Marciano's record with Lewis' opponents.

I think that you could make a case that he *could* beat most of Lewis' opponents on a once-off scenario. But all of them in the same career Lewis had? Yeesh. He's just too small, and I don't want to take anything away from such a great fighter. It's not going to end well, especially, as you said, with his sort of style.

 

This is why l hate these type of questions. I have no desire whatsoever to denigrate Marciano but in my view this is the reality of the situation.

 

There was also a European boxer (Mavoric?)whose name escapes me but he was nicknamed the baker, who took some wicked wicked shots from Lewis without going down. He could possibly win a decision.

 

I agree 95% swarms don't age well! Lewis as a super heavyweight with size, range and skills didn't have too many tough fights. He aged well.

Can we say Rocky would have been a bit like Holyfield then in terms of the losses? Holy lost 4 times in the 1990's ( 5 if you give Lewis the win in a horribly scored draw ) and had some tough moments with Cooper, and failed to finish older Holmes and Foreman?

I disagree slightly on Ruddock. Rocky could win this one. Razor sometimes had stamina issues and his chin wasn't top tier either.

 

That's a fallacy. Fighting weight can vary to suit the field of opponents out there.
If the contenders were all around 216 pounds perhaps Goldman would have considered Marciano going in at 202 pounds.

Not that it's a point that makes much difference, just stating the obvious here.

 

If you meet Morrison ( A friend of mine did ) then you know the man was flaky and moody. Not very bright either. Morrison was listed at 6 feet and 6'1 before he became famous, partly due to the Rocky 5 movie.

Were they wrong? Morrison had massive shoulders, but his arms were a little shorter than most who had a 77" reach.

As stated, Rocky did not need to be above 200 in his time! Today we see a fighter in their best shape at 215, bulking up to 230.

See fighters like Chagaev, or any short heavy around these days. Even Povetkin added on some weight...and he needed to.

So why can't Rocky add 10-15 pounds too and fight at 200-202? It's not like he'd lose much stamina, and even if he lost a little there's only 12 rounds today.

This should make sense and I think you'd be an even better poster if you can see a portion of the other side. In most cases I think older timers, especially the smaller ones with average chins and average to lower punch output are in trouble in the 1990's and beyond, but those with power, stamina and durability have a much better chance.

 

I think that's a fair assessment. But tbh, if he was around in the 1990's he would likely have campaigned at cruiser, and have had a hell of a record. I don't see many cruisers outside of Holy that could stand with him on anything approaching even terms.

 

Marciano at cruiser in that era would be highly entertaining.
Imagine fights against Holyfield, Qawi, DeLeon, B.Cooper, O.Norris, Ocasio.

 

Agreed.

 

Those guys weren't contenders at all.

 

In the HW world today, Rocky would not be weighing 189 in the division.

 

Well, I thought Holyfield's stamina was better at 190 but the weight gain was a wise move.
If Holyfield was fighting in the 1950s I doubt he'd go above 200 or thereabouts.
The "ideal weight" doesn't exist in a vacuum. There's a context. If the entire contendership of the division is 10 or 20 pounds heavier or more then the desirable fighting weight can be adjusted perhaps.

I don't disagree with the details. I probably agree with most of what you say in this last post. Marciano's frame is going to limit him and he won't benefit half as much as a Holyfield, or even a hypothetical bulked-Dempsey would.
But the statement "If Marciano could perform well at 202 he would have fought there, as per Goldman" or whatever, I find to be simplistic reductionist ILLOGIC.