Larry Holmes vs Rocky Marciano

Pressure...pressure...and more pressure. Holmes was susceptible to the right hand
...Marciano had the "Suzie Q"...this would be a struggle for both men...but I like
The Rock in this one...I think Rocky wears him down...good fight...

 

Marciano was an ATG fighter head and shoulders over anyone Holmes fought in terms of the qualities that make an ATG fighter.

 

This is a great matchup. Again like the Lewis match up I would favor Larry.

 

Nick Wells knocked Holmes out twice and he was Marcianos height.

Holmes had his way with big hitters, granted, but those big hitters were not as effective knocking out elite fighters as Marciano was.

How many world champions did Ernie Shavers and co0ney knock out? Rocky knocked out every HW World champion active during his career. This is extreme reliability at elite level.

 

He worked in his preferred range. Sorry to break the news but Holmes is a better, more varied inside fighter than Marciano... with far better defense. He picked off inside shots like a Jack Johnson.

He is most definitely a more punishing hitter than and old ass Walcott or completely shot, one-handed Louis. Do you even have eyes? Prime Holmes had the multitude of shots that Louis could only remember having while Walcott was a pot shot artist who liked to disengage more often than engage. And an old Walcott was reduced to potshotting and walking away.

Sure he would. Sure he could. Because he was so unscathed by those old-ass lightheavies he faced that Holmes should be a cinch.

Again, do you even watch tape? Holmes' inside defense is impeccable against faster fighters than Marciano. He will see everything coming that the slow ass Marciano can throw. Watch the tape.

He has every answer for Marciano's 1898 attack. Moreover, he has several attacks for which Marciano was never required to give answer.

 

Many survived Shavers KDs or hurt badly to knock him out in return, Shavers was not a good finisher, Stander,Lyle,Cobb,Mercado,Quarry,Stallings all survived a KD or were hurt by Shavers but beat him and even light heavyweight Rondon who was ko'd by 2 middleweights stayed the distance with Shavers. So while we all know Earnie could punch I think it is fair to say he was not a good finisher.

Snipes was dropped 2X in the elimination fight with Coetzee but got a DON KING GIFT of a decision to get the shot against Holmes but what other spectacular punches is Snipes known for....Maybe Holmes recuperative powers are overstated...they did not work against the 5"10 69 inch reach Tyson but Tyson could finish you and Marciano could finish you. 43 of 49 not bad

 

^ to be fair Larry was 38-39 in fight with Tyson coming off a two year layoff with no tune ups and that is the only time he was ever stopped and Larry fought until nearly 50. Tyson was also bigger and faster than Marciano. Not trying to disparage the Rock but isn't this match up prime vs prime.

 

well had Holmes fought the best of his era he may have been stopped earlier, Tyson was still green and not yet prime. Marciano is underrated on speed and by bigger I guess you mean more muscled and weight. Marciano may have been taller and Tyson had an inch or 2 in reach but Marciano had late power and stamina... I think the Holmes -Marciano fight would have been more competitive but I seen Larry get Ko'd a few times in the amateurs and I thought a top form Page, Coetzee, Thomas, Improved confidence Weaver, and Dokes and possibly Tate could have made that stylistic difference, ,Williams and Witherspoon were green and Norton a bit past it but a rematch may have went the other way, these were fights that could have went to the other guy.

 

Give Marciano credit for defeating the fighters put before him. But watching the tapes of his fights against Walcott, Charles and Moore, you see a fighter with all he can handle against older,smaller heavyweights, whose best days are past. Marciano, was fighting men of his own comparable size. All these fighters stood right in front of Marciano, throwing very few jabs or combinations. Mostly pot shotting him, and wrestling with him on the inside. Because of limitations of age they're forced into fighting a Marciano fight, and he simply isn't blowing them away.

A prime Holmes will dictate the fight. With his 30 lb weight advantage, 15 inch reach advantage, using arguably the best jab in heavyweight history as a battering ram. He is going to move around Marciano firing combinations off that hard jab, and beat the **** out of Marciano until the fight needs to be stopped because of cuts. Marciano, is going to take punishment, anytime he attempts to close on Holmes. Holmes is bigger, stronger and faster and will tie Marciano up inside anytime he gets close. I don't see this as a close fight. Marciano, never faced a prime heavyweight near as good as Holmes.

Still give Marciano his due. He defeated every fighter he faced. No other Heavyweight Champion, can make that claim. But he still isn't beating Holmes IMO.

 

Tyson was absolute prime in 1988. That was his greatest year and one of the best years for any hw in history. I would be surprised if Marciano was taller and by bigger yes I mean heavier in weight, taller and longer reach. Also faster hands. Again not trying to knock Marciano. I think it's a good match up and I'm well aware that Holmes missed some of his contempory best oppponents but he also made 20 defenses. As for his amateur record I know about bobick and wells etc but I don't really include amateur stuff when comparing pro records.

 

Both rated number 4 and number 66 in top 100 punchers of all time list..Ring Magazine. Holmes was floored by barroom bum Kevin Issacs if you want to go that route.

 

Seamus you keep referring to walcott as "old"

1. This old man was the heavyweight champion of the world.

2. His old man was coming off one of the greatest one punch knockouts ever displayed on film. Oh and it happened to be against one of the top 5 greatest fighters who ever lived .

3. This old man whose legs you saw "tire" won the 11th and 12th rounds unanimously on all three judges scorecards vs Marciano. I'm fact walcott badly hurt Marciano in round 11.. The worst Marciano has ever looked hurt on film. So when exactly did walcott tire If he kicked marcianos ass the previous two rounds

4. Walcott hit harder than Holmes. That left hook that flattened charles is a better punch than holmes ever showcased in his career.

 

Seamus


1898 atack? That's an insult to charley Goldman who did a wonderful job cleaning up Marciano. Marciano really became an effective fighter in his crouch,,watch how great he was at Bobbing weaving rolling dipping...and using different angles with his upper body move,net....and he had a wide ****nal of punches with a devastating round house right,

For someone who rates Marciano as the greatest h2h fighter of all time 200lb and below...you seem to have a low opinion on him. Holmes at his best was 208... only 8lb above your 200lb cutoff,

Marciano really shortened up his punches..making them get to the target faster than it looked