Larry Holmes vs Rocky Marciano

None of that means he would beat Holmes. Boxing, like other sports, evolves. If Holmes employs his massive reach advantage and utilizes even a modicum of lateral movement while remembering to jab, he can win this by comfortable decision. It is important to remember the heavies in Marciano's era rarely employed lateral movement. Ali ushered that in and Holmes, while no Ali in that department, could, when he wanted, employ it effectively. He would be too smart to stand in close with Marciano or to stand right in front of him for long stretches. Holmes by unanimous decision.

 

There hasn't been a single advance in boxing technique, between Marciano's era and Holmes's era.

Not one.

 

Except that 5 foot 10, 67" reach guys with slow hands and slow feet don't make a dent in the heavyweight division.

 

How many have tried with those credentials?

 

How many heavyweights have there been with a 67'' reach in any era?

I would submit that it is such a rarity, that you can't draw any inferences one way or the other.

 

Not even in lateral movement? Next you'll be saying they could throw left hooks in the fifties, too!

 

Doesn't say much for Lennox ****ing Lewis, then!

 

I can't help but think that the arguments for Holmes, turn on three fairly weak hands here.

People keep making an argument based on his size, and he is a few pounds heavier than some of Marciano's opponents.

Others are making arguments based on his technical ability, and Marciano was a swarmer who specialized in breaking down technical boxers.

Yet others try to undermine his chances by attacking his opposition, and Holmes's opposition was probably worse.

 

excellent post and very accurate :good

 

I would say it's Holmes size (height and reach) combined with his all time great jab, superb interior defense, full ****nal of punches and great fighting will, which was equal to or exceeded Marciano's. He beats Marciano in a boxing match or a fight. Holmes likes fighting... a lot. He was a high school wrestling champ, got in street fights even when rich, and was taking on MMA guys in the gym when in his 50's. He was a bad motherfukker, par none.

 

It doesn't matter if Larry is intimidated or not, a great right hand would separate him from his senses and Marciano was relentless and quietly mean and had tremendous killer instinct and will to win.

Holmes came in brave against 5"10 Nick Wells in the amateurs and Bobick but was taken out on a stretcher 2x DQ'd to avoid it vs Duane and Holmes was not afraid vs 5'9 Tyson but was blasted out. As soon as Larry stepped up in class he was beaten and by a guy who never fought over 175lbs.....the Charles that fought Marciano in fight one may haven taken that Holmes out of there

sometimes fear can be a good thing

 

Shavers' one right hand didn't KO him, and in fact made him fight harder immediately, but the attrition puncher Marciano is going to do it with one punch?

 

Holmes would easily outbox Marciano, maybe stop him late on

 

You must live on fantasy island if you believe that Tyson and McCall " only " sparred. Ask every Tyson freak on the internet, never mind this board. They worship the fact that he went to injure his sparring partners, and the best that you can come up with is that over all the years they sparred together Tyson hurt McCall once with a body shot.

Well whoop dee doo. I have read posts where folks claim McCall in fact dropped Tyson once or twice during their many sessions. It matters not a jot. I am categorically stating that Marciano could only dream of hitting as hard, fast, or accurately as the prime Tyson ( whom I despise, but I try not to let my hatred of the guy cloud my judgement with regard to his combined power and hand speed, particularly in combination punching ), and he couldn't dent McCall's chin.

Furthermore I am saying if McCall fought Marciano far from trying to keep Marciano off him like Walcott, Moore, Charles, and an old Joe Louis had to, McCall would welcome him coming forward comfortable in the absolute knowledge that Marciano could NOT hurt him.

Then he has 2 options, he can either start using his 4 inches in height, 235+ lbs, and far superior strength to tie Marciano up, lean all over him and sap his strength, or he could even use his 15" reach advantage and smack Marciano on the way in.

So lets recap, McCalls advantages

4" in height

15" in reach,

anything between

45 - 50 lbs in weight

and a chin that Marciano couldn't crack in a month of Sundays.

Lets get back to Holmes

same height advantage

same reach advantage

" only " 30+ lbs in weight advantage

far greater skills than McCall ( and Marciano )

but,

a chin that Marciano could possibly crack.

I think we can safely say even you wouldn't be daft enough to claim Marciano, out boxes Holmes. Which when push comes to shove, what you are actually saying, albeit unintentionally, is all Marciano has is a punchers chance.

What was that quote from King? Something about slim and none, but slim just left town.

 

Nor the other 70 guys that tried but couldn't crack McCalls chin.:roll::roll: