Larry Homes .Vs. Rocky Marciano Both 49-0.

If Renaldo Snipes could land his right hand on Holmes...

 

Good post, I want to add Spinks had a 10-2-2 record and was just KO'd in 1 rd by Gerrie Coetzee

 

People are missing the most important point here.

Marciano at this stage of his career was quite close to being the best version that there had ever been while Holmes's best days were a fair way behind him.

We are efectivley saying, the Marciano of the Moore fight vs the Holmes of the first Spinks fight.

Regardless of who would have won prime for prime it is unlikley that Holmes could beat a pressure fighter like Marciano at this stage of his career.

 

I am just going by what Rocky stated many times and several of his sparring partner have said as well. He repeatedly stated that he needed room to throw his punches.

Toxey Hall: "The thing is that Rocky couldn't do much if you crowded him. But if you gave him room, he'd knock you out.

Larry had one of the best and most powerful left jabs in the history of the sport. Rocky was a GREAT, BUT small heavyweight, 5′ 10″ and weighed between 184 to 189 when he was at his best. Larry would have 5" in height, 35 pounds in weight, and 13" in reach. I just can not see Rocky getting close enough to Larry to do some real damage. Rocky never fought a top rated Big man like Larry, unless you count Joe Louis, when he was just a shell of himself.

Rocky fought 13 different opponents that were rated in the top 10 at one time or another a total of 16 times in 49 bouts.

Holmes fought 26 different opponents that were rated in the top 10 at one time or another a total of 30 times in 75 bouts.

And if you go by when they were rated in the top 10, Larry fought more then twice as many. Rocky only fought 8 different top 10 boxers a total of 11 times.

 

I still can't see Holmes losing to Rocky even at that stage of their careers.

 

Hsscup,

So you think a 36 year old Larry Holmes beats Rocky Marciano? Not a cat's chance in hell. Too old and lazy, he would get broken down and destroyed. Prime for Prime? very close fight.


FYI Rocky was closer to 5'11, not 5'10.

 

I don't have a blind spot, I am going by facts. Holmes would be too BIG for Rocky. Like I stated, Larry would have 35 pounds, 5" in height and 13" in reach. That's like saying Roberto Duran would beat Sugar Ray Robinson when Duran weighed only 135 and Robinson was 160, and that's only 25 pounds, 4" in height 6½" in reach.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect everyones.

Last Tuesday night I was with Larry at the COMBATT affair in Newark. Michael Spinks was also their and Butch Lewis, who handled Spinks at that time, stated that Larry really won those bouts.

 

Like I said, you have your opinion and I have mine, so no need to get nasty. Prime for prime, Larry wins going away.

Most sources have him at 5'10-1/4", his brother told me that was a stretch.

 

If size is such a huge factor in the scheme of things, then I guess using that logic Holmes doesn't fare too well against a much biigger man than himself, like say a Jameel McCline.

And there was quite a bit of deterioration on Marciano going into that Moore fight & he was hardly the same guy. You just have to look at other area's aside from punching power to see them.

 

I am not saying size is the only factor, talent has a lot to do with it as well. Larry was a GREAT boxer, McCline, who I really like personally, isn't.

 

Wrong, most sources have him listed as 5'10 3/4 which is closer to 5'11.

You just picked a 36 year old man who lost to Carl Williams, Michael Spinx, and got destroyed by Mike Tyson to beat Rocky Marciano.

Thats YOUR opinion. not mine, and not everyone elses. After watching 19-8 smallish Michael Weaver outslug Larry Holmes for 10 rounds with big right hands, I think youll find rocky has a better chance than you think. Larry Holmes presents alot of problems for marciano, but I think marciano presents more for Larry. This is a barnburner though, it would be a great fight. Lots of action.

 

I would say it takes a bit of a leap of faith to pick Holmes over any near prime all time great at this stage of his career.

He wasnt exactly doing great against the best of his own era.

 

Assuming Holmes had gotten the nod over Spinks, reaching 49-0, Rocky Marciano, after beating Moore and going 49-0, would have stopped Larry late...in my opinion.