If Marciano's first defence had been against Ali,wouldn't he have been a pit stop too? Liston cleaned out the division BEFORE he won the title. Marciano with the exception of Valdes did it AFTER . On his way up Liston beat around twice as many ranked contenders as Marciano. Liston was also probably a bit past prime in his mid to late 30's having had 2 rounds of action in the previous 3 years facing a younger great fighter just entering his. Put Marciano in the same position,how does he do. Marciano was bang in his prime facing older challengers and others who were middling [Cockell,] good[ Lastarza,] but not great.
Maye because with just 2 rounds of ring action in the previous 3 years Liston in his mid to late 30's found himself facing the consensus greatest heavyweight of all time? Replace Sonny with Rocky how does he do? lol What a fatuously stupid comment from you!
No he didnt. " I couldn't avoid his jabs I just had to take them" .Marciano Look at the photos of Marciano after the fight! Do you think the referee caused that damage to Rocky's face?
Marshall was against a green Liston who beat the **** out of him in 2 subsequent fights. Martin was facing an ancient Liston who was doing well until he tired he floored Martin for an 8 count in the 4th. How would an around 40years old Marciano have done against Martin? Why don't you bring up Ted Lowry, Willis Applegate etc? Why do you say Marciano had more power than Liston? Liston fought on with a broken jaw to lose a decision and a broken nose to ko his opponent . Stamina ? Marciano in his major fights was facing older men . Liston younger men. How many rounds would Cockell go with Liston? There is no logic to your post
That’s something I agree with actually. Part of Sonny’s undoing could be he just wasn’t getting enough competition rounds between Machen and Ali. I wouldn’t go that far. He did and Ali is widely and deserving of being among the top two greatest heavyweight’s. But there are a lot of decent champions sandwiched between rulers that went down as pitstoppers like Max Schmeling. Sonny is like Max Schmeling. Great fighter. Another pitstop. No disgrace. maybe that’s a question for Ali? I think Muhammad thought Rocky would be his toughest fight didn’t he?
Liston had one major fault, he never learned to cut off the ring,against the ever coming forward Marciano ,that would not be a factor.
I’m not against Liston at all I think he is a fantastic fighter. I don’t back him against as many great fighters because he didn’t meet enough great fighters. But I back him against most. Outside of Holmes I’d back Sonny against the lost generation of the 1980s and most claimants since then. Williams I rate up to a level. His level. I’d back him against David Bey. Marvis Frazier might beat him and that’s no disgrace either.