I'm no huge Marciano fan but anyone questioning his greatness needs to examine their motivation in doing so. Only one man ended his career without losing and that was Marciano. He was in tough bouts and always came back to win....this is something a historian looks for in rating all time greatness. He beat a legitimate true hwt champion to win the title and ducked no one in defending it. He trained like a man possessed, had the heart and will to win as huge as any fighter in any weight class. You can nit pick any hwt champion...that's a game for beginners. Rocky showed ATG attributes and was and is rated among hwt boxings best as he should be.
I picked Liston but I hate people slagging off Rocky. Anyone with his power, fitness and heart should be respected.
Marciano said that Liston and a prime Louis were the only two fighters he would dread getting in the ring with. Louis was Rocky's idol and I think he was trying to be nice. I think he meant it regarding Liston.
Where as Liston quit...was beaten by a light heavy...never went 15rounds...eye burning agent.. knocked out in one round....etc etc. All champs have serious question marks but Sonny WAS a question mark!
I've pretty much reached the point where I'm only interested in responding to serious debate not posts made by either guys trying to spur on debate with arguments they know are weak or even worse, that don't know how porous their posts are ...
Just like Dempsey was and is rated the last 70 years as an ATG by those far wiser than you so does Marciano rate highly. Concurrently Liston does not rate as high. The reasons quite simply are Liston did not exhibit ATG attributes. You cannot reach back and change what is widely known and understood history. You might think you can...but you cannot.
Marciano gave Louis sympathy rounds. He could of taken him out in round 1. If the the fight was a 1 round , Rock would of creamed him and you all know it. I rank Louis no.1 HW of all timeAbove Ali.
There is no evidence that Rocky could have koed Louis in one round. Rocky gradually wore Louis down for the ko win.
Can you provide proof and/or a source that Marciano said this? I've read lots about Marciano and I've never heard or read about Marciano saying this.
I disagree. He beat an absolutely shot RJJ. I think he lost to an overrated Hopkins. The rest of his CV is **** weak. If Joe had fought Toney, Hopkins and Jones in their primes and beat them I would call him great. Marciano was in a different league to Joe.