Tokyo Douglas vs Rocky Marciano

I think that a prime focused Marciano was at least better than that version of Tyson.

He would not take Douglas lightly, and would not come out of his corner lethargically head hunting.

He would know that he had to play a long game to win, and he would be systematic in weakening Douglas over the course of the fight.

Ultimately he would probably succeed, where an unfocused Tyson failed.

 

I don't know.
Douglas had the tools to beat Tyson, and Marciano was similar dimensions to Tyson, smaller, and aggressive, so you'd think Douglas would have a great chance. And Marciano never fought anyone as big.

On the other hand, Marciano was a ferocious puncher with incredible stamina, and I believe he had the power to knock Douglas out.

 

Someone remind me the championship level fighter that Marciano faced who had the toolset of Douglas that night, 6-4. 230, 84 inch reach, great jab, stiff well-thrown right hand, excellent uppercut?

 

he didn't face one.
Does that prove he wouldn't beat one ?

 

You need to Google "argument from ignorance".

 

Ricardo Lopez never met a fighter who combined Gerald McClellan's size, skill and power… so you can't prove that El Finito wouldn't beat Gerald.

That's pretty sound logic there.

 

No, but you could say that there are no examples of a fighter of Ricardo Lopez's size, beating a fighter like Gerald McClellan at world level.

There are examples of a fighter of Marciano's size, beating a guy of Douglas's size at world level.

Therefore the doubt cuts bot ways.

Its not like there were legions of big fighters that he was avoiding, he was fighting the #1 contenders.

He might have done better against guys like Douglas because they were a bigger target.

 

Douglas wasn't at world level. He was at championship level. And his tool box was not just size. It was his jab which he could double effortlessly, a world class uppercut and thudding right hand… which combined with his physical assets makes something Marciano never faced.. and something no 5-10, 185 pounder with 67" arms ever beat. And no, an old ass, rusty Jess Willard was not as good as even the Tucker Douglas.

I'm not discounting Marciano's legacy or abilities. There just weren't the studs back in his day that there were in the 1990's. The top level heavies were just bigger by then. And bigger, combined with top level skills, equals better.

 

Douglas was driven on that one night but he never fought over the 15 round schedule. The first time Douglas fought in a fight scheduled past 10 (against Tucker) he fell apart in the 11th round almost as though he psychologically saw the end of round 10 as a barrier. And that was a fight he had control of.

Two questions. What is to say Douglas won't see the end of round 11 as some kind of psychological barrier and fall apart in round 12, and also, who is to say Douglas would be so in control against Marciano as he was against Tyson?

 

The fact that you even need to ask these questions, tells you a lot.