When talking head to head, it seems like people can't help but be influenced by a man's resume of work, which makes sense, but sometimes it seems to overshadow logic. You see this most commonly with guys like Marciano, Tyson, or otherwise. Great boxers whose fanbases overshadow their own shortcomings with rampant biases, and lead to arguments in circles that are impossible to truly get straight. Marciano surely would win over Michael Spinks, or Jimmy Young, or Sonny Liston... The bigger name just has to win, right? Even when being taken into account for fights that the favor is nigh guaranteed to win, it seems like the opponent is drawn to have no chance at all, and anybody who isn't an ATG gets relegated to the bum of the month club. Why does this still happen, after decades and decades of debates, and with more easily accessible information than ever? Will us boxing fans just never learn?
I think you are very right, in my opinion the word ATG is highly overrated and used mainly by fans who do not know boxing well or have little experience. In fact, it does not mean that much, and it is a matter of convention. ATG recognizes career achievements. Is Iran Barkley ATG? I don't think so. But Tommy Hearns certainly lost to Barkley twice in his prime. Roy Jones lost to Antonio Tarver who is far behind him overall. The Jimmy Young you mentioned has a win over Foreman, and if he was more lucky with the judges, he should also have a win over Ali and perhaps over Norton. Therefore, Foreman, Ali, Norton should just as well be on his CV, which would probably outclass the CV of players such as Liston, Holmes, Tyson, Bowe, Lewis, Klitschkos and several other, more famous ones. All it would take would be the judge's will, no scam, it would simply change everything and the average fan could say - wooow, how good was Ocasio to beat someone like Jimmy Young. Perspective changes everything. But if Jimmy Young beat Foreman, he could certainly beat Rocky Marciano. If Michael Spinks beat Holmes, why couldn't he do the same to Rocky?
I do think that Marciano certainly could beat Jimmy Young. But that's because of styles and he doesn't have the power to keep Rocky off.
