I feel Sam Peter is underrated by many but I don't know if I'd straight up pick him over Marciano. He was very powerful but also hell of crude, and Rocky was not as easy to land on as legend has it. He'd certainly be a stylistic challenge though.
It's a tough fight and matchup for Rocky imo given styles and one he could conceivably lose. I won't pick Sam outright over a great champion like Marciano who proved his fighting heart though, but putting reputations aside, I think the Nigerian has a reasonable chance. Samuel Peter had two fights against Wlad and two against Toney. If he had two against Rocky, it could well be one win each.
Peter could be outworked by smaller men that had defensive ability. Toney and Chambers showed that. I'm not saying Rocky was as good defensively as those two but he was better defensively then he gets credit for. I could see him out working Peter who really liked to fight at a measured pace. Rocky would not let him get away with that.
Rocky wasn't as good defensively as the likes of Toney, but he wasn't hit clean as much as many people seem to think. It's a tough match up for Rocky imo, but Marciano was a great fighter with an impressive engine, so it's entirely possible he could beat Sam Peter by out working him, yeah.
The only question here is, would Peter's greater size make a difference? I'm not high on him I thought he was a clubbing mauler ,without any skills and with poor conditioning. I'm going for Rocky.
