Rocky Marciano v Jersey Joe Walcott I, Round I

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Jul 23, 2008.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    [YT]r2-5fq0sGMs[/YT]


    For me, this is every bit as impressive as past-peak Ali's astounding effort in round one of the Foreman fight. It really is amazing the way Walcott goes after Marciano. Some observations:

    Walcott, for all that he appears to be the aggressor, initiates a clinch every time he clashes with Marciano without scoring big, and looks for the sneaky right hand around the corner.

    The wide right hand is the exciting looking punch but it's the left hook that is the danger punch. But Marciano has his eye on it. At 1.12 of the video, Walcott looks for a sneaky one, but Rocky is by now alive to that punch. Walcott really only has sucess with the right hand when he is running interference with the left jab, which I think is underated by the way, he really spears with it, makes the most of the range he has, especially given Marciano's short reach.

    The short left that drops the rock for the flash KD is almost as beautiful as the one Walcott drops Charles with. Rock shows great recovery time after being caught with this wondeful punch. Rocky also ties Jersey up beautifully in the very next clinch, holding his arms and drawing him in and not looking for offence.

    Walcott almost matches Rocky for strength but knows to give ground in the clinches to enable him to work. Here we see him mauling and matching Rocky for rough stuff before breaking clinches and making space for very hard looking punches. Great chin from Marciano in these circumstances.

    Walcott misses with one big left and one big right - would history have been different had they connected? Hard to say, but Rocky shows really impressive punch resistance. I think he would have staggered through. Just the right man for the job.

    Great, great round from Jersey Joe though.
     
    McGrain, Jul 23, 2008
    McGrain, Jul 23, 2008
    #1
  2. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    IF Walcott landed, I dont think history would have change, Walcott all but had Marciano nearly out with HARDER punchings in round 11. Marciano had a great chin.
     
    Dempsey1238, Jul 23, 2008
    Dempsey1238, Jul 23, 2008
    #2
  3. AussieMauler

    AussieMauler Relative Unknown Full Member

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    Referee was Mills Lane right?????????:patsch
     
    AussieMauler, Jul 23, 2008
    AussieMauler, Jul 23, 2008
    #3
  4. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    My favorite part of the whole round is when Rocky gets punched in the face, then Walcott gets punched in the face also. That was sweet.
     
    Maxmomer, Jul 23, 2008
    Maxmomer, Jul 23, 2008
    #4
  5. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It's just a pity Walcott didn't fight more like this in his career. Mostly, he was seen as a negative, defensive fighter and it cost him big time in the popularity stakes.
     
    fists of fury, Jul 23, 2008
    fists of fury, Jul 23, 2008
    #5
  6. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Not impressed with the Rock - if that was Foreman, Dempsey, Liston or Tyson landing on him then it results in a KO. He's an easy target for a good quick right hand once you've got the range as Rock likes to lean his head back and down as a punch comes - step forward with a good quick right and you'll nail him. Frazier bobbed and weaved, was quicker and a much harder target to hit. Ali would have an easier time with the Rock and totally outclass him with his footwork and movement.
     
    groove, Jul 23, 2008
    groove, Jul 23, 2008
    #6
  7. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    They all thought Rocky was easy to hit, until they had to do it. Walcott especially.
     
    fists of fury, Jul 23, 2008
    fists of fury, Jul 23, 2008
    #7
  8. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

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    i'm impressed with how tough and the unbelievable will power the Rock had. That's one thing he had above most ATG's.
     
    groove, Jul 24, 2008
    groove, Jul 24, 2008
    #8
  9. MrSmall

    MrSmall Member Full Member

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    Yes, that left hook was exquisite - not quite as impressive as that counter uppercut he killed Charles with though.

    Nice writeup, McGrain.
     
    MrSmall, Jul 24, 2008
    MrSmall, Jul 24, 2008
    #9
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I agree with you overall, Walcott looks for all the world that his punches are equaled by Marciano's chin, and as you say, in round 11, too.

    But I wonder. When you have a fresh box-puncher in this type of mood it is different to having a box puncher who has done 10 hard rounds with one of the toughtest pressure fighters in history.
     
    McGrain, Jul 24, 2008
    McGrain, Jul 24, 2008
    #10
  11. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    great read. walcott said when he hit marciano he calmly walked to his corner and looking back he expected to see marciano out cold on the canvas, and instead saw a feirce looking angry man on his feet coming right at him!
     
    SuzieQ49, Jul 24, 2008
    SuzieQ49, Jul 24, 2008
    #11
  12. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    Well, i once read that Ali was surprised how hard Marciano was to hit when they made the scenes for that computer based fight. And that Marciano was retired for ages.
     
    Loewe, Jul 25, 2008
    Loewe, Jul 25, 2008
    #12
  13. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

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    yeah he defo hit hard when he landed. The question is how many times he would connect against the fastest moving heavy of all time. I'm talking 65-67 Ali. And Ali could take a punch. Ask Foreman.
     
    groove, Jul 25, 2008
    groove, Jul 25, 2008
    #13
  14. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    I talked about how Ali thought Marciano was to hit not how hard Marciano hit.
     
    Loewe, Jul 25, 2008
    Loewe, Jul 25, 2008
    #14
  15. groove

    groove Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Sorry i thought you were only joking. Ali liked the Rock a lot.
     
    groove, Jul 25, 2008
    groove, Jul 25, 2008
    #15
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