Prime Riddick Bowe vs prime Rocky Marciano (12 rounds)

While I agree that Lewis style makes him a tougher stylistic fight, I would question Bowe being negated inside. I would suggest he would be the best infighter Rocky would have fought and was very good in close quarters. Very few guys actually fought Rocky in close and with Bowes weight draped over him along with Big Daddys short hooks and brutal uppercuts, its highly feasible that Marcianos stamina and jaw are put to the test.

While both have questions over their resumes (Bowes lack of reknowned big punchers, Rocky fighting faded greats etc) both have unquestionable heart and the ability to get off the deck.

 

Whether or not Bowe faced harder hitters, no one he faced has the all around punching and finishing capabilities of a 1951-1952 Rocky Marciano. Marciano also never faced any super-heavyweights with the skill and power of a 1992 Riddick Bowe.

 

I see Bowe going down from a Rex Layne Type Right Hand but the fight could be awkward for a bit because of size difference. Marciano's pace stamina takes its toll late but I see Bowe going down near the end

 

Tough match up for Rocky. I think he makes a good showing, but in the end, Bowe would just be too big, too accurate, and hit harder than anyone Rocky fought. Firefights with Charles or Walcott is one thing. With Bowe, it would be another.

Rocky has a punchers chance to pull off an upset, but I think he would need to make it happen early before he takes too many blows.

Bowe via late TKO, likely a mercy stoppage by the ref.

 

Guess you missed the third bout where Evander flattened Bowe and had him on the verge of a KO ..

 

Marciano hit hard enoungh to flatten Bowe, no question there .. I just think he was giving away way to much size and strength to do it ... the Bowe of the first Holyfield fight stops Rocky late ...

 

No I saw that. It was a nice shot, from a bigger bulked Holyfield. But Bowe was far from peak condition. I also wouldn't say on the verge seeing as Bowe came back to win by KO in that same round (I believe it was the same round). I also wouldn't call that version of Holyfield a peak Holyfield. He was bigger but looked like he was dieing due to hepatitis affecting him. The 205lb Holyfield from the first fought hit Bowe everyone often and couldn't put a dent in his armor.

It's probably one of Holyfield's most impressive knockdowns too.

Marciano would've surely outworked this version of Bowe. No?

 

Yes Marciano hits harder - Bowe avoided hard punchers!

 

I love Rocky and on a PFP list hes much higher than Bowe. But get a grip peteatsch Marciano wouldnt make it pasth the 5th or 6 th round.


I suppose you think Julio Cesar Chavez would give Michael Spinks all he wanted?

 

What does Foreman have to do with anything? Holyfield still hurt and put big guys with solid chins on the deck, theres no denying that. As I said, his one punch power might not be as powerful, but his accuracy made up for it. Foreman was close to going down himself against Holyfield.

 

Fighters who are not in top condition, sapped, dried out or overtrained, 110% reduce their ability to take a punch.
Regarding Holyfield read my post again, I said maybe not power for power, but Holyfields accurate shots made up for it. Proof would be his performances against some pretty sturdy chinned fighters.

 

Id say the Mercer knockdown was his most impressive over a well conditioned iron chinned opponent. Noone had even come close to hurting Mercer. Lewis hit him with everything he had and Mercer didnt budge.

As far as Bowe, he was out when Holyfield dropped him, but both were in pretty **** poor shape for that fight.

 

so your reasoning for holyfield flooring bowe is because bowe wasn't in top condition?
I think it's just because he caught him perfectly with a left hook and couldn't follow up. the thing is though, rocky would have followed up, and he certainly would have tired out.
Holyfield IS more accurate but that didn't matter because a lot of times he couldn't hurt bowe and bowe would just do better in the exchanges then holyfield did, because he has better power and because he was so much bigger.
Rocky would have the power to hurt bowe much more then holyfield did, and i doubt he would get hurt/staggered as holy did. he certainly wouldn't tire out.