Rocky Marciano (1951-52) Vs Larry Holmes (1980-82) 15 Rounds

holmes would dominate rocky early with better skill,with the jab, but rocky would take everything from holmes, marciano would be much stronger late, rocky had better stamina,marciano would finish the work that norton ,weaver,spoon or shavers could not finish. rocky by tko in 13 rounds. rocky was the kryptonite for holmes,he was a pressure boxer, durable,with heart,stamina with great right hand, and great finisher.

 

I pick Holmes. He has height, reach, speed, chin,and one of the best jabs in the divisions history on his side. Marciano would have an uphill battle the whole way. He was used to fighting men in the 185-200 lb range who were 5'11"-6" tall, not 6'3" with 80" reaches who were fast with punishing jabs. Rocky would put up a gallant fight but would either lose by UD or suffer a late round stoppage.

 

Holmes would have diced him up pretty good .. likely stoppage on cuts ... Rocky gives up too much size, speed and reach ..

 

prime holmes was nothing muscular , he was a skinny boxer 6´3 and 209 pounds.rocky faced guys like johnny shkor was 6´4 and 220 pounds,bill willson 229.(now you will say "holmes was better than them", ok but then your argument should be " holmes was better fighter", not bigger. holmes never did beat a fighter like marciano either.

 

Tell Larry to watch out for the "Suzie Q"...

 

Holmes of 1980 was not a skinny fighter. He was rangy but big. Plus as we all know it's not about how muscular you are that guarantees success in boxing. Holmes' overall dimensions were bigger. Longer arms, legs, torso and heavier. Even if Holmes' best weight was 210 that's still nearly 25lbs heavier than Rocky's best weight. Holmes was bigger plain and simple and probably leagues above guys like Skhor and Wilson as far as skill and speed are concerned. Rocky is an ATG no question and often times underrated but I think fellow ATG's like Holmes, Ali and Foreman may be a little too much to ask for Marciano. Impossible? No. Improbable? Yes.

 

marciano weighed 185-190 pounds of solid puncher and compact man in 5´11 , larry holmes weighed 210 because he was 6´3 , plain and simple. he was skinny and nothing muscular, he was not athelic like a prime ali.marciano was stronger than holmes for sure. i am not saying that holmes was bad, i am saying that styles make fights and marciano would stop him, holmes fought wars against much worse fighters. marciano too was leagues above past prime norton,shavers,spoon,and weaver. in stamina,heart ,he was better finisher,he had much more hitting power,better chin and he did more pressure. ali and foreman would beat marciano, foreman with less problems, holmes was other history.

 

Holmes would win a comfortable UD

 

Holmes had one of the Greatest jabs in boxing history and that along with over a foot advantage in reach, would dominate in this matchup with Rocky.

 

I can't see Marciano taking a decision over the Holmes of the first Shavers fight. Larry flew around the ring counterclockwise in that one, which would be away from Rocky's right. Marciano didn't have Frazier's closing speed, and I can't envision him getting close enough often enough to get the job done. One punch could never lay Holmes out for the count, or Shavers would have done it. Larry was a miserable ******* to try finishing off if hurt, and even a peak Tyson had to chase an old, rusty, dazed and misfiring Holmes all over the ring for 45 seconds before finally catching him on the ropes and ending matters with just five seconds to spare in the round.

Cobb didn't have great skills, but he was an immensely strong and grueling customer to contend with, and banked on the then widespread notion that Larry would fade late. Instead, Holmes stepped up the pace himself when Tex attempted to come on late. Larry continually gave ground in this one as Charles did with Rocky, sustaining a fighting retreat. Charles didn't have the height and reach to avoid having Marciano batter his head into a swollen pulp though. Holmes had the stature combined with mobility and straight punching necessary to keep out of range for 15 rounds if need be.

Not many tall fighters of Marciano's era had the combination of height, mobility and effective use of reach Holmes possessed. Marciano-Ten Hoff would have provided an interesting visual. Of course the German didn't have the chin to withstand Rocky's power, but it would have been interesting to see him stick and move on Marciano for a round or two to get an idea of what something like Holmes-Marciano might have resembled.

 

It's not one or the other .. Rocky was a brutal fighter who would defeat most much bigger men .. it is how he matches up against the best of the big men that have poor stylistic match ups that are relative to this conversation ..

 

Larry's arms were plenty muscular, it was his legs that were skinny, not his upperbody. Eitherway Rocky was the stronger of the two.

I think Marciano would win a close decision. Larry would win the first 5-6 rounds pretty clearly because Marciano was a slow starter in many of his fights, but once it got to the middle rounds the fight would become very exciting. Rocky would continue to pressure and force Holmes into a fight, which would be very fan friendly. By rounds 13-15 the fight would be up for grabs, with both fighters busted up, but with Marciano's superior stamina and work rate clinching the championship rounds. No knockdowns, but Marciano would win by a round or two.

 

man...
Muscular arms? LOOK AT MY AVATAR PLEASE...

I think that marciano should stop holmes late, if no, holmes would win by decision.