On a scale of 1 to 5 what chance do you give a peak Rocky Marciano of beating a peak Larry Holmes?

I personally give him zero chance

 

He'd do fine. He could throw 95 punches in the 15th round...Larry would have his hands full.

 

Puncher's chance.

 

He'd have a chance but not a very good one Holmes has much quicker handspeed a 14 inch reach advantage and far superior movement. Holmes would jab his head off at distance and win a late TKO or a pretty comprehensive points win.

Holmes was only stopped once in 70+ fights by a prime Tyson whilst at the end of his career I can't see a Cruiserweight with a 67 inch reach being able to stop Holmes.

 

Holmes had a real mean uppercut against the shorter man and he’d be measuring right hands all night as Marciano comes in…

I just can’t see a small man like that beating Holmes. Holmes would stop him.

 

Do you have negative integer options?

 

Solid 3.5, bad matchup for Holmes

 

What’s 1 & what’s 5?

 

Rocky was a great fighter, without great fighter attributes like size, speed, technical mastery etc.
He hit hard but in all honesty was more of a grinder, than pure puncher.
He had fantastic endurance, and mental toughness which was key for him.
Holmes for whatever reason was susceptible to the right-hand. Especially the over hand right. And was knocked down, and badly hurt by lesser fighters than Marciano like Ranaldo Snipes, and Shavers.
Could Marciano stalk Holmes ( because he really didn't press , like say Joe Frazier) line up Holmes for the infamous Suzy -Q?
Holmes though unlike his fights against the fighters that troubled him would have an overwhelming speed, skills, height, reach and weight advantage over Marciano .
It would be to much for the "Rock" to overcome.
Holmes behind that jab, would fight smartly against Marciano as he did against Cooney.
Knowing he has a dangerous opponent, he'd fight cautiously aggressive.
Wins the fight with in 10rds , stopping Marciano on cuts or because he's just taking a one sided beating.

 

How is a small slugger with a 67 inch reach a bad match up for Holmes ? Explain. I mean yeah Marciano has a good right which Holmes could be caught with granted. But I think stylistically Holmes has alot of advantages over Marciano and I don't see a slugger being a troubling stylistic match up for Holmes.

 

Plus Holmes was susceptible to a right hand...Rocky had the punch from hell...the "Suzie Q"...and if Renaldo Snipes could land his right on Holmes and put him on his ass...

 

If a 42 year old Archie Moore can put Marciano on his ass ... if a sliding Charles who enjoyed minor physical advantages can go 15 ... if Earnie Shavers, who legitimately had the 'punch from hell', couldn't keep Larry down....

If Marciano did manage to hurt Holmes, Larry survives it. I can make no case at all for Rocky hurting him though. Snipes had 9" of reach on Rocky. All the guys who landed big rights on Holmes had much greater reaches than Marciano.

Rocky doesn't even slip the jab. It came from Larry's hip and negates the defensive benefits of Rocky's crouch. Larry can't miss and busts Rocky up for a game but outclassed stoppage in no later than ten.

 

A punchers chance but that's it.
No disrespect to the Rock but everything s against him here.