rocky marciano vs larry holmes

Walcott was 7-5 over his last 12 coming into the Marciano fight. I am not saying he wasn't among the best around, just that what was around wasn't that much.

Charles was clearly past it and the Marciano losses started his great slide into oblivion. You can claim Marciano ushered him along this slide, but it began before those fights. Again, he was among the very best in the division at the time, but that fact is a condemnation of the division in that era.

 

You keep saying he fought wars against Shavers, Berbick, Snipes, and Smith, yet they were all very comfortable, lopsided wins for Holmes. In going 23 rounds with Shavers, Shavers only won 1 round, which was the round he dropped Holmes in. Holmes also was dominant against Snipes, even moments after the knockdown he resumed dominating Snipes. He won a near shut out over Berbick, and he easily outboxed and stopped Smith.

 

I think Marciano would win a close decision. Holmes would win the early rounds, and would bust Rocky up pretty good with his great speed and hard jab, but eventually he would get rocked and go to war, which would favor Rocky. ROcky would force Holmes to the corners/ropes, where it would be an awesome fight with Rocky hurling his very heavy shots, and where Holmes would be throwing blistering countershots and combinations.

No knockdowns, but both fighters would be swollen and bloody after 15 rounds.

 

No, Weaver, Norton, and Witherspoon all gave Larry tough fights. If you're going to mention Norton being past prime, I guess you will also mention Larry's torn muscle in his left arm that he went into the fight with.

 

No, he was dominant against most of the people he defended the title against, despite what you repeatedly say even though you've clearly never seen the fights.

 

Holmes Split Decision. Rocky makes it close with his pressure and power and relentless. Eventually, Holmes is going to slug with Rocky or sit on his punches at some point at the fight. It will be all wrong for Holmes. I still see Holmes surviving till the end, and already having a lead on points, takes a very close decision.

 

Your posts do not show that at all, so I'm going to go ahead and call BS on that.

 

No, based on the fact that you say he had wars with Shavers, Berbick, Smith, and Snipes. Those fights were far from "wars." You say he struggled against them, despite him hardly losing a round against any of them.