Max Schmeling Versus Rocky Marciano

I agree

 

We would be forced to see Max's bravery on display, most likely.

 

There's a misconception I see repeatedly in this forum that Max was a stationary fighter which is patently incorrect. He was very quick moving forward as he was backing up and he was constantly making adjustments with his feet, nudging closer, circling this or that way, and combined with his systematic bobbing, weaving into cross guard, leaning out of range, all that made him a very slippery target and hard to pin down. When he did have to rely on blocking at close range he used his left arm to intercept and ward off right crosses midway, used his right glove in a cross guard to block right uppercuts and blocked left hooks by raising his right to the side of his head. He also blocked hooks to the body by shifting his cross guard lower depending on where his opponent was aiming.
On top of all that there were his counter punching skills that were second to none. He could see an opponent throw a hook and hit them with a cross before the hook even made its way to him, a cross that he could throw with power even at point blank range or use an uppercut instead.
His stamina was pretty much unparalleled, never once became arm weary despite his nonstop work rate, a conditioning he was very well known for and his most defining aspect barring that right hand of his.
Sharkey 2 for examples of Schmeling crowding an opponent and Louis 1 for defensive ability and positional defense.
The Schmeling who stood in place like a torrent was never a thing.

 

All excellent points. I think the viewpoint that Max was a stationary target probably stems from the first Louis bout, which in all fairness along with the rematch are probably easily the most two viewed Max fights. In the first bout he stands still quite often baiting Louis to lead so he can fire his right over the top. He doesn’t move his feet that much as he and Louis stay in the pocket. Max is cautious and rightfully so he’s in with a magnificent puncher. Max wisely falls into Joe smothering Joe’s counter attack in that bout, it doesn’t look pretty or athletic but it’s quite effective.
Schmeling had excellent footwork, and was one of the most conditioned fighters ever as you noted, just watch him lift up Young Stribling in the 15th round and carry him in the air back to his corner after knocking him out in final round.
In this match up with Marciano I think Max would exploit many of Rocky’s misses as Rocky did tend to leave himself open after a miss which is poison to a fighter like Max.
Max looks fantastic on film with that textbook booming right hand against Walker, and while no film exists of his Risko bout, by all accounts it was a sensational performance from the write ups and he dropped Risko 4 times. I think those performances bode well for his chances here.

 

This is an extremely good matchup and I would choose Schmeling, the one who has the guts to beat Joe Louis can surprise everyone...

 

Although the styles are different your point is rock solid. A man who beat Joe Louis could beat Marciano.
This is an excellent match that creates many valid point of views.

 

A great fight. Rocky has to dig deep to win, but Marciano gets the win with a late stoppage. He takes some hard right hands along the way.

 

This is a very interesting hypothetical matchup. Rocky would be eating counter punches while applying constant, relentless pressure. I believe, while looking bad for a while, Rocky Marciano would eventually win this by Knockout or Technical Knockout.

 

I think it goes about like Walcott and Marciano but it won't go as far. Max will give a very good account of himself and Marciano's face will look like he's been through a threshing machine, then Marciano will knock him out. Marciano brings too much heat.

 

I wanted to come back to this thread to say that I don't buy Marciano being able to stop Schmeling at all. Max was extremely durable, and wouldn't have any chance in hell as getting put down for the count as Walcott was. It took a 10 round pounding from Baer for a technical, and Louis breaking his back to get stopped while he was in his prime.

If anything, with Schmeling's track record of breaking down insanely durable men, I'd bet on HIM stopping Rocky before betting on the other way around.