Larry Holmes vs Rocky Marciano

You can't beat Marciano with just a jab.

Louis tried, and Walcott tried, and he was not even remotely deterred.

It would be the same with Holmes.

There are basically only two ways to beat Marciano.

Either you use his momentum against him, and smash him coming in, which Holmes does not have the power to do.

Or you get on your bicycle pretty quickly.

Holmes should opt for option B.

 

You could beat Marciano with jab and the uppercut, both of which Holmes was a master at.
Let us not forget that a 38 years old Walcott was in front at the time of the stoppage.

 

delete."

 

So any film of Marciano's face resembling Pizza in fights, was just special effects / make up was it if he was so hard to hit?

 

Holmes is the bigger, stronger, quicker and more skilled pugilist. He has no reason to run from Rocky.

 

Oh yes he does.

Marciano hits much harder, has a higher work rate, and applies constant pressure.

It is the simple boxer vs swarmer dynamic.

If Holmes tries to mix it up with Marciano, he is getting broken in half!

 

I don't remember anybody beating Marciano.

I would also say that Walcott was much more elusive than Holmes, and might have hit harder.

 

Holmes on points or late stoppage due to cuts... in a very hard grueling contest.

 

Forget the ring.

They inadvertently arrive at the same time and words are exchanged in the parking lot. Things get out of hand and it come to blows.


How does that pan out ?

 

Does Rocky have a higher work rate than Holmes? I've not checked the punch stats.

it is not that simple at hw. For instance Pacquiao is a great swarmer but prime for prime vs andre ward I don't fancy his chances.

Dwight Qawi has no success at HW, none.

 

i doubt it Holmes would be hitting down hill as long as the fight lasted hence bringing his chin right into the rocks path ,and if there is one place you don't want your chin its within Marcianos range as Goldman said 'if a fighter is small make him smaller if tall make him taller',his stamina and chin would also have kept him in the fight imho .Holmes has also apologised for saying what he said

 

Damn right he should apologise. No one needs disrespect like that.

But as for the fight, I see no way Rocky wins more than 2-3 rounds. Every so often he'll land a shot and push him against the ropes and score points maybe enough to take rounds, but it won't be consistent enough to win the fight.

Jab jab jab.

 

Ali stated he did not think he could beat Marciano consistently. Ali was a far greater fighter than Holmes. No chance Holmes stands there and fights Rocky. He will be koed quickly if that were to happen. Rocky has a right hand from hell and Holmes was always open for a right hand over that low jab of his. Holmes gets on his bicycle sticking and moving and is leading when Marciano stops him late in the fight. Everyone needs to stop and really watch Rock fight. At one time I had the opinions of some on here regarding Marciano....I was wrong. Not only was the guy an incredible puncher (hit harder than Louis as per Walcott) but he was cute in there. Very subtle skills made him a tough target to hit cleanly. He was always fighting low, blocking, slipping, parrying and coming back with hard counters.

 

Can I first say that I think Holmes was a great fighter. An all time great with a superior longevity than Rocky could ever hope to have. Holmes did indeed have a fantastic jab too but it was not jabs that concerned Marciano.

People harp on about old Joe Louis jabbing Rocky but that was a step off, defensive jab that poor Joe resorted to using in order to survive the shelling he was getting in order to survive. It was not his regular jab -the set up shot he was famous for working off of. Any body who has studied Joe Louis can see that. When Joe was in his prime he could time an up jab to knock a man's head into the path a follow up punch of his choice. This was not what Louis was capable of anymore. He did not have the room or time to use it. This was his jab you "and get the hell out of the way" punch. If your not walking in behind the jab you get tired and there was no room to do that with a crowding croucher.

Rocky would crowd Holmes, rush him after making Larry reach down at him. Although Holmes was extremely effective against Marvis Frazier and Ossie Ocassio inside I think Rocky would be more awkward. His power and strength would make the difference.

No getting away from it Holmes brings a lot of issues for Rocky because Larry could really fight and was very game and durable but any fighter half as great as Rocky with a big right hand was a problem for Larry. And he has this here too.

It is not easy for either fighters.

 

There were many there that thought Lastarza did the first fight.

If The Marciano Walcott fight had been over 12 rds who would have won? Walcott was clearly in front 7-4 7-5 8-4 on the score cards.
And I would say that Holmes was appreciably stronger, bigger and faster than Walcott, had a better jab ,and a better chin.He also had the perfect antidote for he crouching swarmer, the uppercut. Louis busted up Marciano's face with just a jab and Louis has problems with his right side going into that fight , he couldn't hold up his right hand. Manny Seamon and Marshall Miles made Louiis train indoors at night so the press would not become aware of it.

Holmes had 7 inches reach on Walcott ,that is 13 inches more than Marciano!
He would also be in his prime not nearly 40 years old..:think