Rocky Marciano v Harry Greb?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Mar 31, 2009.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Dempsey-Fitzimmons was a fight I put up last night that feels like it should be one sided at first glance, but IMO could go either way. Here's another one that seems as though it should be an easy pick. Marciano is a really destructive HW puncher and Greb has nothing on his resume to indicate he could beat Rocky (though he wanted to prove just that in a fight with Dempsey! So we can be sure Greb would have taken the fight!).

    However, let's consider our (my) impression of Greb's style. Using footwork, angles, timing, Greb gets in, delivers, gets out, waits for his man to come on to him, gets in, delivers, gets out again. His speed/accuracy/volume/chin combination makes him one of the most celibrated fighters of all time, and he may have been THE best fighter in history at delivering this particular style.

    Rocky has many strengths. His weaknesses are a lack of speed, less than astonishing balance and a plan moulded in concrete. Greb has the attributes to take advantage of all of these weaknesses, doesn't he?



    Let me say, though, that in a 15 round fight, I pick Rocky Marciano. I think that Greb would do really, really well in the opening rounds. He'd be diving in as described, scoring and leaving. But like I said, Rocky just plugs away, he has his plan - talk about successful delivery, he never lost - and he's sticking to it. Everything he throws is hard. As the fight wares on I could see Harry try to shorten up his attacks more and more to avoid being hit on the arms/elbows/back and more vital parts of his anatomy with these horrible punches. In short, he would start to run. Rocky would keep coming and whilst both men would be landing less, Marciano would be scoring for aggression and the harder punches. I think Rocky would sweep the cards in the run in to score a comfortable UD in a fight of two halves, with one half being more even than the other.

    But if Greb is even a wee bit tougher than I think, maybe he could pull of an impossible result. Your pick?
     
    McGrain, Mar 31, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 31, 2009
    #1
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This is not mismatch by any means.

    Greb would make Marciano hit a lot of thin air and would land on him prety much at will. The punchstats would be somewhat one sided for the first half of the fight.

    If Marciano persists with a body attack then theoreticaly he could wear Greb down and stop him late or take control of the fight late.

    A points win for Greb is certainly on the cards.
     
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    #2
  3. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Greb lacks the strength to deal with Marciano, imo. I don't like commenting on a fighter I haven't seen on film though.
     
    fists of fury, Mar 31, 2009
    fists of fury, Mar 31, 2009
    #3
  4. flamengo

    flamengo Coool as a Cucumber. Full Member

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    Ridiculous.
     
    flamengo, Mar 31, 2009
    flamengo, Mar 31, 2009
    #4
  5. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Dempsey and Marciano knock Fitz and Greb out in 2-3 rounds. Way too Strong and powerful for these two. It will be like Foreman-Frazier
     
    SuzieQ49, Mar 31, 2009
    SuzieQ49, Mar 31, 2009
    #5
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I guess I am on my own here then.

    I cant overlook how so many top 185 pounders got totaly shut out by Greb to the point that they barley managed to win a single round.

    I honestly cant see him being an easy fight for anybody in that size range.
     
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    #6
  7. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Thats just the thing Ben. Greb outclassed 185lb "Boxers". Greb NEVER took on any of the punchers of the heavyweight division(dempsey, wills, firpo, mcvea, etc etc) so we dont know how he holds up vs a heavyweight puncher. The fact that hes untested does not fare well for him against a slugger like marciano.
     
    SuzieQ49, Mar 31, 2009
    SuzieQ49, Mar 31, 2009
    #7
  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    In fairnes Greb tried to get fights with both Dempsey and Wills.

    He also fought some heavyweight punchers like Miske and Brennan and whipped them quite handily.
     
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    #8
  9. Cmoyle

    Cmoyle Active Member Full Member

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    I'd be really interested to view Klompton's take on this one. I'm a lot more impressed with Greb after reading Bill Paxton's book on him.
     
    Cmoyle, Mar 31, 2009
    Cmoyle, Mar 31, 2009
    #9
  10. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    As always, in these mythical matchups concerning Marciano, any...ANY fighter he goes up against that's smaller than him he inevitably tracks down, brutalizes and then knocks unconscious. A ko every time.
     
    red cobra, Mar 31, 2009
    red cobra, Mar 31, 2009
    #10
  11. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Red Cobra,

    Thats reality. Im sorry but no one smaller than jack and rock are going to outslug them, its just not possible.
     
    SuzieQ49, Mar 31, 2009
    SuzieQ49, Mar 31, 2009
    #11
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I wouldnt really say that Greb outslugged his oponents as such.

    He was esentialy a boxer swarmer who relied on speed to outland oponents.
     
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    #12
  13. 196osh

    196osh Mendes Bros. Full Member

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    Greb sounds style wise a lot like Calzaghe....:think
     
    196osh, Mar 31, 2009
    196osh, Mar 31, 2009
    #13
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    The stylistic paralel has occured to me.
     
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    janitor, Mar 31, 2009
    #14
  15. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Mismatch........ Marciano KO's Greb in 5 rds........

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Mar 31, 2009
    MRBILL, Mar 31, 2009
    #15
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