Sonny Liston of the First Ali Fight vs Peak Rocky Marciano

This sounds right.

 

He didn't quit when he got it in his eyes when he won the title

 

Rocky's crouching wouldn't work against Liston and he'd pick up some injuries from Liston's jab before the referee pulls Marciano out in the 4th.
It's a terrible match up for Marchegiano who's determination is unmatched as he may hit the deck a couple of times.
Peak 58 Liston or over confident 64 version, Liston has RFM's number

 

In this scenario I would pick Marciano to stop Liston. Sonny was in 3 round shape. If nothing else Rocky would always be in good condition. At the end his hand would be raised.
Liston was a great force when he was on the way up but he wasn't prepared to defend the title in Miami.

 

When he was in decent shape. He certainly wasn't ready to fight in Miami. I'm not sure what was going on in Lewiston with all the drama about fixes and religion, assassination attempts, etc.
Sonny might have just got it over with.

 

I don't mean to be disrespectful to Marciano but Liston wouldn't need to be in great shape to beat him.
Liston is in a different league altogether to Marciano

 

I disagree with that. Liston would beat Marciano prime to prime but don't underestimate how bad Sonny was in Miami. He thought he could scare the kid with his glare and he didn't come ready for war. Rocky does get overrated by some but he was not a pushover. If he gets knocked down he get up and survive until fatigue and conditioning come into play.

I won't say it's impossible if Sonny puts him out in the first 2 or 3 rounds. Marciano was not Patterson though. He was dangerous himself. He could hit.

 

I respect your opinion, its what debates are about.
One of my mates who I boxed with was a big Joe Frazier fan and his dad was the same with Rocky Marciano.
So I was surprised when his dad said he thought Ingemar Johansson would've beaten the Rock.
At the time (1977) Marciano and Randy Turpin were my favourite fighters.
I don't think Liston vs Marciano would stretch Sonny.

 

He wouldn't have to. Rocky wouldn't make it anyone near that distance. Liston's endurance wasn't to shabby either as seen in bouts against Machen and Whitehurst.

 

How then Dempsey knocked Willard or Louis knocked Carnera who had that big reach?
Reach means nothing, look what Frazier did to Ali and what Tyson did to fighters bigger than Liston.

Yeah, in 12 rounds and he struggled late, never scored KO after 8 rounds.
Where his stamina is proved good?He was gassed against Ali and Martin.

 

Style. style, and style ,Marciano doesn't have the style of Dempsey or Louis, he's closer to Frazier and Tyson but smaller. What he does have is the shortest reach and size of any heavyweight champ. Ali moved and moved against Sonny, what's Rocky going to do? Plow forward that's what, and how did that style work for Frazier against Foreman? Liston would do the same to Marciano . Marciano came forward against Walcott and Moore and was dropped in the first round. He'd get dropped against a more fearsome opponent in Liston but the difference is he wouldn't survive.

 

He won't because he isn't strong and big as Foreman while Rocky is way better than Frazier, even Ali said that.
It would be alot closer fight than You think.
Moore and Walcott are slick boxers, counterounchers and fast which Liston also isn't.

 

Liston would destroy Marciano. Rock had none of the wide lateral movement and quick long punching that bothered Liston at this stage. In fact, Marciano was polar opposite of what exploited Liston's shortcomings. So, in short, Rocky was custom made for Liston.