Byrd was down massively on all three cards. Stop trying to rewrite history. Yes, if Vitali experienced a torn rotator cuff requiring surgery within the first 3 rounds before he stopped Marciano, then Marciano would win. As far as the age of Marciano's opponents, you can watch the film of his best opposition (Louis, Walcott, Charles, Moore) and see decrepitude in real time. Louis was an absolute mummy. Walcott's legs were shot (just as the writers said before the bout), Charles was clearly on his way to being a .500 fighter in a division outside his natural weight, and Moore wasn't near as strong as he had been. Go rent some eyeballs.
I watched the fight, those cards were bull****. Canelo had a draw with GGG but it's hardly rewriting history to say the 118-110 card was bollocks. If Vitali got hurt and didn't like it, Marciano would win. Sure mate, if you can't see how good Charles, Moore and Walcott looked before Marciano and during their fights with Marciano then whatever. That's you denying reality.
My head is telling me go with the laws of physics but my gut is telling me this is a winnable fight for the Rock. Not saying he would, but I think he could. Best I can do for you.
Nothing to do with the Vit/Chris fight, which Vitali was winning going away. If his shoulder went out? What aspect of Byrd's approach do you think Marciano could emulate, considering that Byrd was million times faster, had by far better balance... oh and was two inches taller, 30 pounds heavier, and 7 inches more of reach? I see old, shopworn fighters, two of which are fighting out of their best weight, all of which had their old and/or diseased legs leave them as the rounds went on. I see old fighters who remember how to fight but whose bodies betrayed them.
I'd heavily favor Vitali for size and durability but one things for sure...............if the going ever did get super grueling there's no quit in Marciano.......Vitali however........
The Byrd fight was closer than the cards indicated. That said, Vits beats Marciano relatively easily. I agree Rock fought nothing like Byrd and wouldn't emulate that fight. Rocky would be there to be hit, and constantly with Vits physical advantages and Rocky's mediocre to sub par defense. Vits stops in 8. Jmo.
Byrd was very elusive so a different style to Marciano. Also Byrd at heavyweight was weighing around 210 pounds which I would say is significantly heavier than Marciano weighing 185 pounds.