rocky marciano vs larry holmes

I would put my money on Larry. I love Marciano and have a tremendous amount of respect for what he accomplished but I think Larry is just to much for him.

 

Marciano could end up lucky as against Walcott...except I don't see Larry staying down.

1980 Larry stays out of the way, jabs Rocky until his face is twice its size, drops him with the uppercut, and stops him with his typical avalanche-of-rights in the 10th round.

 

Holmes wide dec or tko on cuts. Marciano has one chance ,to land his Suzie Q ,and since Holmes got up from Shavers bomb, I think that even if he lands it Larry would recover and go on to dominate with his jab and drop his own right hand on the advancing Rocky.

 

Louis made a mess of Rocky with his jab and he was old and slow, Holmes would be spearing him with it all night. and dropping the right hand in over the top.

 

Walcott wasn't faster than Holmes ,neither did he possess his jab or all time great uppercut [the remedy for the short croucher,] or his chin and recuperative powers.Larry is also 3 inches taller than Walcott has 7 inches more reach and about 20lbs on him .
Holmes wouldn't be 38years old either!

 

Absolute rubbish.

Marciano was one of the best pressure fighters that the heavyweight division ever produced.

He is a stylistic nightmare for Holmes.

Most of Holmes's opponents waited for him to make a mistake, but Marciano would smother him, and force him to make one!

 

What happens when Holmes' uppercut lands? Inevitable given the facts you just mentioned.

Not just that, but what fighter did Marciano ever fight (under the age of 32) who was (1980) Holmes' level?

All the greats Rocky fought were past their prime.

Not to take anything away from Rocky's amazing, undefeated record, which is incredible imo.

 

Over the last 3 days I've watched about 10 Holmes fights for the the thread I'm doing an no. Walcott at 38 was definitely not faster than Holmes was in 80/81. There Footwork is similar but Walcott didn't have the jab to keep Marciano off him. Holmes has the jab to keep almost anyone off him.

And part of this post about Louis's jab is ridiculous.

Suzie Q was great at countering a slowed Ezzard Charles jab, Layne's and Walcotts. None of which were remotely close to Holmes's.

 

To be fair it's probably equal.

 

Probably. Rocky was no joke when it came to working out hard.

 

How is a walk forward agressive fighter with no real defence who cuts easy a stylistic nightmare for Holmes?

 

I'll agree they are essentially equal in the heart department. Rocky was a great fighter with great fighting spirit. So was Holmes.

However, for all the talk of Rocky's grueling training regimen, the published accounts of his daily sessions don't quite match up with that hyperbole.

 

Even a 38 year old gives marciano problems.

 

I want to begin this by saying I meant no disrespect to Holmes, if I ever came off that way. He was a true warrior and had heart to spare. He was never given the respect for his heart either which is a tragedy. But to say Marciano didn't have as much heart.....

Marciano was in the "NE club circuit" because he had next to no amateur experience and, hell, WAS SELF TRAINED FOR HIS FIRST FEW FIGHTS. Holmes never had a reason to retire beyond slowly turning out of shape. Holmes aged very well. Holmes didnt have a thieving manager and back issues such as Marciano. Marciano fought through every hardship imaginable to cement his legacy. He was given no hope from the start. Larry Holmes was already a great when he continued on in vain, more stupidity than bravery, Marciano was given no hope from the start. Rejected by trainers due to his clutzy movement and shortness. Yet he went on, undeterred. Blinded against Walcott, cut against Charles, bet against vs Layne, mentally shot after Vingo, dropped against Moore, mismatched early in his career, etc.

Yet Marciano kept going. To even question his work ethic, toughness, and most of all, heart, is pure nonsense. I'm disappointed you'd say something like that on the anniversary of his birth.

 

You and I both know 6 months in the training camp with no outside contact, no new foods, and no sex belies an incredible work ethic.

"The only problem is that he wanted to do too much roadwork" -Charlie Goldman on if Marciano gave him any problems as a pupil