Is Rocky Marciano the Greatest H2H fighter of All Time?

In fairness to Rocky, I think he was greater than the sum of his parts. Most the elite heavies were genetically gifted freaks, whereas Rocky, despite possessing some great physical gifts, wasn't. But he was great all the same.

 

I don't see anything Steward said as derogatory, the fact that he had posters of Rocky on his gym walls would indicate the opposite to me.
He just did not think he had a shout against modern heavyweights.
We have different definitions of what constitutes a great fighter,imo neither Patterson or Walcott were great fighters,Charles certainly was but not at heavyweight.

 

Marciano was phenomenal! He was 188 pounds, had short arms, was a clumsy fighter and he cut easily. And he STILL overcame and knocked out everyone easily.

From that I'd say Steward thought pretty highly of Rocky.

But he's also correct in his other point. The heavyweight division of today isn't really the same division Rocky was in. It's the equivalent of two or three weight classes heavier. The typical 6'1 190lb heavy who predominated in much of its history has been frozen out by the super-heavies, and now has to boil down to cruiser or take his chances as a feather-fisted cutie.

 

Steward was a size queen.

 

Steward summed Rocky up as the greatest over-achiever ,I think that is absolutely spot on!

 

Seamus you're above making Bait Threads

To answer, Rocky isn't the best ever p4p, but he's one of the best if not the best 185 to 200 fighter ever.

 

I want to see if Marciano could take a 1-2 from Lewis like Rahman did

 

Yes, that's right. Body building became a factor and the training changed. The gloves got bigger. Championship rounds shortened to 12 from 15. Pace changed. Fighters cut less weight and built up.

The trend in the lower divisions is to be as big for the weight as possible. Cruiserweights can make super middle and rehydrate back to cruiser come first bell. with 24 hour weigh ins people cheat the scales.

Train everyone the old way, make the gloves smaller and there won't be so many 6'7" 240lb heavyweights.

I imagine it would go back to 6'3" 215 pounders being the biggest guys.

 

Of course he's not. There have been greater head to head fighters. He just gives everybody a hard fight.

 

My problem, is that there are no less than four anti Marciano threads on the front page, at time of writing.

That is excessive by any definition.

 

I pick these guys to beat Rocky hands down:
Lewis
Bowe
Tyson
Foreman
Japan Douglas

50-50 fights
Ali
Louis
JJ
Vitali
Wlad
Morrison
Liston

IActually Liston and Ali would be in between hands down and 50-50.

Thats not bad for all time, so id say he was one of the best h2h atg.