Joe Frazier vs Rocky Marciano : who wins?

Your analysis is a reasonable one, but I suspect the Rock's chin was not any better than Frazier's.

Frazier's chin is underrated, imo.

I sincerely think very, very few heavies in history get up from that second knockdown in the first Foreman fight.

And even fewer are still on their feet at the end of that fight like Frazier was.

Frazier would beat down Marciano over 9 to 10 rounds.

 

Oh my God. I don't know, but neither would ever be the same.

 

I just watched quite a bit of both. I'm familiar with Frazier's skills but less so with Marciano's. How does Frazier win this fight? Most favour him.


I favour Marciano. He seems slightly tougher to me and has the heavier fists. He'd win the war of attrition.

Thoughts?

 

Good points. I agree about the chins. They both were tough. Foreman was an uncommon force of nature in his prime.

 

If I could just watch one fight in all history this be it. Can you imagine the excitement this kind of war would generate? Two gladiators with the heart of a lion in a fight they could do in a phone booth! Could have been the most exciting fight of all time. In the end I think Frazier does everything just a little better and one of the keys in this fight will be who can duck better and I think Frazier had better head movement with everything else being pretty equal except Marciano would also cut. I wouldn't want to pick a round but I sure liek to have seen it

 

When did Joe say that? I'm more surprised by his bravado there.

 

I especially agree with the fact that Joe was more skilled than he is given credit, while questioning when he developed his right.

 

Marciano by late round ko. Watch Frazier fight Ron Stander on YouTube. Stander, far from a great fighter, but strong and game, to everyone's surprise (including Yank Durham) back Frazier up. If Stander could do it, I assure you Rocky could. And Frazier could not fight backing up. Also, Bonavena went the distance with Joe twice, yet some think that Rocky wouldn't be able to? Pass the jug here boys.

 

The relentless style and pressure of Frazier would be too much for Marciano. That left hook of Frazier was a thing of beauty but pain.

 

Why do you think that Marciano was particularly vulnerable to pressure, or a left hook.

 

One could say the same thing of Marciano's Suzy-Q. No?

 

A lot of people have brought up George Foreman, when talking of Frazier and who his proved his chin against, but Foreman splattered Frazier?? Difficult to really discern Frazier being splattered by Foreman from anyone else being splattered by Foreman in a similar fashion?

Plus, outside of Foreman, what other real big heavyweight punchers did Frazier really fight even??

To be honest I see more non-punchers on his resume that actual knockout punchers? Ali, non-puncher, Jimmy Ellis, non-puncher, Bob Foster, non-puncher at heavyweight who didn't even attempt any power punches against Frazier, Doug Jones not a puncher at heavy, Eddie Machen? Not a puncher and shot to pieces? Chuvalo wasn't a puncher? Bonavena was strong but not really an elite puncher (and he had Frazier this far from being stopped on a 3-knockdown rule), Quarry maybe? But was he real in the bracket of an all time great puncher? Foreman said Mel Turnbow was one of the hardest punchers I think so Frazier fought him in like his 5th fight or something and Cummings at the tale knocker Frank Bruno bandy but should that fight really be any kind of consideration? I've seen Frazier rocked and his attention got by a few of the non-punchers he fought because he was too easy to hit sometimes??

 

Also I don't get where people get this idea that Frazier was quicker than Marciano?? Frazier chugged along? He was predictable, he took enough time that most guys could time him - that means he took too long? You could see him building up for each punch? He basically gave guys time to prepare for what was coming when he used to do his 1-2-3 deep breath and then hook? Watch Marciano against Rex Layne, Marciano was his feet and faster with his punches his punches were shorter and got to the target MUCH faster than Frazier? Frazier looped his punches and curled them much wider Marciano would get to the target much more directly without Frazier tendency to load up

 

Good observation, never entered my mind. Frazier was floored by Mike Bruce early in his career and twice by Bonavena.

 

An in shape prime Frazier was just over 200 the 220 version was him on the downside of his career when he was struggling to keep his weight down and was spreading his time out to his other ventures just not the same guy who destroyed Mathis, Quarry, and others in his pre Foreman career. Frazier was lean, fast, sharp and threw crisp two handed combos, and swarmed for the length of the fight with hard fast short punches.

I am a huge fan of Frazier and Marciano and I see styles being the deciding factor. Frazier swarmed coming forward squared up with his crouch putting his head on the other guys chest. Rocky was similar in being a swarmer but different in stance he usually leaned back over his right leg forcing fighters to lean into him to land punches and were within Rocky's range.

Frazier bobbed and weaved rhythmically and used this movement to hook as he moved back and forth and uppercut as he bobbed. Rocky threw harder punch for punch every thing he threw was meant to knock you out. When he couldn't land he punched what was available and threw hard all night. Frazier was more accurate Marciano threw harder with everything.

I think Marciano would have been harder to hit for Frazier even Ali admitted after the computerized superfight that he was harder to hit than he looked.

Toughness I have these two close to even, Frazier fought the bigger stronger men (Foreman).

Durability goes to Marciano he was just a machine who fought from bell to bell.

I see this fight going to mid or late rounds they meet mid ring and fight until one man relents and neither ever did but...when one does it turns around the next round because of resiliency. The fight ends with a cut stoppage Frazier was sharper and would cut Rocky with his hooks but he doesn't beat him the ref stops it. These two are 50/50 head to head IMO.

Rocky drops and hurts Frazier in the fight and Frazier stuns the Rock. The Rock has a style fighters can't mimick or train for like Bonavena. Rocky was a stronger willed fighter than anyone Joe ever fought he won't break his will.

You can't discount the damage Frazier has done cutting fighters and faces (Chuvalo) freak punch or not it is impressive to make Chuvalo turn his back in a fight. The way Frazier beat up and bloodied fighters cannot be discounted.