Rocky Marciano v Harry Wills?

I don't want to pass judgement too harshly as the footage of Wills is very limited. But comparing him to Charles, Ezzard appears ( in my eyes ) as the more dynamic of the two, or at least from what's available on film. Charles was difficult to hit, fast, tricky, durable, and active. Wills was an excellent fighter, but he has stylistic flaws that I can see which might have gotten him in trouble against certain guys I can think of.

 

No doubt Wills was a good fighter. Very athletic and fast. His tricks were not so much long range pot shotting or scorring but more to do with cleverly getting hands free on the break. I dont see how that is any kind of antidote for Marciano who up close with his short thick arms would beat wills for close range leverage seven days a week.

I am in no way playing down the old timers of wills day because I believe they really were every bit as effective and as conditioned as modern era fighters. They were good. A lot of their techniques were a lost art. Left overs of bare knuckle fencing and feinting. Efficient punch placing and controlling pace perfectly. Old Charlie Chaplin film dosnt really do it justice. I am sure modern filming would show a better portrayal.

However, whilst I think the best of that era would do well against the best of more modern times I just feel Marciano would have been wrong for Wills.

 

It's an interesting clash of styles, Wills powerful compact hooks/uppercuts inside, bodypunching, holding and hitting, leaning in clinches and strength maybe an antidote to Marciano's inside pressure. I think Wills may have more bodyshot KOs on his record than any other HW, Langford, Fulton, Norfolk amongst others. As a pressure fighter all of those can tough to get by.

It should be noted early career aggressive Wills is very different to the later career conservative Wills.

I think it could go either way, Wills has the tools to offset Marciano but he has been stopped by a lesser force in Langford, in fights he was winning it should be noted. Ofcourse he generally got the better of Sam too.

No he wasn't he was hard to hit in the footage we have of him past his prime at 35

 

This is how I see it. Rocky via KO more often than not.

Wills is a bit over rated as he caught more famous names when they were on the decline, and doesn't look as powerful or as skilled as some though on multiple films.

I wish Wills would have fought Godfrey in the 1920's, but he declined several times. He also declined a match with Gene Tunney, though to be fair Wills was past his best at that time.

 

So there is hope for world peace after all...

 

I agree with choklab. The old films probably don't give the good fighters from that time period justice but it still gives us a pretty good look at their style if nothing else, and Wills' style may be the wrong one to beat Marciano. Wills had the typical lunge then grab style that was prominent during that time period. Not many sharp jabs followed by a fast right/left hook combo and many of the punches were wide. Against a come forward volume puncher that didn't gas out that could be a problem. It wouldn't be an easy fight but I lean toward Rocky in this matchup.

 

Google Search "Harry Wills" and see who's picture pops up. Someone has a hell of a sense of humor....

https://www.google.com/search?q=har...0l5.2521j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8

 

I would favour Marciano, but it would not be a confident pick.

This pair do in fact have something in common, and this is that they both consistently exceeded peoples expectations of them.

Wills was smart, he adapted well to his opponents, he hit a lot harder than given credit for, and he very often did the unexpected.

 

Best post I have read in years!!:good

 

wills fought in a way that he had to in his day...and he was an expert. I am sure wills would have been an expert in any era but he would have evolved differently and would of had to in order to be effective against Rocky.

 

It's hard to say how this fight would go without footage of a prime Wills.
I know the guy beat Sam Langford but again, no footage, and it's not easy to say how much Langford had left at the time either.

The Wills I see on film wouldn't last long with Marciano. But Wills ten years younger might have been special.