More skilled: Dempsey or Marciano?

If only we had footage of the fights that comprised Dempsey’s tear to the title.

We can see what a prime Dempsey could do vs Willard - particularly up to the first KD.

After that, Jess was a sitting duck and Jack went full mugger on him for the rest of the round. The first KD was exacted via an ATG left hook that appeared to momentarily explode the other side of Willard’s face.

The 2nd and 3rd rounds perhaps pick back on the pre first rd KD window for a better exemplification of Dempsey’s skills.

Jack might’ve been a bit drained from his first round exertions. At any rate, he appears a bit more calm and methodical in his executions - and his executions look very good - not least his repeated fast double hooking first to Jess’s body and then his head.

Being more aesthetically pleasing doesn’t necessarily equate to being better skilled but I find the prime or near prime Dempsey more pleasing to watch - and, at least for me, part of the reason for that is due to what I see as a superior skill set.

The punches still look mighty in rounds 2 and 3 but somehow Willard steeled himself up for same for at least those 2 rounds despite being on quivering legs.

 

Dempsey, please.

 

Two big punchers each with a two fisted attack. I think this is more up for grabs than people think

 

Marciano breaks a convention in boxing started before him and only made more prevalent after him.

The point of hit and don't get hit back boxing has nothing to do with safety or health concerns and everything to do with money and a prolonged career.

Marciano, more than any other boxer even close to the modern era, is not a hit and don't get hit back boxer. Mike Tyson hardly was, but was more than Rock. Frazier hardly gave ground as a style, but did so more than Rocco. Deontay Wilder hardly had the footspeed to be defensive and yet as a style pushes defense more than Marciano.

Jack Dempsey is no different in this motif. If one is looking for indications Marciano is willing to trade an opening for making his man miss you will not find it. Jack will, make his man miss, give up an attack to cause a miss to repurpose the attack. It is a fine form and I mean no criticism when I say Jack Dempsey plays more to hit and do not get hit back boxing than Marciano is even attempting to.

So, it is no wonder, given he is your sole example and all those considered akin are only akin in terms of surface, yes they his hard, yes they smother, yes they rely on chin, but, what is an aggressive defense but defense? Where as Marciano is offense for defense. There is no real attempt, unlike Wilder who is incapable and we know because he tries, Marciano doesn't make any attempt, even in his most famous sequence, even when trapping, there is no true defense but rather offense as defense. Joe KD's Rock, Rock waits for like 10 more rounds to see the same trap and cuts him off to set up the kill. He does not bait a counter but rather dismantles the attack by attack.




So, if "skill" and "boxing" is about hitting and not being hit back, Dempsey, and it is not even close, nor, should it be considered debatable.




That said, let us give Rock his due and take stock of what this man means to do. Clearly he means to hit hard, hit often,be there to continue hitting, and surprise his man with an attack tailored to their style. To qualify that last one with a little more than just Walcott let's look at LaStarza

Roland was known for his use of ropes and guard not unlike the rope-a-dope. So Marciano pinned him to the ropes and hammer his elbows, Bill Libby says he shattered them. Some folks have challenged this claim but either way the attempt was there and no attempt was made to not go into Roland's style or make a defense or counter of it. Same for everyone we have film of really.

Does Marciano hit hard? The Army claims 925ft-lbs, check that against your automobile or gun, Marciano probably tops them in raw energy.

Often? No one claims anything but. Even Tiger Ted Lowry, one of the men some claim beat Marciano only to be robbed of his W, does not disrespect Marciano's pacing.

Was he there to continue every round? Strong? Marciano gassing is only in works of fiction, no? Having no reports or video of this man having any hard with stamina one if forced to admit his perfection in the attempt or style.

It is not unfair to call Marciano a master of boxing how had attained a height one can only tie but never be above. There is nothing he ever attempted to do that hell short of. There is only what he made no attempt at that can be held over him.

Similar to "he never fought a super HW doe", "He blocks punches with his head" is not the insult his detractors think it is.

 

Marciano based on his alternative style. We've posted the quotes here a dozen times, but they created a special, awkward style for him based on his small size, stamina, and natural crouch.

 

I would say that on a fundamental level, Dempsey's style requires more skill to make it work than Marciano's.

 

I do.
Jack had a little more cunning about him imo.

 

Their fight may turn into a foul fest.

 

Rocky’s style worked for him even if it was pretty much irreducible the results speak for themselves. As was mentioned about Dempseys had more skills but it worked for him, he couldn’t have fought like Marciano and vice versa. So neither is a better style, and I think all great fighters develop a style that systemizes their strengths. Dempsey had a few more skills perhaps, as his approach probably required it.
This would be a heck of a fight.