Rocky Marciano vs Chris Byrd

An ancient, shopworn shifty champion took a prime Rocky to the brink of defeat.

What would a fresh, shifty champion do?

 

Byrd's actually pretty darn good. I think this fight would be closer than people think. Have to favour Marciano UD on workrate and punching power, but as Latineg said, Byrd could well see the final bell and look OK while doing it.

 

:good
Two strong, big pressure fighters faced Byrd with varying results. The 244.75lbs Ibeabuchi stopped the 208.75lbs Byrd, but 233lbs Tua, in better shape than he had been for Lewis lost a clear decision to the 215lbs Byrd.
Ibeabuchi had nearly 60lbs on Rocky, anyone dismissing Byrd's chances is not being realistic/ is blinded by their hero worship of the late great Rocky. Two big, strong heavyweights who fought in the pressure style,Ibeabuchi ,and Tua,had varying results against Byrd.
Ike at 244.75lbs ,stopped the 208.75lbs Byrd.
Tua ,233lbs was outpointed by the 215lbs Byrd.
Ike had nearly 60 pounds on Rocky, Tua 48lbs.

Ike is the only fighter to stop a prime Byrd, his other 3 tko losses came when he was respectively 36,37,38 years old.
Byrd, at between 209/215lbs would be the biggest prime ,class boxer Marciano faced.
185lbs Lastarza took Rocky the distance to a disputed decision in their first fight,and into the 11 th in their second.

One other factor Byrd is a southpaw,how many "righties "did Marciano face?
Anyone seeing this as a walkover for Marciano is 1.Not being realistic,2.Blinded by hero worship of the late great Rocky.