for many years I’ve always said Marcianos defense was highly underrated. For that I was often ridiculed. Well it’s good to know that I have some statistical backing in my claim now. Out of these HWs Frazier Ali Holmes Wlad Louis Lewis Liston Tyson Holyfield Dempsey Foreman Marciano Rocky registered in second defensively in opponents total connect percentage (24.5 %) only behind Wlad (23%). This is from compubox Ali by the numbers book by Bob Canonbio and Lee Groves. I don’t wish to give all the stats in there as it defeats the purpose of purchasing the book. But interesting stats nonetheless. So let’s put the Marciano has no defense argument to rest please it’s not factually accurate.
That book has Maricanos punch stats in too? Or just that statistic. Either way, I’m buying blueberry stocks.
Lol they don’t have a break down of every fight but they have statistical categories Plus/minus (total punches) Total punches landed per round Total Punches thrown per round Total connect percentage Jabs landed per round Power landed per round Power connect percent Opponents total connect pct Opponents power punch conn. Pct Opponents total punches landed per rd For the men listed above in comparison to one another. Of course context still comes to play and there is a few surprises in these stats. I just got the book and didn’t read it as of yet but I look forward to it (purchased the book for the overall compubox stats not individual Ali stats per fight but that’s a bonus).
I think you have to take into account the fact that Marciano fought in a weaker era than most other Heavyweight greats, and that he retired younger than everyone on the list.
Yes some context is fine. Frazier and Dempsey also retired early. The era is no less strong then the last twenty years. Last twenty years have been rather terrible
The eras I think are worse than Marciano's are: The Jefferies Era The Dempsey Era And Wlads Era I think his era is close in quality to: Johnson's Era Louis' Era And Liston's Era I think every era not named is better than Marciano's
I think that's almost inarguable when it comes to Johnson's era, but I believe fights between the heavies of Wlad's era, Marciano's Era and Louis' era would be competitive.
Don’t agree with this. 50s has a long list of great fighters. Many of whom continued through the 60s and some into the 70s
Any from the early 50s? Since that was Marciano's era. He had like 4 top opponents. Charles, Walcott, Moore and Layne. 3 of which were either past prime or old as ****, and the other being a top opponent is just a bad memo for the era. Layne wouldn't even be mentioned in the 70s and I doubt he'd be top 10 of the 60s either.
I don’t think Layne makes the top ten of the 50s Marciano Walcott Charles Liston Patterson Moore Johnson Machen Foley Nino Other great fighters in the 50s Louis (even old), Bivins, Baker, Lastarza, Satterfield, Williams, Layne, and more. Layne could have better then good. Could have been a really good fighter had he stayed serious. Unfortunately after Marciano ruined him he gave up. Ps Moore was ranked through the 60s as old as he was. Satterfield beat men like Williams’s who was ranked in the 60s. But Satterfield lost to men like Layne and Charles...think Charles was 32 for Marciano...not really old on anyone’s book. Just an excuse many like to throw around here. Wasn’t prime but not old.
