Ray Mercer would blow Rocky Marciano's back out change my mind

The point is Mercer is more likely to struggle vs tricky boxers than a much smaller come forward slugger who would be right infront of him like Marciano.

Mercer has a good jab an iron chin and 50 pound/10 inch reach advantage. The fact is Marciano never beat a prime world class Heavyweight over 200 pounds.

People are only speculating Marciano wins based on Marciano beating Light Heavyweights and being a more recognized name. But just because Marciano is considered greater it doesn't mean he matches up well stylistically vs a much bigger opponent with an iron chin because realistically he doesn't.

 

Mercer never beat a guy who could throw 95 punches in the 15th round of a fight. And as for his jab and reach...he fought like his feet were in cement, and Marciano's low crouch would was perfect for bigger fighters.

Occosio may have presented a style problem to Mercer, but there are styles and levels. Mercer should have blown him out of there. And why this hyper-focus on Occosio. Was Ferguson also a style problem Post-40 Holmes?

 

Lennox Lewis didn't blow Ocasio out of there either he went the distance also is that negative against Lewis aswell and means he shouldn't be favoured over Marciano ?

Holmes was a master boxer and 6'3 with an 81 inch reach I don't see how that's at all relevant to a 185 pound Cruiserweight slugger with a 67 inch reach.

Mercer was poor during 93-94 and had some bad performances but he got himself back on track by 95 with very good performances over Holyfield, Lewis.

Marciano is throwing 95 punches against 180s pound fighters not a 230+ pound Heavyweight with an iron chin and a 10 inch reach advantage.

 

Lewis won a clean decision over Occosio, not a split decision. Not one thought Occosio won against Lewis.

He was a post-40 guy who rope-a-doped because his legs were gone years before.

Losing performance. You are always in some trouble when you are arguing for losses as if they were wins. He did very well in losing. Good stuff.

Again, the reach isn't that important, because Marciano fought small and got inside. Yeah, a stamina and punch count matter--its one of the categories...even the main category, a fight is judged on if it goes to the cards.

 

Yes and as i said Mercer is more likely to struggle vs a tricky awkward boxer that's why he also struggled against Damiani. Lewis may have won a clearer decision but he was also frustrated and made to miss alot of punches.

Marciano is a come forward slugger and Mercer could impose his size and strength and out jab the much smaller man.

And also won 4 or 5 rounds against a prime Holyfield again Holmes is a master boxer who has a 14 inch reach advantage over Marciano and is 5 inches taller.

Yes but let's be real Marciano wouldn't beat Holyfield or Lewis and would do far worse vs Lewis so let's also take that into account. Losing performances can be used as an argument depending on the context, Mercer gave Lewis the toughest fight of his career and is the only fighter who realistically has an argument to out pointing him so it is very significant. It's also significant that Mercer out jabbed an opponent with an 84 inch reach and took flush bombs from a 240+ pound Heavyweight who has 9/10 power. Mercer's chin is proven against bigger punchers bigger opponents, hence logically it's hard to fathom how Marciano a 185 pound Marciano is going to impose his will on an opponent who is 50 pounds heavier when bigger elite fighters couldn't do so.

It is important because it's a staggering 10 inch reach advantage which is a big difference. And Mercer had a good jab and has out jabbed the likes of Lewis, Witherspoon, Lewis for examaple has a 17 inch reach advantage over Marciano. Your telling Mercer can out jab a 6'5 84 inch reach Lewis but can't land his jab significantly vs an opponent who's 5'10 with a 67 inch reach ?

Marciano could impose his workrate and physicality vs 180s pound men he wouldn't have the same success vs a fighter with 50 pound weight advantage and 10 inch reach advantage. Mercer would be landing frequently on Marciano your telling me he's going to react the same as he did getting by by 180 pound men ?

 

Mercer didn't have success pushing Holyfield to the ropes because Evander had a plan for Ray's clinch and pressure game. He had faster hands on Lewis and was much better on the inside, and though Rocky has a superior inside game as well, he was not as fast as Holyfield, and he does not have the same sort of defense to counter Mercer working on the inside, he will get put on the ropes. Rocky was knocking out light heavyweights and cruiserweights and they're seen as seen as shining accomplishment here, but Ray knocking out men like Morrison who took super heavyweight punches and got up otherwise is seen as "nobody of note". Keep in mind that I never said that losing to Holmes was a crowning achievement (It barely even factors in here because Mercer was green), but rather than rocking him was a good feat, even in his second career Larry had a great chin. Also keep in mind that we're considering the best of each fighter here, unless you want me to make some dumbass claim about Rocky needing 9 to knock out cockell when Lave needed 2. The Holyfield fight was scored 95-94, 96-93, and 97-92... If that's not competitive, I don't know what is. Marciano was great at recovering when facing men with much less power and much less weight on them, but a heavyweight with a superheavyweight punch is gonna hit Rocky a lot harder than a light heavyweight or a cruiserweight with a heavyweight punch is.

 

@catchwtboxing

We're just gonna have to agree to disagree on this i don't really want to have another back and forth on this subject honestly. I just think size and reach are big factors in this match up and i don't see 185 pound 67 inch reach Marciano being effective vs a brickwall like Mercer who has an iron chin a good jab and significant size advantage.

I don't think Marciano would be that successful vs modern bigger Heavyweights with his style, small reach, and being undersized. The people in this thread debating with me do not think size is a factor at all and I totally disagree hence it's a waste of time keep going back forth.

I've had enough of debating Marciano to last me a life time so if you want to have the last say in this debate you're more than welcome but I'm done because this is going to be one of those long drawn out debates that go nowhere.

I just think Marciano would be better suited vs Breidis, Beterbiev, rather than the likes of 220+ pound Heavyweights.

 

What is next? Butterbean beating Marciano because of his size advantage?

Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis too small to compete against modern super-duper Heavyweights?

 

Guy that lost against Whiterspoon who beat him fair and square, would not beat Marciano.

 

Nice post Zad.

 

I'm motivated for another Dundee dream fight article. Lets make it Tim Witherspoon.

 

The **** is this title? But I see Mercer beating Marciano. I just don't see how Marciano is going to wear down a significantly bigger guy with an iron chin and good power like Mercer.

 

Have people actually watched Mercer fight? This is all confusing to someone who’s actually watched him. People here r obsessed w muscles. In an off odd low iq sort of way. Big muscles don’t equal better chance of victory in boxing…this should be common knowledge. It also won’t guarantee ur stronger or anything good in boxing. These r two different class of fighters. Ones an A fighter the other is a C. This fight isn’t even close. Mercer was devoid of much skill. He had an mediocre Jab and a great chin with decent power. He possessed poor defense, stamina, poor combos, no body attack, wtf r u people watching to make u think he stands a chance? Marciano would come in at 190 for the fight like he did w several opponents. Mercer would only be about 30-35 pounds heavier. That’s nothing in the hw division. Not that the weight would help him as he never used any of it to his advantage, he wasn’t a good clincher or inside fighter and didn’t lean on opponents because he himself was short. I think some around here would pick the janitor against Marciano if they had 20 plus inch arms.

 

I was wondering myself about this. How low a bar are the pro-Mercer brigade going to set for beating Marciano based on being big & modern? Fres Oquendo next? Maybe Jose Ribalta? Why not Tex Cobb?

 

Can we just concentrate on;
QUALITY ALLIED WITH SIZE
INSTEAD OF JUST SIZE
Ali was 6 '3 80 in reach 212/220 great boxer ,great jab and as fast as F
Louis was 6 ft 1 /2 in 200/208lbs 77in reach good boxer,great jab ,great two handed ,accurate puncher with blistering combos.
Please point out the similarities Marciano has with them.