Marciano "not easy to hit with effective punches"

Marciano fought absolute master boxers in Walcott, Charles and Moore. Everyone thinks he's easy to hit because he doesn't box according to the book. But his own form of defense was very effective. I don't see anyone of his weight beating him.

 

What exactly is it that Rocky doesnt do that the book says he should do?

Rocky Marciano, is the most technically perfect fighter I have ever seen. I know this goes against the common thinking, but look at the film. I have never seen a fighter keep his hands up as consistently as Marciano. He always gets his hands up and his defence in order as a priority. He then attacks (with hands and body position held perfectly). When he lands and is forced to break he goes back to the same defensive position. He has far better technical stance than modern boxers, particularly someone like a Vlad Klitchsko, who has the awkward long stance of his.

He looks easy to hit because he has to fight in close, as opposed to the traditional defensive move and jab style and because he does have an attacking style, but there is no doubting that he is very difficult to land on. IMO, it is his great technique which makes up for the lack of reach and weight he possessed.

I could be wrong, but it seems as if a lot of people consider running and jabbing to be the only forms of Defence, with coloured film being the most important advancement required in order to judge a fighters skill levels.

 

Absolutely. Keene Simmons (who both fought and sparred with Marciano) and Roland LaStarza also spoke to this effect. Simmons said that "When you're watching him from outside the ring, he looks easy to hit, but when you're in the ring with him, you find this isn't the case." LaStarza, when asked after their rematch in what areas Marciano had improved most since their first fight, responded, "In defense. It was harder to get at him."

 

This content is protected

marciano vs 6'3 keene simmons

 

Top post Sonny.

 

He has a tendency to have his hands a bit low, he doesn't use the traditional bob and weaving movement that other pressure fighters like Frazier and Dempsey use, his balance looks bad at times.

 

Real good info...good post!:good

 

Very good point fellas, in fact I shake my head at people who think that the only good defence is to run and clinch. Marciano is very underated in this department, he had a great chin and great recup power but also had great instinct and used his tools to the upmost. Pinpoint punchers like Charles and Walcott and Moore are harder to fight than the crude wide swinging punchers because they have the skill to acually land without leaving themselves open

 

only once in a while. he usually keeps a really high guard and keeps his right hand high by his chin. and in his earlier fights he would wind up his arms in motion up high as if to wind up for the big punch.

 

The other night I watched Marciano vs. Archie Moore. I was amazed @ Rocky's movement from the waist up. He'd bob, swivel his trunk, bend down to where his head was at the level of his knees. His movements seemed completely random and unprediictable. He must have drove his opponents crazy trying to target that kind of movement. On top of that he's simultaneously throwing heavy leather from all different angles at an impressive rate. You look @ a typical bob and weave fighter, like Frazier, and ther movements are much more predictable, repetitive and timeable. Not Rocky though. He's underrated in my book.

 

If you read the testimony of his oponents they all say the same thing.

1. He was awkward to hit.

2. His punches verry verry hard to time and prepare for.

 

This is a very good thread. I don't know of any current HW that employs the bob and weave like some of the older fighters did. This was a very effective defence. The fact Marciano was only about 4' 10" helped him with the defense he used

One fight I like to reference regarding Rocky's defense is the Moore fight. Yeah, Moore was pretty light weight wise, but a fairly accurate puncher. Well, just how many of those punches landed against Rocky at that point in his career? Rocky had a better and better defence as time went along, and it was at it's best at the end. The guy, minus back troubles, would've had a very long reign as HW champion. He just kept getting better...

 

I think this is one aspect of Marciano's (and indeed, most swarmers') game that is usually overlooked. Not only was Marciano hard to hit, but he was particularly hard to hit cleanly. When you have boxers whose power depends primarily on their accuracy (Walcott, Charles) their inability to land clean shots is going to drastically reduce their ability to hurt him effectively.

In my opinion, the only boxers who are going to be consistently and seriously hurting Marciano are the heavy-handed ones (Foreman, Lewis, Bowe etc.). While I think a peak Louis would beat Marciano, for instance, I'm almost certain that despite the damage he would inflict he wouldn't be able to stop Rocky.

 

A deceptive, but accurate sentence, Kurgan. A prime Louis beats almost everbody, including Rocky. Could Louis stop Rocky? Nope. Could he beat him on points? I think so.

I think Louis is the greatest HW in history though, so that could be clouding my view.