Prime Joe Louis vs Prime Rocky Marciano

Louis and it is close

Would an epic fight

 

1st off I didn't write Conn put Louis on his ass, I wrote Conn had him reeling. But Conn was a natural light heavy. Not noted for great power at his best fighting weight lt.heavy, he had Louis the heavyweight champ reeling.
2nd, it seems some must always take credit from the opponent as opposed to a favorite fighter having a weakness. If Louis didn't train, or was not properly prepared who's fault was that? Excuse make what you will, but the bottom line is Schmeling showed Louis had definite weaknesses in the prime of his career, something not to blow off because he was knocked down by other fighters not known as tremendous punchers.
3rd Yes Marciano was knocked down by Moore and Walcott, but was he stopped by them? Was Moore and Walcott better fighters than the ones that put Louis on his ass?
Moore and Walcott are considered ATG's, how many or which of the fighters that knocked Louis down can the same be said?
I'm not here to put Louis down, I actually love the man and have said on this and multiple other sites he in my opinion was the greatest offensive heavyweight in history, bar none.
But I also see some weaknesses in other areas of his fight game other ATG fighters would have a great chance of exposing. Skill vs skill it shouldn't be a contest between Louis vs Marciano. But to gloss over the fact a fighter like Galento , who was not on Marciano's level as far as power or skill did drop Louis twice, or the fact of Schmeling, did beat and stop a prime J.Louis is not looking at this hypothetical match-up realistically in my opinion.
As I wrote in my 1st post, I believe Louis wins prime vs prime. But to make it seem as Marciano wouldn't have a chance against him is in my opinion "hero worship " and not looking at the strengths and weaknesses of both fighters realistically.

 

Prime Louis is a nightmare match up for Rocky, he'd stop Marciano probably in the mid rounds in a one sided fight.

 

A prime focussed Louis in my opinion has the beating of Marciano, Louis was a boxing machine.

Perhaps Marciano was so tough he could walk through Joes punches and prevail, however i think not.

 

I'd go for Louis because that jab is going to cause problems for Marciano.
The Rock's skin just didn't hold up well, perhaps due to scar tissue or maybe him just not having tough skin.

But Rocky's very much in this. As long as he's able, he'll be pressing the action, and hard. His crowding style could cause Louis problems, as he brought very effective, non-stop pressure.

I don't see the flash knockdowns Louis suffered as having any bearing here or there. He was almost never hurt and popped up quickly. Only Schmeling really hurt prime Louis, and it took 75 hard rights to finally put him away.
Aldo, hurt Louis at your own peril. He exacted revenge painfully.

Rocky would have to get inside Louis and put him on the back foot, continually pressing and crowding, not allowing Louis to get set. If he could do that, he's got a pretty decent shot, I think.
But if Louis establishes that jab, which was always followed by vicious rights and lefts, I think Rocky's face just won't hold up.
I'd say Louis on cuts, late in the fight. But you never know...

 

You've never told us that before........Oh, hang on a minute.........


He must have a little book with all the quotes written down.
Ones for Louis, Liston, Foreman, Ali etc, etc.

Same replies every time.

 

Past prime Louis knocked out better version of Walcott.

 

That's a very fair well balanced post. I'd favor Louis but sure as hell wouldn't be counting Marciano out.

 

Thanks John.
Yeah, generally ruling out an ATG right off the bat seems wrong to me, unless there is very strong evidence to indicate this.
(Foreman-Frazier for instance)

 

And in this case size is not a factor.

 

That's it in my opinion, he'd bust him up from the get go.