If Marciano had lived ?

Norton gave Ali 3 close fights as did Frazier ,both were destroyed by Foreman,it would therefore be reasonable to assume Foreman has no trouble with a 32 years old Ali but ,he did!
Lyle had Foreman on the verge of being stopped yet Ali stopped Ron and was never in danger of being floored, let alone stopped by him.
Boxing does not work in the way you suggest. Sam Silverman, who promoted lot of Rocky's fights stated Rocky could have as much trouble with a journeyman as a ranked fighter.

 

Maybe in this particular instance Marciano wouldn't be best pleased, but at this point, I feel Rocky had enough grace to admit that maybe the game had changed a bit to much and concede that someone as good as Holmes would in fact beat him on their best days. I could be wrong and I don't necessarily believe that my self, just something I could see Marciano saying at the age he would have been.

 

In the end of Larry Holmes amateur Career before he lost to Duane Bobick (Ali does the commentry) Larry fought a 5"11 Nick Wells and was taken out 2X on a stetcher & then as a pro Holmes was destroyed in 4 rds by 5"10 Tyson & beaten by a man (Michael Spinks) who had his 1st fight as a heavyweight . Stamina Starved Shavers was 6ft even so I dont think Holmes size was the issue.

I dont see Holmes surviving Marciano's stamina pace or right hands & awkward rythym breaking style. Not to compare Holmes to Ali but just like Ali was prone to getting hit with the left hook, Holmes was prone to the right with the right.

I think thats why Holmes avoided most of the more experienced guys of his era and right hand punchers. He fought guys with 14 fights (2) 13 fights, 10 fights, 12 fights, 15 fights and only fought a guy like Tyson when he had to, remember Spinks (1st Heavyweight fight) was his weakest choice at the time

 

Right. A pitchers mound fighter. The opponent has to get him off that pitchers mound he loves.

The other thing was so many of those guys were sloppy defense/face first type guys. He really did not face guys where he'd have to break down their defense to be effective. Those openings were there the second the contracts were signed. And plodders---geez, who else fought that many plodders?

Just think of some other heavies that would have better careers if they fought the plodder and face first guys...

 

You can go through Larry Holmes amazing career with a fine tooth comb. He should of fought fighter A instead of fighter B. This is the age of the internet. Would you be willing to go through Marciano's career with the same fine tooth comb? Especially his early career Pre Title?
He fought his brother under another name? Ted Lowry? Being managed under the table by Al Well. Who was in a position of power in N.Y. until exposed. What advantges did Rocky get from this? 49-0 but how many of those wins were against world class opposition compared to Larry Holmes.

Hell no wonder Holmes gets irritate dfrom time to time. 'Larry you shoulda did more'! KMA