Rocky Marciano vs Tim Witherspoon.

Tim Witherspoon was bigger than Rocky I get that. Ordinarily, all things being equal, Tim would be too much for a good fighter equal in size to Rocky. It is true that Spoon certainly was a stones throw from being a great fighter. The win he had over Bonecrusher Smith he certainly looked great that night. Then there was the rematch that put Witherspoon into perspective.

But for all that, let's not pretend in his prime Tim was any bigger than the version of Joe Louis that Rocky rag dolled from pillar to post.

And Louis was an active, genuine #1 contender at that point. strong for his size. Louis claimed to have lifted Primo Carnera off his feet.

But boxing is punching too. Size is but one factor. in fights like this it's the guy who lands more punches who wins.

Does anyone think Tim lands more punches?

 

Do you think Tim can hurt Rocky if he lands his own right?

 

Yes of course Tim can hurt Rocky. Spoon would be a serious handful for Rocky whichever way I look at it. Ultimately I don't think Tim on his best effort does anything better or hits any harder than the guys Rocky fought and beat though.

Chiefly, even on a head to head basis, is it really fair to afford Witherspoon the kind of performance he rarely produced? He was so hot and cold. So in shape or out of shape that for comparisons you need to witness the weigh in to see what Tim turns up. He just did not deliver enough of the right performances required to eclipse any great fighter.

 

Do you think Marciano would have rag dolled a prime Joe Louis from pillar to post?

 

Size only matters in the clinch if the smaller fighter is unskilled in technique in the clinch.

Lifting weights has a very low carry over to the ring.

Foreman is literally known as one of the strongest heavyweights of all time. Look at Ali-Foreman though. In that fight Ali appears to be controlling Foreman even though Foreman was bigger. Check out Dempsey-Firpo. Dempsey controlled Firpo in the clinches. Same in his fight against Willard, he repeatedly pushes Willard backwards.

 

Of course not. A prime Joe Louis isn't getting rag dolled by anyone is he?

But the size alone of an elite #1 contender as big as Louis was when he fought Marciano clearly was not a problem.

Not one bit.

 

You are entirely correct on this matter. But this kind Of technical reality is very hard to absorb from a modern vantage point. It's very difficult for so many people to get past physical preference on appearances.

All things being equal size will matter. The smaller man always has to be a lot better to win..

Tim was potentially great. Marciano was actually great.

 

Louis was still good compared to his peers around the time he fought Marciano. Don't forget that he was undefeated between Charles and Marciano.

 

He did win those fights but he seemed to lose some of the zip on his punch notably his right hand.

 

His peers being other top heavyweights of the era.

 

Most definitely

 

he was still good but only by sheer dint of being sdo damn great when prime.

anyone his age was on the fade by some margin with very few exceptions, in that time.