Marciano in the Joe Louis era?

Not sure, best at best, I pick Rocky to beat evey one Louis face.

But Marciano's style was not ment to last for 12 years. I dont think Rocky would have made it 12 years plus rise to the title with out having a lost some were. All in All, I think Rocky could repeat the 49-0 record, than retires around 44 or 45. But I dont think he could repeat what Louis did with 12 years and or 25 defenses.

 

I could see Rocky picking up maybe one or two losses if he kept Louis' schedule.

 

Most people consider Walcott and Charles among Louis' best opponents, and Marciano already knocked both out, twice. However, i doubt Marciano could reign for 11 years like Joe did.

 

I dont think that Marciano would be physicaly capable of fighting Joe Louis's schedule for as long as he did.

His style combined with the ring wear he took would mean that something would have to give sooner or later.

If Marciano had not retired when he did then expect him to decline verry quickly.

 

It would have been interesting to see how Marciano would have done against the likes of some of the giants like Max, Buddy, Primo and Abe. On the surface, he probably beats all of them with out much trouble, but I would be curious to see how he does against M. Baer, who's style was silimlar to Foreman's which was like poison to swarmers.

 

Max' style perhaps was like Foreman's, but Foreman was way more effective, and had more of a seek-and-destroy attitude that makes him shine against swarmers. In Baer's case, i'm not so sure. Foreman, while technically flawed, made good use of the uppercut and left hook. Baer mostly throws wild right handed swings; Marciano would answer in return, and Baer was more than wide open to hit as Louis showed.

It would be an interesting fight, though. But i don't give Max much chance.

 

True

 

Marciano is a favorite over most of the men Louis faced. I think, really, the only men he would have had major problems with would have been Walcott, Charles and maybe Tommy Farr. Could he have went 25 title defenses in 11 years? The schedule Louis had was amazing and only Holmes came close. Marciano's excessive training and conditioning may have worked considering the schedule, but then again, maybe Marciano needed to train like that just for one guy at a time, while Louis more or less had skills no matter his condition.

Question that matters, imo, could Marciano have beaten Louis?

 

Max Schmelling may have been a difficult opponent for Rocky too.

Max had power, could box, and was smart.

 

Marciano had problems, mainly with movers. Schmeling was a great boxer, but a tad mechanical and methodical, I dont think he could have slugged it with Marciano for too long, his bout with Max Baer attested to what even a wild, sloppy, power house could do to him....

 

If Marciano goes straight to boxing after giving up baseball then he might have hit his stride at a younger age. Let's say he moved into M. Baer territory the same time as Louis did (1935). If Marciano gets past M Baer (probable, IMO), then I think he gets by Schmeling in '36 (probably a good fight), maybe wins the title that year? Probably gets through Louis's 1937-1940 comp. Now, the big question: five years a champion, and after a long, monthly string of softer fights, is he psychologically ready for Conn? From hear on till about 1943 the question is will Rocky keep his laser focus.
Does Rocky then go into the service and have to forego boxing for three years? Should Marciano then retire as champion? I don't like this Marciano against '47/'48 Walcott.
Of course, I've been putting Marciano in place of Louis. But, if Louis is also around, then this effects things greatly. If Schmeling fights (and looses) to Marciano in '36, then Marciano and Louis would perhaps need to fight before either challenged Braddock. On the other hand, if Schmeling KO'd Louis, then he might not feel a need to meet Marciano. Still (politics) Marciano probably would get the title shot. Perhaps Louis and Schmeling would meet again before either could get a shot at Marciano? So in this case I'm thinking Rocky and Joe meet late '38 or '39. I can't really call Louis vs Marciano. I rank Louis a little ahead of Marciano all-round, but I think Rocky is a hard style for Joe; it about evens out.

 

The Rock took too many punches to fight that often.

 

I dont think Marciano or anyone could fight at the pace he fought with the intense training routine for so many years...It has to wear you down...and it was those training habits along with the power and other gifts that made him great. I think he could beat anyone of Louis's opponents but could he sustain it for 12 years and 25 title defences without a loss, that is a hard thing for a swarmer to do. Frazier had a shorter prime but was also less dedicated after Ali 1......Marciano could beat them all but Louis had a couple of ugly wins (Walcott (bad decision)) and was dropped in a few. I just dont know if Marciano could keep the pace up for 25 fights but it is possible but extremly differcult with his style...Louis was the best combo/power puncher, a great style to beat most styles while at the same time has trouble with the boxers and the punchers....still if I had to pick the perfect style and perfect counter puncher against both the boxer and the puncher, it would be Joe Louis. Marciano may have been able to beat Louis in his prime because of his power and pressure but to duplicate what Louis did in his career for as long as he did is not easy

 

Rocky would certainly be generally considered the favorite over anyone Louis defended the title against, but I have my doubts about him having the longevity to maintain dominance for 12 years; with his taxing training schedule and physically straining and punishing style that led to numerous injuries, it seems probable he would burn out before he got to the end and lose to someone.