Shavers had a solid twenty five pounds on Marciano. He was small by today's standards but not by fifties standards.
Rocky Marciano was very durable, credited his ring success to intense training, roadwork, and conditioning. There were no steroids back then for fighters to grow to 6"9, no organic vegetables either, just plain discipline and hard work. Earnie Shavers on the other hand was a deadly hitter of a fighter. Shavers however was kayoed in one round by Jerry Quarry on Dec 14 1973. Marciano fights low and out of a crouch, which could make Earnie miss with his Sunday punch, use up energy as Rocky connects with blows to his torso and arms. The determination and stamina of Marciano make him the winner, the Suzi-Q does it for Rocky, TKO 6.
The more mature Shavers, the one who didn't shoot his wad from the bell and could box, beats him. Marciano got hit plenty. The key to beating Shavers? Don't get hit plenty.
