Marciano talking about Frazier

At least quote where you got your info instead of trying to pass it off as your own.

 

Marciano had a high opinion of Frazier and was confident that he would become a champion, which Frazier accomplished. Galento also had a high opinion on Frazier.

Marciano praised Frazier for his talent and aggressiveness, but he was critical about how easy Frazier was to hit with right hands and that Frazier let some of his opponents muscle him around too much.

Here is a piece with Marciano giving his thoughts on Frazier in his fight with Mathis in 1968.

"I'm a poor example of a fight fan," Rocky said. "I guess I saw enough of it -sort of like having too much candy. I only go to see the hot items like Frazier, Quarry. I used to love watching Willie Pep, but I don't go for the little guys any more."

"I caught Joe Frazier's act against Buster Mathis in the Garden. I had heard so much, read so much about him that I was a little disappointed in his showing. Mathis made him look bad in a couple of spots. And Frazier isn't the strongest heavyweight we've ever had. Mathis pushed him away from clinches."

"That's how you tell the strong ones-see who moves who in the clinches. It's like two football linemen going at each other, and all of a sudden one is moving the other back. Rex Layne was the only man I fought who pushed me back, and I was considered strong. All heavies aren't necessarily strong. Patterson wasn't. Clay neither. Ellis isn't. Quarry seems to be. Liston was. So was Johansson."

IT WAS suggested that maybe this fight hadn't been a fair evaluation of Frazier's strength, considering Mathis' weight advantage. Marciano agreed, but he didn't sound convinced.

They have pinned a Marciano label on the similarly constructed and destructive Frazier, and the old champion concurs: "His strategy reminds me of mine. In fact, I was almost fighting Mathis with him. I liked to put my chin on the other guy's right shoulder and punch away inside. Joe does this, too; gives you three, four shots to the body, comes up with the left hook. He is naturally aggressive."

Marciano said he never had given any though to how he would have combated someone with his own style "because there weren't too many of me around. I had a little Galento in me - not dirty like Tony, but rough. I only needed a little room to punch. Charley Goldman, my little trainer taught me that. He'd have me practice uppercuts that would just miss my own nose, when I shadow-boxed. That's how I knocked out Louis - a tight left uppercut right up the middle."
https://imgur.com/NpyBOml

Here is a piece with Marciano commenting on Frazier going into the Quarry fight in 1969

Somebody said Joe Frazier is the keep-coming type. He'll take a shot or two, good ones, and plow in. People say Joe Frazier is another Rocky Marciano in this respect. What does Rocky Marciano say?

"I think so," said Rocky Marciano, "but he takes more punches than I did. I could turn my head away, like this." Marciano raised his fists in front of his face, then turned his head sharply, to the right and backwards.

He Holds Head Straight Forward

"Just a simple little maneuver like that," said Rocky Marciano, "and you can avoid a right hand and a lot of left hooks. Charley Goldman taught me that move. Frazier comes in with his head straight forward, like this, while he's setting up his hook. He's easy to hit but he comes right back. That Mexican fighter, what's his name?"

Manuel Ramos?

"That's it, Ramos," said Rocky Marciano. "He had Frazier in trouble, but Frazier took him out. He's tough."

Tough enough to take Jerry Quarry?

"I think Frazier will beat him," said Rocky Marciano. "I was watching Frazier fight, and an old fighter I'm sitting with says he will get old quick because he takes too many punches." Marciano shook his head. "I can't see it happening yet. He hasn't had that many fights."

"It's gonna be a good fight," said Rocky Marciano. "They're both tough. I think Quarry might knock him down early, but Frazier will get up and beat him. He's a sharp puncher, a good hooker. There aren't many good hookers around. He hurts you inside."
https://imgur.com/kmHhtJM

 

He said Ali wasn't strong in the clinches. Shame Rocky didn't see him manhandle so many opponents in the 70s including Big George.

 

Yep,Ali was a seriously strong guy.It's a quality of Ali that tended to be overlooked.

 

Rocky is spot on everywhere here, awesome stuff @greynotsoold you’ll like this, If Rocky had stayed around his commentary would be invaluable… when Rocky is making the comment that Ali’s not “strong” you will need to remember he only saw Ali fight on his toes getting muscled around by Terrell and Chuvalo. I would say he like Tunney, Leonard and Moore is one of the few guys I’ve read where I can learn from just passing comments.

 

It's a great shame that he never saw Frazier in prime, Norton, Tua, Tyson. Rest in peace legend.

 

Both had legs like tree trunks .

 

Not only strong but knew how to use leverage. He could tie up anybody.

 

We're all friends here.

 

Wasn't it uppercuts in Manila that Ali knocked his mouthpiece out twice? And Ali had some success with uppercuts against Norton in their third fight.

 

I don’t always agree with his takes but from
what I’ve read/seen, Marciano was a fine analyst - he didn’t rip observations out of his ass without any fair rationale behind them.

Even when he observed some not so positive features to some later fighters games, I don’t read as it being for its own sake or being in the vein of “Back in my day….”.

Rocky seemed to genuinely celebrate the pros and objectively identify the cons of fighters who came after him…..:

For another example, Rocky was duly respectful and appreciative of the elite qualities that Sonny Liston brought to the table…..