Rocky Marciano vs Evander Holyfield

Which is why he gassed over the last couple rounds? Which is why he essentially retired after the fight?

Do we give him credit for going out on the top?

 

Rocky wasn't a one punch KO guy?? :huh. Well Walcott said for one punch he hit harder than Joe Louis with one punch? He finish Walcott twice with one shot (one of those being possibly the most famous one punch knockout of all time??). Have you seen the Rex Layne KO? Have you seen the Kid Matthews blow out? He dropped Joe Louis win one left hook without previously having him going? He dropped Ez with one right hand? Louis said he hit definately hit harder than Max Schmeling with the right hand? Rock was pretty known for being a one punch load up type of guy until he refined his style a little to compete with the best in the business? His KO of Walcott was one of maybe 3 occurrences in heavyweight history where the guy was completely out - the other 2 being the Patterson Johannson rematch but at least Johannson had already had one trip to the canvas already and was being rained punches before that hellacious left hook finish and the other Johnson blasting Ketchel away - to be fair that was a semi bogus fight and that was a big heavyweight blasting a middleweight - Walcott was a genuine heavyweight with a great chin and in great shape and who was absolutely fine 2 seconds before the lights went out? If that isn't a one punch KO I don't know what qualifies to be honest? :huh

 

He fought 13 fast paced rounds with many exchanges with an ATG and after being taken out with one punch in the 13th figured he had enough of Marciano thus the 1 rd KO loss but anyone that watches that fight can see fitness and skill that only a few have these days

 

Walcott gassed?? You must be watching a different fight to me?? :huh. Walcott fought an amazing fight? And in terms of him pretty much retiring - I don't really see many coming back from that kind of shell shock to be honest can't really blame him on that - he rematched but that all went t1t5 up so that was it - don't think he was ever going to produce that kind of performance ever again - he fought probably his greatest fight for me and got blasted by possibly the best punch ever thrown and that was it? To be honest I don't see any heavyweight in history not being put to sleep by the same shot in the same circumstances but that's just my opinion on it

 

Rocky was walking him around the ring but the punch counts were hardly impressive. He was an old man who gassed because he was past it. I've seen guy in the their 50's show throw amazing combos but they can't keep it up for 12 (or 15) rounds. Youth wins the day, was the narrative of that fight. To reshape in any other fashion is just ridiculous.

 

Walcott looks faded against Marciano.Compare to the footage of him against Louis and it's clear he's slower and has lost his legs.

Not shot as he still had good timing on his punches, but clearly in decline.

 

I think Late power wins the day, If that version of Walcott was an old man what is Stilverne and Areola at 35 and we have to see how Vlad's legs hold up under pressure....I think Walcott could beat many at that age and upset a few monsters with less stamina like Foreman and others

 

And those guys were in their prime when he fought them. Yea, Moore sure was. All 39 years of him. :-(

Rocky's greatness is a myth. His competition was either past their prime or not a top fighter. He was a product of his era. A few year later and he would've been murdered by the likes of Liston and Ali. He was a tough brawler tho. But too small for the ATG prime guys that came after him.

I bet 3/4 of the people that think he would beat Holy think he would also beat Wlad.

 

LOL. Walcott fought a past his prime Joe Louis. Archie was 39 years old when he fought Rocky. Both guys still dropped him.

His competition just wasn't top notch. Hence why he was able to be the champ for so long.

 

I think you have to consider history when assessing this era. A lot of careers were on hold during the war years. Titles frozen. Charles and Louis both served. Marciano too. Walcott and Moore were treading water waiting for the right management to move them after the war. They were active but were quite well preserved, experienced yet the miles on their clock were not as draining as you might believe. There were an unusual amount of active veteran fighters in the post world war. Some were young men with old heads and some were old heads with young body's.

 

Spartan vs M1 Abram?

 

Those guys were not in their prime when Rocky fought them. No way were they. Rocky was the right guy, at the right time. A few years earlier, or a few years later, and he is nothing more than an entertaining fighter that had some fun brawls.

 

Most observers of boxing history will find this an over simplistic view. A study of Archie Moore's record will show that he fought Marciano during the strongest point of his career. Just cast your eyes it. No decline just win after win against all kinds. Archies absolute best wins were recorded within this timescale.

Walcott had achieved a career goal and had beat the world's best twice. A career high. Walcott used everything in his being to try and keep his title, producing a Herculean effort that eclipsed any filmed performance of his career losing gamely to Marciano.

The version of Charles that Marciano fought would have crucified the version of Moorer that prime Holyfeild lost to.

 

It really doesn't.