The Great John L Vs Rocky Marciano both in Prime- 15 rds. who wins ?

I didn’t know that there were Compubox stats for that fight!

 

I think that if he was fighting bouts that lasted more than three hours, and we don’t have film of them, we have to at least consider the possibility.

 

Sullivan had a ton of God given talent . Rocky Marciano was a highly trained professional and a murderous two handed puncher. Ident see it going too long . Rocky would ice him.

 

HW boxing and vosing in general owes as much to Sullivan as to anyone in history. That said, Marciano was 70 years later, much more evolved boxer. Boxing was only starting to penetrate American imo when Sullivan first lost. There were many more people around and many more people engaged in boxing when Marciano was champ. Similar size. More ostensible power for the Rock. Simple math makes it overwhelmingly likely Marciano was the vastly more complete and formidable fighter. Marciano wins by ko in 7.

 

I think that most of the stand out champions after Sullivan would have beaten Sullivan, based on their prime forms. How things would have panned out of they and John L had come along in the same day is another matter. Anyways, Marciano on his, say, '53 form, I believe would have likely defeated Sullivan at his best (IMO, mid 1881-mid 1883). However, a Sullivan-type fighter -- explosive, fast hands, fast out the gate, tough -- would have been a formidable challenger to Marciano, provided he were willing to learn from contemporary boxing craft. To what extent would this have been true of Sullivan, who fancied himself an intuitive fighting genius? This is the big question.
Marciano coming along in Sullivan's day? I might favor Sullivan, but only (BIG 'IF') if Sullivan trains dilligently.