Two fighters with careers based solely on physique. Funny to think about. Not sure who I'd pick but I know I'd fall asleep.
Primo had excellent championship distance stamina, as evidenced in his wins over Uzcudun and Loughran. Tommy was a distance specialist, while Paulino won over 20 rounds against Max Baer in the midsummer desert heat of Reno. When Carnera was able to keep his feet after severely injuring his ankle during the initial knockdown [which sent the Italian to a hospital bed following their match], he also demonstrated a serious hand speed advantage over the Larruper, winning all filmed rounds in which he remained upright. Beyond that, Valuev's greater height would be nothing Primo hadn't seen before, after the likes of Campolo and Impellitiere. Just before the end of his 12 round loss to Haye, Valuev's armor cracked, as he did the chicken dance, raising some questions about how badly he'd fade in the championship rounds. I'll take the superior skills, speed, experience and proved 15 round endurance of a peak Carnera over anything Valuev has to offer. Nikolai doesn't have the speed to get to him as needed for the win, the power to hurt him even if he did have the speed to connect with that power, and Primo has a major edge in mobility as well. The version of Loughran who Carnera successfully wore down and repelled the challenge of would have decisioned Valuev rather easily, just as Tommy did the aforementioned Campolo and Impellitiere. Nikolai, being a huge target, and exposed by Haye as being far less than impervious, would not last nearly as long against Max Baer as a severely injured Primo did. Very clear cut UD for Carnera here, largely on the strength of Primo's much faster jab. He'd also be much better inside.
Carnera was a decent athlete for his size. He had better boxing skills in comparison to Valuev, better speed, and perhaps better stamina. Valuev has the edge on durability, and size, but he could be out boxed. I think Carnera wins the decision here.
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Primo was unusual for a tall man of his era, with his mobility and deployment of the jab. You didn't see this from similarly sized guys like Buddy Baer. In fact, was there a tall heavyweight of any consequence who could move and jab with anything approaching competency again between Carnera and Ten Hoff? [Hein had better skills, but also a glass jaw. Primo was more durable than typically characterized, and was loaded with guts. Unlike Ten Hoff, no referee ever counted ten over Primo. Ingo wouldn't have wiped Carnera out like he did Ten Hoff, not if Max Baer couldn't starch him.]
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Carnera was the better overall fighter. 6'6" with an 85" reach and about 270 Lbs. He was very muscular, very strong, had a better jab than Valuev, a better workrate than Valuev, and was faster than Valuev. Perhaps some of his fights were fixed. Neither was a huge puncher... not for their size anyway. Valuev is 7', has an 85" reach, and over 300 Lbs. Valuev started his career by beating some serious bums and continued this pattern for over 10 years. He beat Gerald Nobles WDQ4, Attila Levin KO3, and Clifford Etienne KO3 in his 11th and 12th year as a pro. After 12 years as a pro the best fighter he had beaten was a past prime Larry Donald and that was a MD he was lucky to get. He won the WBA HW title by beating John Ruiz by MD... another decision he was lucky to get. He beat Owen Beck KO3, Monte Barrett KO11, and Jameel McCline KO3. Vs. McCline the fight was very close after 3 rounds but McCline quit due to a knee injury. He lost the title to Ruslan Chagaev by decision. He won the rematch with Ruiz by close decision. He got a gift decision vs. a 46 year old Evander Holyfield. He was outboxed by David Haye. Donald, Ruiz, Chagaev, Holyfield, and Haye either beat Valuev or should have. Ruiz and Holyfield fought at CW and Chagaev could have made CW. Carnera was beat by smaller guys as well. Carnera went 1-1 (1) vs. Jack Sharkey. He was stopped by Max Baer and Joe Louis. The other stoppage losses came when he was washed up. He did beat King Levinsky W10, Art Lasky W10, Jack Sharkey KO6, Paulino Uzcudun W15, and Tommy Loughran W15 among others. I'll take Carnera by decision if they fight in the USA or Italy.
Ah Janitor. You brought up a name I haven't heard for decades. BIG BEN MOROZ, was a 7ft heavyweight that I saw fight a preliminary bout at St Nick's Arena in the early 1940s.The main event was between a young sensation from Georgia Beau Jack against a real toughie from NYC, Terry Young, who first brought his pal Rocky Graziano to Stillman's Gym... My first main event card my dad took me to...Yes Big Ben Moroz...
I'd back Valuev. He was beatable by smaller, mobile and skilled men who could out maneuver him. Holyfield, Chagaev. Primo Carnera is neither particularly skilled, nor mobile.
