Marciano vs Holyfield... CWD

Epic fight.

I reckon Marciano would have a feast at cuiserweight, the only man to really test him would be Holyfield.
I see Holyfield brawling with Marciano, and nobody who ever did that lasted too long. Evander has the intagibles to make things interesting, and he'd probably get the better of things early because of a higher punch output.
In today's ring with today's rules I think Marciano would have to really be careful of cuts.*
Still, I have to go with Marciano. Holyfield's level of competition wasn't that great at cuiserweight and the best guy he beat there was Carlos DeLeon, a guy not fit to step in the same ring as Marciano.
Marciano was truly superb at overcoming odds - even moreso than Holyfield - and I'm confident that whatever came Rocky's way, he could deal with either over 12 or 15 rounds. Nobody, not even Evander, was as superbly conditioned as Marciano.

It would be a ring classic with the tide of battle turning to and fro, but Marciano matches Evander's heart, determination and endurance, and eventually would start to wear Evander down with superior power and durability.
Over 12 I think it goes to the cards with Marciano a close but clear winner. Over 15, there is a possibility Rocky stops him.

*There is a reasonable chance that Marciano gets stopped on cuts.

 

You think Carlos DeLeon was better than Dwight Muhammad Qawi?

 

I may be making some enemies here but I have to pick Holyfield though not by a landslide. Holy was taller with a longer reach and better skills. His hands were faster and he threw raoid fire combinations. He was more mobile especially at CW and he took a great punch. Holy took on skilled behemoths such as Bowe and Lewis and traded shot for shot with them. Marciano generally fought skilled but rather small HW/LHW opponents such as Charles, Moore, Walcott and Men like Ted Lewis and LaStarza. He never traded with goliaths like Lewis or Bowe (Remember the 10th round of the 1st Bowe/Holyfield war). If Evander boxes Rocky the way he did Bowe in thier 2nd fight then Evander cuts Rocky up and cruises to a decision win or late stoppage. If he gets careless like he did in his fight with Bert Cooper then Rocky has a chance but Rocky has to knockout a CW Holyfield to win. He's not winning ths fight on points.

 

I'm sure some will disagree with you but I don't see why this post would make enemies. Holyfield was a great cruiser. I'm stumped. Not sure who to pick.

 

While its favorable to pick a peak-heavyweight Marciano over a developing cruiserweight Holyfield, I also think that comparison is somewhat unfair.

Evander won the Cruiserweight title with only 11 pro fights, while Marciano did not begin fighting top raters until he was something like 25-0. Sure, the size perameters were about the same given the different standards of what made a heavyweight in Marciano's day. But, then again, Marciano did not win the title against a man who weighed around 200 pounds until he was maybe 42-0. Holyfield was 24-0 when he took the lineal title at a similar weight range...

And even so, I think that a green Holyfield would have had a good chance of beating a young heavyweight version of the Rock. Remember, Holyfield had an extensive amatuer career - something that most fighters of that period did not. He had a well organized management and training team - something that most fighters of that period did not. - he had a good early record against top contenders, or champions if you will, at an early age - something that most fighters of that period did not.. Hell, he went 15 rounds against an all time great in only his 12th pro fight - a match that put him in the hospital, but did not stop him from victory...... Can the Rock say that???

 

Rocky by late rd KO, his pressure gets to Evander

 

I personally think you could also throw Dempsey into the mix as well.