Rocky Marciano vs John L Sullivan

So Sullivan ,who was only stopped in his last fight, when he was a booze sodden ,coming out of retirement old man ,couldnt manage to do as well as 31 of Marciano's opponents ?

 

I’m going to pick Sullivan after a long savage fight

 

It is clear from ringside reports, that he did have some sort of defense.

 

Obviously we don't have film, so we can only go on what observers said, but here are some testimonies.

“Sullivan showed one point of his science by quick movements of his head completely eluding on such occasions the heavy blows which were aimed by McDonald”

Denver Tribune Republican

A New Orleans quoted by Adam Pollack paper described Sullivan as:

“a man weighing 230 pounds who moved rapidly and was spryer on his feet than the majority of lightweights. Sullivan uses both hands well and hits clean. He dodged and guarded splendidly”.

“He can duck lower than any featherweight boxer in America”.

John Boyle O’Reiley