Which Heavyweight Champs Beat Rocky?

I pretty much agree with most of those. I might also ad the Klitschko brothers in there as well.

 

Dempsey doesn't beat Marciano. I wouldn't favor holyfield either.

 

Louis by SD
Marciano KO Johnson
Marciano KO Dempsey
Lewis by KO
Bowe by TKO
Marciano UD Holyfield
Liston (I have gone back and forth on this one for ages)
Foreman by KO

 

Louis said he could not beat Marciano because he crowded him. Marciano had a crouching type of style similar to Godoy who gave Louis close fight. The difference is Marciano can hit hard with both hands, Godoy didn't hit hard with either hand. I kind of like Rocky to win this match, as he had the right style, plus hit hard enough to get the job done.

Johnson was Ko'd a man under 175 pounds, and floored by another under 175 pounds, and some primary sources say out boxed by another one under 175 pounds. He really did not face many top level opponents in their prime, outside of Hart who out worked him, Moran, who had some success in a decision loss, and Willard who knocked out an older Johnson out.

Though Johnson's defense and clinching might give Marciano fits, I don't think he hit hard enough to deter Marciano, who would gladly hit the arms, body, and shoulders if he could not land on the head. So Rocky hits harder, throws more punches, and doesn't really have to respect Johnson's power. Rocky via mid to late round KO is my pick, perhaps behind on the cards as Johnson wins the early rounds.

I agree with the rest of your given picks, though I would give Rocky a chance to upset Foreman late, and a chance to KO Lewis if Lewis gets caught being careless. Holyfield vs Marciano is close to 50/50, but I like Holyfield assuming he's having one of his better night.

 

Just waiting for someone to turn up and say Marciano will weather the Tyson storm and Tyson will then develop self doubts. Marciano wont be afraid of Tyson, Tyson will mentally cave in and Marciano walks over Tyson and knocks him out because a mediocre fighter like Douglas could do it

 

Agree that Rocky KO's Dempsey and Johnson.

Others from that list I think have better chances of winning. I'd favour Holy, Tyson, Lewis, Bowe, Foreman, Ali, Holmes over Rocky, but it won't be easy. Maybe Foreman stops him early with uppercuts.

 

This is reasonable. There's always going to be the understandable concern about Marciano's size and how he would handle himself against the great super heavies. Consistent logic in these picks.

I will say I wouldn't pick Louis to outpoint Marciano. I think the Bomber either takes the Rock out early or gets broken down late.

 

Pretty sound picks. I'd add Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes.

I go 50/50 with Dempsey.

 

I wonder if anyone thinks Michael Grant or Bonecrusher Smith would have a shot at the Rock. How about gerry Cooney?

 

Ali
Holmes
Dempsey
Johnson
Tyson
Liston
prime Charles
prime Moore
prime Walcott
prime Louis
Foreman
Holyfield
Bowe
Tunney
Frazier
Lewis
Jimmy Young
and as overrated as they are - the Klitschkos. he has a chance against Wlad but I don't think its enough

Roy Jones has a very good chance at beating him too. Walcott, a very good counterpuncher, gave Marciano a boxing lesson for more than 12 rounds.

Jones chin is an issue, but he was never ever touched in his prime outside of one flash KD. Jones is much faster than Walcott, much more elusive, and is a great counterpuncher.

If a 38 year old completely shot Walcott in the second to last fight of his career, 2-2 in his last four fights (possibly 1-3 considering that many felt Ezzard Charles deserved the win in their 4th match) easily outboxed the BUM Marciano for more than 12 rds, there is good reason to believe a faster, more elusive, prime Roy Jones does the same for 15, especially being around the same size as Walcott at their natural weights

Marciano was a good but far from great heavyweight. Far more myth than substance

 

Originally Posted by Mendoza View Post
Louis said he could not beat Marciano because he crowded him. Marciano had a crouching type of style similar to Godoy who gave Louis close fight. The difference is Marciano can hit hard with both hands, Godoy didn't hit hard with either hand. I kind of like Rocky to win this match, as he had the right style, plus hit hard enough to get the job done.

Johnson was Ko'd a man under 175 pounds, and floored by another under 175 pounds, and some primary sources say out boxed by another one under 175 pounds. He really did not face many top level opponents in their prime, outside of Hart who out worked him, Moran, who had some success in a decision loss, and Willard who knocked out an older Johnson out.

Though Johnson's defense and clinching might give Marciano fits, I don't think he hit hard enough to deter Marciano, who would gladly hit the arms, body, and shoulders if he could not land on the head. So Rocky hits harder, throws more punches, and doesn't really have to respect Johnson's power. Rocky via mid to late round KO is my pick, perhaps behind on the cards as Johnson wins the early rounds.

I agree with the rest of your given picks, though I would give Rocky a chance to upset Foreman late, and a chance to KO Lewis if Lewis gets caught being careless. Holyfield vs Marciano is close to 50/50, but I like Holyfield assuming he's having one of his better night.

And, others ( Walcott ) said the same and end of getting KO'd

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Did Louis also not say point blank that he could have never beaten Marciano? I recall he did right after the defeat. Are you saying Louis never said this? Posting another source does no absolve what a fighter said on record. Sometimes a fighters response is dictated on how the question is asked.

There are no weights on Johnson vs CHoynski. Don't pretend you know. No sane person thinks Choynski hit harder than Marciano. Joe's KO% is very low and took many people the distance. How can a great hitter do this? I think he was more of a scientific hitter who caught guys clean al la Walcott, then a pure banger.

Once again, you can't prove this. Ketchel was awful in that fight, but did mark up Johnson when he landed and floored him. If you watch, Johnson got up buzzed and fell down hitting Ketchel, then grabbed the ropes, which is a sign of a fighter who does not have his balance. If Choynski and Ketchel can have that type of effect when they land, what's Marciano going to do?!

Granted, but these were the two best he fought, and Jack was a very good older fighter.

Almost anyone things Mariano's tittle opponents were better than Johnson's. Layne and LaStarza were in their primes, Charles just slightly past his. Good luck pinning down Walcott's prime, but he looked very sharp in the first loss to Marciano...hardly the look of a shot fighter.

Maybe this is so, but Foreman needs to end it. If he doesn't Rocky's stamina will take over. Foreman's chin is a bit over rated and he certainly lost poise and stamina as the rounds rolled on.

Getting back to Johnson, he was " out worked by Hart ( who did not have Marciano's chin ), and quit once or twice ( Klondike ) depending on your source. Marciano in that case is his worst nightmare as his will to win, work rate and mental toughness were top notch.

 

The big heavyweights would probably have Rocky's number. K brothers, Lewis, Bowe, Foreman.
Of the Op list I could see Rocky beating Johnson, and would say has a fair chance with Liston.