Tyson vs. Marciano: The myth of "intagibles"

Tyson may look great takeing out the Journymen of his era. But when he fought real tought guys, most often than not Tyson struggle to win, or he lose. If say Bone Crusher Smith can go 12 rounds with Tyson, than I give the Rock a great shot at it.

 

Smith held for 12 rounds, Marciano would come straight at him. :huh

 

And then get layed out.

 

No one lay Marciano out.

 

Rudock mixed it with Tyson for the duration of the bout so you cannot say that it is impossible.

Since Marciano was never knocked out or even seriously hurt we honestly don't know what it would take to put him away. Might take a neutron bomb.

 

The three Tyson opponents named, Lewis, Douglas, and Holyfield, all stopped Tyson. Interesting.

 

Rock didn't always look impressive at beating his opponents either.

Tyson may have struggled with Smith, Tucker and a few others, but these were very big and strong heavyweights in the primes of their careers. Rocky fought men who were former middle/lightheavys, and was taken the distance, floored and cut. Sure, Walcott and Charles had greater legacies than Smith and Tucker, but then they weren't exactly in their primes or fighting a guy who fit the dimensions of a modern era.

I have been posting on boxing chat forums for a long time now, and this argument keeps coming up, and will forever. The facts, stats, and results of these two fighter's careers will always emerge in these debates. All we can do is take what info we have, and make the best of our judgemnets, but frankly, I think that Marciano fans take the debate a little beyond the reach of stats and circumstances.

 

I was referring to the example of comparing this with the Smith fight. Marciano didn't fight in the days of 220+ heavies and, although he may not have been knocked out, he would have found it a tad harder than the Don Cockell's of the world.

 

Well he'd be damged somewhat. That's quite likely- I see a busted eye or two culminating in a 6th round stoppage.

 

Could Marciano have beaten Lewis, Douglas and Holyfield?

 

None were 5 ft 10 and 185 pounds.

 

Tyson got beating up by a fomer crusier weight.

 

Well I could argue that guys like Walcott hit harder than Evander Holyfield and had better punch delivery with it.

We can find a zone where their chins were stretched to the same extent and not all of it favours Tyson.

 

...who was 30 pounds heavier by that time. After his punishing Roids Schedule. :yep

 

Well you could argue but what's certain is that Tyson fought and beat much bigger men. He wouldn't lose to a 5ft 10, 185 pound fighter, no doubt in my mind whatsoever.