he lacks heart?

Personally I thinkt that fight is to Liston's credit but we obviously have differring standards of "heart".

I must admit to getting a little pissed off with those kind of judgemental remarks from "civilians", maybe I'm "oversensitive ".:think

Sonny had his nose broken by Cleveland Williams but carried on and took him out.

Wow ! He got knocked out when he ran out of gas at 39 against "sub200lbs Martin," Martin was 199lbs:yep pretty desperate aren't you?

In what round do you say Marshall dropped Liston?

 

Marciano is the man to beat the Klits.

and then reign undisputed for the next 10years.