Rocky Marciano: Who does he fare best against?

Foreman is a horrific style for him to overcome, it would be just as bad a beatdown as Frazier's was. Marciano could potentially pull off something against Ali, but it would ony happen like once in a 5 fight series.

So the answer is Frazier. Closest size to him, has a similar style where they both play in each other's hands, and probably too much of a warrior for his own good. I consider Frazier to be a more skilled fighter than the Rock, but the latter's intagibles could very well win him the fight.

 

I know everyone is going to roll their eyes, but maybe Ali. Similar style to Frazier, but with more two-fisted power.

Ali was the greatest, but styles make fights. I think it would be a great fight.

Ali, or course, said that Marciano was better than Frazier, and while I would never disrespect the Smokin' Joe. Ali's spoken opinion counts for something.

 

I wonder about that. Ali has a long, unbroken history of respecting fighters from different eras, & trash talking contemporaries & rivals from his own time.

I voted Frazier but it’s conceivable Ali might be the answer.

 

All 3 beat him so ......
Ali only said Marciano was better than Frazier to get a dig in at Frazier IMO. Ali full of crap and I'm not suprised in the least. He'd stoop at anything to disrespect Frazier. The same Frazier who gave him money and spoke to President Nixon himself to reinstate Ali's license. Ingrate

 

Agreed. He’d say the exact opposite if he shared an era with Marciano, & Frazier had fought in the ’50’s.

 

Eh, I'd say Frazier is his hardest, Ali second, and Foreman the easiest fight for Marciano. All Rock has to do is set a pace that tires George out.

IMO, weak chin OR low stamina means Marciano gonna hurt ya.

I only say Frazier is harder for Rocky than Ali because Joe fights more like Rocky where as Ali might be very good at it, but he does fight like what Rocky is looking for. Between the two I think Ali has more chance of getting caught doing something cute, getting a Walcott style punch on him.

That said, I realize y'all how already posted disagree, that's cool bro. I don't really want to fight about it or anything, just different perspective.

 

Ali stops him late, more than likely cuts.
Foreman stops him early, an awful fight this for Marciano.
Frazier is the fight where he stands a shot imo.
If he can get Joe early, he could be vulnerable then, he's got a chance.
But the longer the fight the more I lean toward smoke winning.

 

A tough durable slugger like Chuvalo made it rough night for Ali even though he was well beaten. So it could be interesting if Marciano got Ali into the 2nd half of the fight and really pushed him. The issue is though Marciano could get cut up early and suffer the same fate as Jerry Quarry.

Frazier would be probably be Marciano's best bet as it's two swarmers going at it and Frazier was a slow starter. So with Marciano's power and aggression it could be dangerous for Frazier early. But Frazier is significantly bigger than Marciano and when you get two aggressive fighters going at it who are both elite, then logically the signifanctly bigger guy is going to be the favourite.

 

Hi Fergy.
Spot on analisis for me, the prospect of Marciano beating Foreman is very, very, remote as I see it, slight aside, I went to see Frazier spar when he came over to fight Bugner, I happened to have the seat nearest the aisle, when Joe got close as he was walking to the ring, he looked huge, I was only a callow youth of 19, but still he was frightening in size and stature, god forbid how big Foreman must be in the flesh, not the fat older version, but the wrecking machine of 72/73, cant see how the much smaller Marciano can even land on George let alone beat him, it would be the normal, push, shove, manhandle, then the unload.....
stay safe buddy, always have time to read your steller contributions, chat soon.

 

Frazier would be his best hope for a victory--but I'd still only give the Rock about a 25-30% chance at the most. The others less than 10%!

 

Agreed!

 

,,,and that's the truth.

 

Probably Ali. He had a similar style to Frazier who gave Ali his toughest fights.