Marciano's 49-0 vs. The Rest

Great thread and post Ironchamp. Confirms my already high thoughts on Rocky.

 

Not mine. I would put Ali after Marciano and Holmes in that case. Marciano would be the clear number one with Holmes beeing as clearly number two.

1. Marciano
2. Holmes
3. Ali
4. Tyson
5. Frazier
6. Foreman
7. Holyfield
8. Spinks
9. Bowe

 

Holmes higher is plausible.

Tyson higher, you might be able to stretch a point.

I realy can't see any credible case for having Foreman higher at this stage however. Outside of Frazier and Norton, his level of opposition was prety woefull.

 

??????? Carnera was a generation before rocky!

 

May i ask for your reasons for having Holmes 'clearly' no2 over post-bonavena Ali? Its just that, apart from having more fights, i cant see any reason for this. He wasnt undisputed, fought (arguably) lower calibre fighters and didnt clean out his division (again arguably), whilst Ali did the mirror opposite. Just my opinion and not disrespecting larry who is a great fighter

 

He made more defences of his title and was longer champ, counts for something in my book. There also isn´t that big of a difference in competition. Ali had Patterson and Liston, agreed, better than anything Holmes has, but the depth is more with Holmes IMO. It´s close but the defences and long reign gives the edge to Holmes.

IMO what this thread highlights what an achievement that 49-0 actually is. Very good thread.

 

if holmes choose to fight 2 tomato cans when he was at 48 and 0 he would of had a better resume than marciano and if mike tyson had is head screwed on right he could of easily went 60 and 0 and would of had a better resume than everyone:think

 

I think Frazier and Holmes would come the closest but Frazier had only 27 fights and there were a few ends left open to satisfy a retirement including a necessary rematch against Ali.

Holmes had a nice number run but a close look would tell you he did not fight all of the top fighters in the division and he never unified. Another distinction between Holmes and Marciano was rematch performance after a tough fight, That being said I think Marciano's accomplishment of fighting 5# 1 contenders in 6 defenses and dominating in rematches and being the solo lineal champion speaks volumes

 

I think he would have had a case for a great undefeated record... He took the title from a man who some thought was unbeatable, which was hardly the case when the Rock fought Walcott. He had a total of some 10 title fights, including wins over greats like Patterson and Liston, and would later chalk up victories over Terrell, Quarry and Bonavena. Ali had as much substance in 31 fights as Marciano had in 49 in my opinion.

 

Rocky is the most overrated heavyweight champion. He arrived at a good time beat a lot of fighters on the way down. The division was poor at the time. Floyd paterson looked far better against Archie Moore than Rocky did. Slim pickings for comparison but it is all we really have. Roland LaStarza and Cockell were average at best as heavyweight challengers for there day, look at their records. Charles had been beaten five times in three years before facing Rocky. Walcott was old and 50/50 with Charles after four fights. I can go on about old light heavies but can not be bothered. He reign three years, proved himself with his last fight. 7 defences puts him way behind Lennox, Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Joe louis (yes he beat an old shot louis).

Rocky picked old fighters off who were once great. The lack of a decent challenger being around means you can not slating him for fighting what was in front of him. I do not rate him in my top twenty heavy weights.

Top five cruisers yes.