Marciano's Body Frame could easily be Tua and Tyson

Yeah, so has Chris Byrd (if you allow 195 as 200), James Toney and Tomasz Adamek. There aren't many because 200 isn't that old.

It's not that people don't do it; that's not what's meant at all.

The point is that the percentage of 175lb fighters who make 200 plus is tiny.

 

He definitely cuold. But it would be extremely unusual.

 

Yeah, but there have been many great performers at LHW, very very few of them go to heavyweight since, say, the inception of cruiser.

When they do, it tends to be one visit or as a borderline type. A fighter of his type, I'm not sure it's been done with any measure of success? You know, now.

 

You're right, it's possible for a bantamweight if the measure is to become cannon fodder or get abused for pay. You're right about that.

I think what's being questioned is the likelyhood of his being taken there by serious trainers and promoters given his dimensions and if he was, how he would get on given his dimensions and style. I presume that's the case.

 

Yeah, the first cruiserweight champ was 1985 or something; happily that also encompasses the period during which heavyweights got really big, which is what Marciano is dealing with now.

Historically, in this period, there isn't much data, but the most successful fighter of this type of overall size was probably Chris Byrd. Not a mule-kicking puncher at all but a defensive specialist. Other notables were Roy Jones (as hard to hit as anyone really) and James Toney (another defensive specialist).

Closest to Marciano, I think, was Adamek although he was 3 or 4 inches taller (without looking) and much rangier I think. That said, I could absolutely see Marciano recreating what Adamek did, and there's no real reason he couldn't do better. The thing is though, I just don't know why it would happen.

Marciano would, IMO, turn pro at 168lbs. That's an opinion and it's very far from proven. Whatever, 175 would be where he would make his bones and he'd be wildly popular. He'd make enormous amounts of money and would achieve p4p recognition. Then he'd go up to 200lbs.

That's a leap, modern day, of 25lbs, which is a lot - a real lot. I'm happy to accept that Marciano is "harder to hit than he gets credit for" but I also don't think even his most ardent supporters would want to pass him off as a defensive specialist. So he'd be getting hit and suffer some pretty heavy KDs at 200 I think. All while making disgusting amounts of money. For me, going up to heavy would only make sense if he could be champion. That would involve his beating a monster like Wladimir or Joshua with his style and giving up 14, 15 inches in reach. I'm not sure it's possible and if it is i'm not sure it's responsible or reasonable to try.

I could see him visiting heavy in the manner of Huck, seeing how he felt about it and turning in some good performances but it's an enormous ask for him to make a serious dent. I don't see the why or the how, really. Although it's not unreasonable to suppose him picking off a paper champ if it happened.

 

I don't think they would play out at all; he was 5'10, with short reach and could be hit. Most of all he could make stupid money at 175lbs his entire career.

But we'll never know, of course.