Rocky Marciano v Harry Wills?

I've been watching just a little bit of footage of Wills lately, and admit that he's a fighter I know very little about. Checked out his fight with Paulino Uzcundon which I'm not sure is the best version of Harry. The man was tough as nails, but at the risk of sounding ignorant, he looks somewhat crude to me. Lot's of holding tactics and not much defense unless I'm missing something. He was a great fighter for sure as his resume clearly indicates, but he also looks very hittable. Not sure I'd favor him over Rocky, but mind you this is just after watching spars clips. And if its only for 15 rounds and not 20 or beyond, then Marciano can certainly accommodate that.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-BsVEa9H-Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBOUmkoI44w

 

Wills definitely held his guard low. Didn't really fight in a crouched position but nor was he fully upright. Sort of halfway in between. Had the tendency to jut his head forward a bit. I like how he effectively neutralizes incoming attacks by tying up his opponent, sort of like Jack Johnson a little, but still more holding then I generally prefer to see. Not sure I would have favored him against Dempsey had they actually met, based on what I'm seeing. Joe Louis might have had some difficulty landing some of his close ranged combinations on the inside, given Will's neutralizing tactics, but could still see Wills being broke down late. Rocky certainly would have it hard against a much larger man of Will's stamina, durability and tying up tactics, but I stand by what I said before in making him the favorite.

Thanks for the footage. I think I'll make it a side project to continue studying him.

 

Wow, never saw Madden footage before ... Wills has decent hand speed and a nice assortment of punches to go w obvious power but clearly his legs were past his best .. then again, all the footage we have of him is at the age of 35 and older so that actually makes him an ideal Marciano opponent, a former great, still in a divisions upper tier but far past his own best ..

 

15 rounds with the level of skills Wills rested at in his day is a long time to be in the ring with a prime Rock.

It's a good fight though.

 

If they fought a handful of times I'm sure Wills would walk away with a few victories.

 

Were Rocky's older opponens really "far past their best"? Walcott looked great in the initial match, his age likely robbed him of staying power through tiring at the end, Moore looked good too, was re really much better before?

Some do not admit the weak era Rocky fought in. Others overstate it.

 

And some simply deny physical and logic. None of Rocky's big three opponents were in their prime, plain and simple. All still had varying degrees left and were tough. That being said, when matched up against a prime, top conditioned guy who excelled in wars of attrition all of their legs gave out and were forced to trade, not their style of choice in their primes, and lost. That's that. Marciano never fought a great heavyweight that was in his prime let alone a large great heavyweight in his prime.

 

The Charles that Marciano beat was a better fighter than Wills ever was. Wills was big but easy to hit. From watching his style I dont think he would have gotten past Dempsey and dont see him getting past Marciano or the 32-33 year old Charles for that matter or Walcott or Moore

 

Did Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Sonny Liston or Larry Holmes ever fight and defeat a great heavyweight that was in his prime?

I see your point, just playing DA here.

 

Depending on your definition of great Dempsey has Sharkey and Liston has Patterson.

 

Right Bummy .. :nut ...

 

Wills is remembered for the wrong reasons always tied to Dempsey but he was dynamite would be a tough test for anyone his size.