Rocky Marciano vs the 80s heavyweights.

That left hook he hit a prime Ezzard Charles with in 1951, if only Walcott had been 5 years younger it would have landed faster and better and maybe even decapitated Charles

But 37 year old Walcott man he had nothing left


36 year old Hopkins had nothing left either when he beat Felix Trinidad

 

Walcott was also unique

 

because peoples size has on average increased over the years, albeit marginally, but irrevocably.

 

You have no idea when walxotts prime was because you know nothing about him. I suggest reading his book

I consider myself an expert on Walcott

Walcotts prime or best fighting years were 1946-1952 with a peak in 47, but barely any drop off from 47-52 roughly the same fighter

Marciano fought a near perfect version of Walcott full credit for the victory

 

I was under the impression we were matching men as they actually were, not some mythical hypothetical versions of them.

 

1952 minus 7 years....Walcott was one year into His return to the sport....not fighting Joe Louis. You seem to not know much....

 

Apparently December 1947 to September 1952 is 7 years!

 

I already did. Not my problem you didn't read it and made factually incorrect statements.

 

The guy with the best chance would be Tucker because of his height, reach, speed, footwork, chin, and clinching ability. The others didn't have a whole lot of footwork, and standing there and trying to trade with Rocky usually didn't end well for his opponents. I'd give prime Dokes second best chance just because his handspeed was so impressive. Of course, with most of the 80s heavys, you never know which fight they will show up in shape, or which one they will show up out of shape, unmotivated, or high on drugs. Marciano always showed up in shape and motivated.

 

Due to better diets and the eradication of many childhood diseases. Marciano had an excellent, nutrient rich Italian-American diet. They were never destitute or missing meals. He also didn't get Rubella or Polio or any of the childhood diseases that stunt growth.

Again, I have travelled Abruzzo, from where Marciano's people come, many times. Just there a few months back. They are very small folks. He would have been a giant. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

And just to be fully accurate, American males are actually shrinking according to the enlistment records of the US military.

Marciano would be what he was, a guy really too small to stay in the top echelon of the division.

 

And yet Rocky wasn't trading with the likes of Bonecrusher Smith. Call me silly but I don't think Layne, Matthews... or even Charles hit as hard as Smith, Bruno, Williams or even Page.

Tubbs, too. He was quite slick and quite quick at his best, also quite tall and long.

How healthy does Marciano stay if his average opponent is so much larger than him or if he is forced to fight outside of the same local Northeast circuit for more than 20% of his career. The brevity and provincialism of Marciano's career are troubling when you think of the types of careers with the types of opponents the top fighters in the 80's faced.

 

Isn't the goal to face the best of your era and if you do that nothing else matters?

 

Nothing else matters until you compare eras.

 

Orlin Norris was shorter than Marciano, same reach, no real punch yet he beat three modern sized heavyweight champions without taking a backward step. prime Tony Tucker, Oliver Mccall and an in shape 220 Greg Page (around the time he decked Tyson in sparring).

If your good enough your big enough. And Noris brought less to the table than Rocky Marciano and he was still good enough wasn't he?

 

but Bonecrusher Smith was trading with Marvis Frazier and Aldison Rodriguez and getting his ass handed to him.

Tubbs never beat anyone. Split decisions aside. nobody.

In the 1980s 16 fight prospects won belts in their step up fight then lost their next fight and went 50-50 the rest of their career. Not one of them was any different. Those guys were screwed by the system. disillusioned wasted talent with no real consistency. None of them outside Tyson and Holmes could win more than one fight without losing the next one at too level.