Rocky Marciano Versus Oleksandr Usyk?

Rocky is subject to the most incredible fantasy fairy tales... Don't get me wrong, I respect RM, but ain't no 185 pound midget with a short reach beating a big, skilled, ranked heavyweight, who could take a mediocre punch. I dare say, RM is the worst man to ever hold the heavyweigt title. I give Marciano a chance against Tommy Burns and that's about it.

 

Worst man to ever hold the Heavyweight title ?

Obviously you've never never heard of.....

Leon Spinks
Shannon Briggs
John Ruiz
Herbie Hide
Bruce Seldon

You have some bad takes my friend.

 

You are not going to tell me, that you believe Marciano would be able to beat Briggs or Ruíz, are you, my friend?

 

Didn't Ruiz lose to two former Middleweights in Toney & Jones or did I imagine that ?

Didn't Briggs lose to mediocre Heavyweight like Darroll Wilson and journeyman Sedreck Fields ? Or did I also imagine that ?

I suppose 22-37 Sedreck Fields is better than Marciano because hes bigger right ?

 

Yes. Marciano was just too small for a man with his style vs these big men. In terms of talent and speed Rocky didn't possess 5 % of Toney's and Jones' talent. And forgive me if I sound root, that is not my intention, my intention is to be realistic.

 

And I repeat, I don't think Rocky was a bad fighter, but I find him somewhat limited. If you could upscale Marciano to 235 pounds I would give him a chance. RM vs these big guys would be like a swarming lightweight vs a strong middleweight. It is just not realistic.

 

I don't think Marciano fares too well in the Super Heavyweight era either but regarding Briggs I don't think hes that good.

He has some power and speed but his skills are mediocre and he has no stamina due to his asthma.

Realistically no I don't think Marciano stands a snowballs chance against elite Super Heavyweights like Lewis, Vitali, Wladimir, Fury, Joshua, Bowe, etc.

But Briggs to me is more like a fringe contender that happened to be in a very fortunate set of circumstances to win a belt.

Liakhovich was a weak belt holder and Briggs got a gift vs an almost 50 year old Foreman.

Theres always a chance Briggs could finish Marciano early as Briggs is quite dangerous in first 4 rounds, but if Briggs doesn't get the job done early then hes in trouble. Because despite Marciano being considerably smaller. His stamina and workrate is far superior to Briggs, and in the 2nd half of a fight that would be very telling especially from someone who has asthma.

 

You think that Alejandro Lavorante, who was ranked #4 in 1961, was 6ft 3.5ins and weighed 211lbs when a 48-year old Archie Moore stopped him in 1962, losses to a peak Rocky Marciano, despite an arguably slipping Marciano stopping a 41-year old Moore?

 

My head says Usyk because of the scope of the size differential, my heart says Rocky because I am not sure Usyk can adjust to the constant pressure and the willingness to take four shots to land one. Although it would have to be peak Marciano, the Marciano who fought Moore would be in a world of hurt.

 

I don't see Marciano surviving many big time match ups starting around the late 50's, Liston and Cassius Clay would have killed him, and I'm not certain he'd have beaten a prime Floyd Patterson. Never mind the 70's with the beasts that roamed the boxing landscape back then. I rank Rocky highly for what he managed to accomplish, but head to head with boxings best heavyweights of all time I have him down the list.

 

I agree but again we're not matching up Marciano with those great fighters, we're talking about Shannon Briggs who I don't think that highly of plus he has asthma. So unless he finishes Marciano early I think hes in trouble despite Briggs having substantial size on Marciano.

 

Yes, I do. I really think Marciano was that bad. Even though RM beat Moore, I don't think he would have a chance vs Lavorante due to styles. Moore had a style and the ability to cope with larger foes.

 

I give RM 10 % (1%?) chance vs Leon, if Leon has a bad day. The other mentioned beat Rocky with relative ease, if you ask me.

 

How would you describe Lavorante's style?

 

Usyk UD