Rocky Marciano vs Gene Tunney

Has the following ever been seriously considered in this fight:

1. Rocky will be the smaller man. Not just in reach which is important, but also in weight, where he can expect to be outweighed by at least 5 or more pounds.

2. Unlike when Rocky fought Walcott, Charles, and Moore - he will be facing a fighter who has never been stopped. In fact, it is a fighter who had only once been on the floor and that was by an all time great punching great in Jack Dempsey. Arguably (and possibly) a better hitter than Rocky. Is it really safe to assume that Rocky will produce the KO in these circumstances.

3. This is maybe one of the very few times when a fighters work ethic may just match the rock. IN fact, there is no guarantee that Rocky will be the stronger and fitter fighter in the later rounds, as he always was in his own fights.

I think Tunney has a far better chance than he is usually given.

 

The weight is negligible - Infact based on Tunney really being a guy who naturally was a light heavyweight who came up to fight Dempsey then wouldnt tou say Rock would be the natural heavyweight in there really?

By the same token Tunney would be facing someone who was NEVER beaten and who had as high a knockout ratio as anyone in history and he would be facing them in their peak - not like out boxing a rusty tired champion that Dempsey was by then - the slow as treacle Dempsey almost turned the trick himself?

I assume by work ethic you meant the disciplined training? He definately wouldn't match work rate in there that's for sure?

 

This fight could go either way but I actually lean toward Tunney by decision. Gene would be the most mobile opponent Rocky ever faced and combine that with a quick pair of hands and a good fighting brain as well as underrated toughness and Gene could certainly take this one. Rocky would have to pursue Gene all over the ring all night long as Tunney would rely on his legs to keep him out of danger. Rocky would have to take Gene's legs out from under him in order to slow him down enough to put some serious hurt on him. If he can do that his chances improve. If he can't then I see Tunney boxing his way to a decision in a tough fight.

 

I would definitely think that Rocky would be the heavyweight for the reasons you said. But, as i was pointing out, Tunney will be the bigger man in this fight. Something which i am sure most people wont imagine when thinking about this. Is it really fair to think about Tunney as the smaller fighter when his best fighting weight is more than Rockys, just because Rocky started fighting later adn never really had the career at the lighter weight. I am not saying it makes much of a difference just pointing out that Tunney is not just some little guy hoping to run and dance his way to victory.

Marciano definitely poses challenges for Tunney. I am just pointing out that the common idea that Tunney has to run for 12 rounds and it is only a matter time before he is caught and it is finished may not be as simple as it seems. Tunney was never stopped and even when he danced, like ali, he still did plenty of damage. If Rocky does win this he will need to dig deep to do so. As you point out, Rocky is no easy mark in his own right.

Yes i did. My point being that Rocky's lengendary stamina is not the advantage it normally would be. Tunney may train just as hard, and there is no reason why he wont come on in the later rounds.

I havent made a pick and i see nothing wrong with picking Rocky Marciano. I was just pointing out that some of the conventiional reasons may not be as sound as consensus suggests.