Thoughts on Marciano's resume?

Well- he beat the most skilled line up of fighters ever for a HW. Who can lay claim to beating both Charles and Moore? Is there someone else?

 

In the spirit of inquiry who were the best boxers he beat in their primes?

 

Joe and Muhammad both beat a lot of Hall of Famers in their prime. I count four for Muhammad. In Rocky's defense you can only beat the man in front of you.

 

Louis and Ali have the two best resume's in heavyweight boxing history bay far, but even Louis' was controversial as we get into so often. Louis fought in a segreagated era, and hardly integrated that era. Guys like Murray, Thompson and Franklin who could have gotten shots didn't.

Still, yeah, Ali is unassailable, and Louis is definitely #2.

Anybody else is comparable. Lewis' best wins were the extremely washed up Tyson and Holyfield. Holyfield might have had better wins, but most were also washed up, and he had a LOT of losses. Johnson arguably had better wins with murderer's row, but arguably not, and anyway, he had the losses. Wlad, Holmes, Tyson, Liston,...forget about it.

Marciano had six wins against four aging but formidable greats: Louis, WalcotX2, CharlesX2 and Moore.
He had five other wins over contemporary highly rated contenders: LaSarzaX2, Layne, Matthews and Cockell
He had a good coming up wins against aging former contenders Savold, Muscato, and Shkor and Bernie Reynolds
Good (but tragic) win against fellow prospect Carmen Vingo
Also, I think the two Ted Lowry wins are deserving of respect, as he was as Bert Cooper, Derrick Chisora type.

Those were his good wins, and he did something no other heavyweigth cahmp has ever done...he retired undefeated.

 

Jimmy Bivins and Harold Johnson.

Bivins lost to both too and Johnson also lost to Moore x 4.

 

Very underrated guys. Highly skilled chess players in the ring I admire their technical abilities.

 

La Starza probably? I think their first fight pretty close.

 

I feel like Marciano's legend is so huge he is a bit beyond analysis. He was a really unique fighter in many ways and I feel did what he had to in the times he lived in.

Were there any examples of him ducking anyone? I can only see that as being a possible dent in his reputation.

 

Agreed.

In the 4 x calendar years 1942-45 Bivins went 28-1-1. The loss, an SD, in April 42, was to the 7lbs heavier Bob Pastor and was avenged later that year.

In that period alone, he also beat Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Joey Maxim, Gus Lesnevich, Lloyd Marshall, the 20lbs heavier HW contender Lee Savold, Melio Bettina, Anton Christiforidis, Tani Mauriello x 2 and 11-15lbs heavier Lee Murray x 2.

 

Yes. Father Time.

 

Moore put up a hell of a fight against that particular opponent

 

Rocky deserves his place in history. Where that is has been up for debate for years. Through no fault of his Louis,Walcott and Charles had seen better days. I know Rocky could only fight who’s in front on him. But we’re talking about his career resume. Not once did he fight as champion any boxer at his peak or the right side of his peak. Again not his fault but that’s the way it was. As for Moore. If you’re even going to mention him. A Light-Heavyweight on the wrong side of his best years. I mentioned in a post ages ago that Rocky’s own fans get him overrated. Give him credit for what he achieved. But take a real close at his record and then put things into perspective.