Sailor Tom v Rocky Marciano???

Having an impressive looking physique doesn't win fights. There is simply nothing to back up the notion that Sharkey was as strong and powerful as Marciano in the prize ring.

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Two rounds.

 

Well Fitzsimmons at least was arguably a better finisher than Marciano.

Either way, my point is that Sharkey had dynamite in his fists. If you don't rate his punching technique, then you effectivley have to upgrade his power even further.

 

I was reffering to the number of rounds they needed to stop Gus Ruhlin, and the fact that Sharkey did it more quickly.

 

My mistake. We should not forget however that Ruhlin beat Sharkey in a rematch.

 

When Sharkey was on the downslide. This according to the all reports I've read. Nobody who was around back then ever rated Ruhlin over Sharkey.

The post-Jeffries(second fight), it was unanimously agreed upon by those who saw him fight, was not the same fighter as pre-Jeff. That fight, plus his grinding style, had finally taken their toll and he looked pretty listless in most of the fights after.

 

Conversely, is there something to back up the notion that Marciano was as strong and powerful as Sharkey in the prize ring?

 

And did it before those two.

 

Marciano knocked out every Ring Magazine top 10 heavyweight contender he faced. He is a career 11-0 with 10 knockouts against Ring Magazine top 10. He is also 6-0 with 5 knockouts against 1st ballot Hall of Famers. If that kind of top level production doesn't rate Marciano as one of the greatest finishers of all time, then I don't know what does. That includes Fitzsimmons.

Let's be honest, Sharkey isn't even close to the same ballpark as that. So the assumption Sharkey was one the level of Marciano as a hitter is ludicrous and illogical.

 

Yes, there is a ton of evidence. I think it's Tom Sharkey who lacks the evidence, and to put it nicely "accomplishments" in the ring.

 

His record. What was Sailor Tom's best knockout? Joe Choynski?

 

Just about every rated heavyweight he faced, sans Jeff and Fitz (and Corbett, whose cornerman jumped into the ring two knockdowns later to save Jim from the KO that was coming).

And does the record tell us everything regarding strength? Because Rocky has a more impressive record than say, Oscar Bonavena, does that automatically mean that he is more powerful or stronger than the much bigger Argentine?

 

With the best of those heavyweights weighing around the 160 pound mark.

 

He would have stopped Jim Corbett in the 9th if Corbetts corner had not interfered and got him DQd. This is faster than Jeffries or Fitzsimmons.

Gus Ruhlin KO1. Again, faster than Jeffries or Fitzsimmons.

Joe Choynski TKO3. Another rapid demolition of a name fighter.

Kid McCoy KO10. Small or otherwise, McCoy was verry highly regarded at the time.

Joe Goddard KO6 and TKO4.

If you want wins over bigger fighters, then Fred Russel and Jim Jeffords were prety much superheavyweights, KOd in 4 and 2 rounds respectivley. Destruction of a fighter outweighing you by that much is always noted at the time, even if they are a fringe contender type.