Marciano-I Just Don't Understand It

That's right . Rock's pressure had him on the back non stop.

 

13 rds of continuous bombardment in a fight he was losing until the older mans legs began to go.

 

I'd probably put him up there, to be honest. I can't think of too many fighters who could detonate a left hook quite so savagely as the Duke.

Rocky was a killer but he wasn't an explosive puncher. That's no knock on him; he simply wasn't built that way. Also, many of the guys from the 80s and 90s who displayed phenomenal explosiveness were later found to have taken steroids, something which wouldn't have been a factor in Rocky's day.

 

Some good points.

What's your definition of explosive puncher? Are you restricting "explosive puncher" just to guys who trained to work in explosive bursts of energy or describing a very hard single punch?

If you are saying Rocky was not a spurt fighter I agree.

If you are reserving "explosive puncher" for a guy who hits really hard then I feel Marciano must be included in this.

His knockout of Joe Walcott was clearly a very explosive impact that many people rate as one of the hardest blows landed of all time. It demolished Walcott.

 

The Walcott fight was a great action fight. Yes Walcott won more rounds, but each round Walcott won was tough on Joe. It was a real back and forth slugfest.

You make it sound like a version of Holmes v Cobb where Cobb got lucky in round 13!

 

I'm restricting my definition to those fighters who were able to unleash concentrated bursts of offensive energy, either singly or in combination. Someone like Tua, for instance, wasn't a great combination puncher but he had tremendous explosive energy per shot. Likewise Morrison.

I'm also not limiting myself to the hardest punchers. Holyfield, who wasn't traditionally considered a power puncher, was capable of incredible explosive bursts.

https://streamable.com/omgx

 

Just a quick question. Do you consider Arthur Abraham to be explosive? He knocked people out in a similar fashion to Marciano and has a similar swing for your life punching style.

 

I regard Abraham as a heavy handed spurt fighter. Kind of rope a dope mid ring then explodes.

Marciano was not a spurt fighter because he did not rest like Abraham did. He did not play possum.

Rocky was more pressure - counter puncher.

However, like Abraham, Rocky was heavy handed when he was swarming but he was also a paralyzing single puncher when he was hunting a man down for an opening.

 

Yes then I agree with you.

 

If Marciano was fighting today, with the current mindset and sports technology he could still an unstoppable force! He who would just be doing it at around super middleweight.

They would boil him down, and do the rehydration dance that has become an intrinsic part of the fight game today. I am a Marciano fan, I admire the fact that he overachieved and maximized his tools I feel that he would do whatever it took with what he had to be successful. He faced everyone who was available and beat them, the mark of a great champion.

Speculation as to how he would do in hypothetical matches against fighters who were born after he died impact my evaluation of the greatness of a Champion's reign less and less. This is how I am able to square my recognition of the laws of physics while including Marciano in my top 10 all-time heavyweight champions.

Yes, Head to Head hypothetical matchups are entertaining but of course they are speculation.

 

Agreed, and this is exactly the reason I consider Marciano to be one of the most explosive fighters of all time.
Again, look at this punch https://streamable.com/87gs

It's all his explosive energy focused on his shoulder snap. Look at that trajectory on the punch. It's so powerful, it drags his body to the inside, where he shifts into a square stance ready to throw with each hand.

And look at how fast he loads that punch. He bends his back leg and fires in a blink of an eye. The combination of speed and power in this single punch is, in my eyes, a great display of explosive ability. He's hitting like a very powerful heavyweight, but he's very mobile while he's punching. It's unique.

And he throws those kinds of punches constantly. And he shortens them up when he gets closer. It's constant explosive attacks you're dealing with. https://streamable.com/i15l

 

Speaking of explosiveness, I think this might be the greatest display of explosive power of all time!

https://streamable.com/puuz

As Jack takes a each step forward, he throws a punch that forces Willard backwards. Given the weight difference, insanity.

 

Very good post.

Where would Tyson be fighting today? If 216 was Tysonsc best in the ring weight, using the same rehydration dance would Mike be light heavy/cruiser today?

 

I am going by what they were not what you imagine them to be. If I went by your thought sthen the klithsckos would be our only hope against Galactus and the Hulk.

 

go back to general if you want to discuss comics.