Jack Johnson v Rocky Marciano

Louis had no luck landing uppercuts vs Rock.

 

Ignominious defeat? A 37 year old man nearly 20lbs over his best weight goes 26 rounds with a 24 year old giant ,who is in the best shape of his life,and the older man is well in front up to the 15 th round .I don't think that is an ignominious defeat.

 

He had no luck landing right hands on him either,reason ? He never threw any, he made the fight with the remnants of his left jab and an occassional left hook,You pick Louis's last fight when he was clearly washed up as an example of how Marciano would avoid uppercuts? ANY boxing coach worth his salt will tell you the uppercut is a prime weapon against a croucher.

 

Agree with that, but Johnson's other main strategy was to tie up opponents to stop them from working. Against Rocky he has a man with short arms who can get maximum leverage into short range/no range punches. many fighters could not get that leverage in against Johnson. Rocky would be able to.

For me it's a given that Johnson was better and would have more control in the fight. He will land his uppercut. But many of Johnson's opponents were unable to stcik naything on him. I see marciano having more success here than most, because he can get the leverage into that messy inside work.

 

The Rock has too many guns in this match up...

 

I concur with your assessment that marciano would be able to land ,the question is would he be able to land enough? Johnson was skilled at nullifying an opponents offence ,he had powerful arms and hands,he would grab the biceps and squeeze,,his defensive mastery kept his foes off balance,but Rocky would trundle in doing his own thing .No one was fitter than Marciano ,or braver ,but many were defensively cleverer,in this Johnson is paramount what would shape up as a terrific fight would degenerate into a hold em, grab em maul imo,and it would be Johnson initiating it.Marciano for all his virtues was not very quick afoot or with his punches,in his prime Johnson had radar.

 

I agree with all that. I think Johnson wins. I believe Johnson to be one of the absolute elite HWs. My point about Marciano is that for once Johnson's style might give him more advantages than he usually gets against HWs.

 

johnson would destroy him from the outside and would make this fight lopsided as rocky would need to get inside and johnson would unload on his way in with more than enough power to demand respect rocky would have no option than to keep trying to get in or give up. johnson could keep the highest of high paces up all fight long as this man was use to fights 10's of rounds

 

Try a 34 year old giant who many continue to rundown to this day. Ignominious in the eyes of many "experts", not in mine. And again, being in front at the 15th round does not get credit when it is scheduled for 45 rounds and you get KO'd in teh 26th.

 

To be fair though:

Johnson was:

Fat.

Old.

Inactive.

Had narrowly edged Frank Moran in his last fight after failing to bribe him to lie down.

Had been institutionalised after the Jeffries fight.

Had been training out of a hotel room for the past few years.

 

Given Johnson's life style do you really see it as an ignominious defeat? If so I think you are being harsh.I don't run down Willard he was there and willing to take the punishment.Willard could take it ,as Gunboat Smith,a big hitter would attest.Allright it was scheduled for 45 rds, what other option was there for Johnson,given his age and condition but to try and finish it inside the half way mark?

 

McVey,

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FIGHT!!!

The masterful Jack Johnson against the ultimate swarmer!!!

I too think that Johnson would give Marciano a real fight!!!

(And I am a Marciano fan). Johnson had a GREAT jab and a

wily defense. Johnson's UPPERCUT was brutal and he might have

been able to nullify Marciano's offense.

I'm not sure who would have won this - but I would have loved

to see the fight!!!

Grebfan9
www.firstroundboxing.com

 

I think Johnson takes a 15 round decision. I don't believe he would have too much trouble controlling Rocky and preventing him from getting a lot done on the inside while slamming home those lightning fast uppercuts. Rocky needed room to throw his bombs but his "room" would be right in grappling range for Johnson.