We all know that Rocky retired undefeated. But would he have been so fortunate had he have fought in the richest era of heavyweight boxing. It was called the 'Golden' era for a reason - as we have 3 of the greatest heavyweights of all-time in the same era - with a plethora of other tough & talented hw contenders. How does Marciano fare against: Ali Frazier Foreman Norton Holmes Lyle Shavers Quarry Bonavena Ellis Mathis Bugner Chuvalo Young Patterson M Foster B Foster
Only Ali and Foreman beat him. And the Ali fight would be amazing. Holmes and Ellis would be tough fights but I’d take him to Ko both. Bonavena would be a tough fight as well
I love doing these! Toughest heavyweight era, but Marciano does well imo. Ali-hopefully this would be a trilogy. Marciano does an FOTC on Ali the first time, but loses the next two slugfests, both very close. Ali by SD in the next two instances. Frazier-very close, could go either way; I prefer a draw, although either one could win a decision. No knockouts. Foreman-Brutal slugfest, but Foreman feasted on pressure-fighters like Frazier and Norton, and I think Marciano would be no exception, but Marciano would offer sufficient resistance for several rounds. Norton-another close fight fought on the inside, but Marciano stops Norton around 8 or 9 Holmes-two fights I would hope; Marciano UDs Larry the first time in a thrilling fight but gets S'D in the second thriller. Lyle-I favor Marciano slightly due to his resume, but because of Lyle's size and power compared to Rocky's size + Rocky never faced anyone near as large and powerful as Lyle, it is safe to assume that Lyle could brutalize Marciano. Either way I have it a close fight and another war of course. Probably a few knockdowns on both sides. I make Lyle a slight favorite. Either could win by knockout or decision. Shavers-Shavers gives Marciano a tough time early but gasses after 3-5 and gets KO'd. Terrific match. Two biggest missers in boxing. I can see the commentators now: "I have never seen two fighters exchange so furiously without actually landing anything." Quarry-Great fight. Absolutely spectacular. Quarry takes the first 2 rounds but gasses out. Rocky RTD 7. Bonavena-Very close maul-and-braul fight. Two supreme brawlers. Marciano SD. Ellis-Ellis starts fast and hurts the Rock. Rocky comes on to stop him around 8-12. Earlier seems more likely to me. Mathis-Mathis outboxes Rocky and leans on him a lot. He could really gas Rocky out that way, but Rocky KOs the blubber-belly late just like Joe did. Bugner-With Bugner's luck he would survive against Rocky. Nothing more. Might give Rocky one or two very brief fits. Chuvalo-Epic battle between two great chins. Rocky would indulge Chuvalo more than any other boxer did. I still favor. Really there is no reason to choose Marciano over Chuvalo. Chuvalo was far less accomplished which works in his favor, but their skills are about the same. Rocky was a little less passive than Marciano, but both were very wild and ineffective in their aggression. Young-Young beat all types of fighters and several greats, but in his prime Young struggled the most w/ Norton's pressure fighting style, and I think Rocky would win the decision, but Young would lose gracefully. Patterson-Patterson outboxes Marciano and outslugs him at times but gets KO'd late, around 11-13. M Foster-Foster leads but is stopped in 6. B Foster-Foster lasts two rounds w/ Marciano just like he did against Smokin' Joe
Ali Ali split decision or late round TKO maybe 12-15. Only version of Ali Rocky could beat would be the post Manilla Ali who was more lethargic and out of shape. Frazier in a best of three Rocky wins at least 1 bare minimum. It would be an extremely competitive and brutal back and forth war either way and the fans would cream themselves. Foreman Foreman KO within 4 or less. Horrible match up Norton Rocky late round KO maybe in 10-12 after struggling for a while due to Norton's cross arm block, strength and athleticism. Holmes Holmes UD. Rocky's face would look like it got stung by hornets after eating that jab all night and getting clipped by uppercuts. He does likely manage to drop Holmes at some point with his overhand right. Lyle Rocky by split decision or late round stoppage. Shavers Rocky gets off the floor to win by KO within 9. Quarry extremely bloody and exciting war. Rocky by stoppage within 7. Bonavena Rocky unanimous decision. His work rate, body punching, low crouching frustrate Bonavena but he can't really put a dent in him. They smother each other's punches too much and it wouldn't be that exciting honestly. Ellis Rocky KO in 6 after trailing on the score cards. Mathis Rocky could honestly lose this one. Some might look at the Frazier but Frazier had faster hands and better had movement to avoid the jab and close the distance. His nasty left hooks to the body were much sharper and more consistent than Rocky's more bludgeoning approach. I favor Mathis at his best to win 6/10 with his annoying movement and size, but Rocky could definitely pull off a Walcott 1 type of win if he's relentless enough. Bugner another fight where Rocky is frustrated by size and an annoying style. Bugner could hypothetically win but probably isn't busy enough to convince the judges. Rocky wins many rounds on activity. Rocky UD 7/10. Chuvalo Rocky UD. Although we might actually see Rocky completely gassed for once since Chuvalo would really test his body and willpower. Young Rocky stops him late. A light hitting cautious counter puncher has no way to convincingly win rounds over guys like Rocky and Frazier who never back off and can take a shot. Patterson tough one. Patterson's speed would be a serious problem. Might resemble the Chuvalo fight. It could honestly end in a draw. Rocky doesn't have the size and leverage to bully Patterson the way Liston did nor does he have the sniping skill and patience of Bingo. A battle in the trenches. They likely need 3 matches to settle things. M Foster Rocky UD or late round stoppage. B Foster Rocky KO within 5.
Here are my picks *Winners are in red How does Marciano fare against: This content is protected Norton - W TKO 8 This content is protected Lyle - SD or late TKO Shavers - TKO 4 Quarry - TKO 6 Bonavena - UD Ellis - KO 3-5 Mathis - TKO 10-12 Bugner - UD Chuvalo - UD Young - UD/SD Patterson - KO 5 M Foster - KO 2 B Foster - KO 3
It really depends on when he met them in their career and in his. Marciano, as a completed work, was only around for a few years... And his style and physical limitations didn't bode well for a long shelf life as a fighter so he would only last thru 20% of these guys before falling apart. I will assume the best versions of each... Ali... Rock loses by stoppage Frazier.. Rock loses by stoppage Foreman... Rock loses by stoppage Norton... Rock loses by stoppage Holmes... Rock loses by stoppage Lyle... Rock loses by stoppage Shavers... Rock loses by stoppage Quarry... Rock loses by stoppage Bonavena... Oscar by Dec. Ellis... Rock by Dec. Mathis.. Rock by KO Bugner... Draw Chuvalo... Rock by Dec Young,.. Young by Dec. Patterson... Patterson by Dec. M Foster... Rock loses by stoppage B Foster... Rock by KO
Marciano beats all of them , maybe, except foreman perhaps. Ali was great at running around and such but he hit too much like a little girl to really bother marciano, imo
That’s a lot of fighters and scenarios to analyze. I think his biggest problem comes with the colossal punchers. And of course the exceptional boxers namely Ali and Holmes. He has my vote to beat a lot of the contenders and possibly has a 50/50 chance with Joe Frazier
Marciano has no pedigree against 210+ prime atheltic HWs. He's in complete unknown territory. Guys like Norton, Lyle and Shavers might just ragdoll him. Shavers potentially blows him out early. I'm definitely picking him to lose against Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Holmes.
Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Holmes all have a Good chance of beating Marciano. The others have no chance. None. the 1970s version of Holmes was better than the 1980s version of Holmes. The 1960S version of Ali and Frazier we’re both better than the 1970s version. Marciano absolutely would have been champion in the 1970s. But probably not for very long...he would have lost at least once.
