Which Heavyweight Champs Beat Rocky?

I think the champs with the best chance are the tall rangy movers like Ali and Holmes who utilize the jab to a great degree. Both Ali and Holmes snapped a long fast jab at thier opponents to set up thier other punches and used good foot movement to stay away from any incoming from them. I've watched a lot of footage of Marciano and it's obvious he didn't deal with that kind of offense. I just don't see him reaching a prime Ali or Holmes consistently enough to do any serious damage. I f you stood in front of him long enough you were risking it but Ali and Holmes wouldn't do that. He'd be forced to lunge at them due to his very short reach and that spells trouble. I'd love to see him against a Frazier or a Dempsey though.

 

Pretty Sure:

Johnson
Louis
Liston
Ali
Foreman
Holmes
Tyson
Lewis
Bowe
Holyfield
Wlad
Vitali

The maybe's/ Would love to see

Dempsey
Tunney
Prime Charles
Frazier
Jeffries
Fitz

 

AHAHAHA. You know he did. That is enough for me. The fact that you know something to be true, and " hope " I can't find it on the web speaks of your character. :deal

Hope it not a strategy.:deal

Not for the quote you requested:

"Very few people knew this, but I had a weakness, a bad weakness. I didn't like to be crowded. And that was Marciano's thing. He always crowded. I knew I could never beat Rocky." - Joe Louis

 

Liston beats him, and so does:

Holmes
Ali
Frazier
Weaver
Tyson
Bowe
Lewis
Holyfield
Foreman
Norton
Both Klitchko brothers
The Cooney that fought Holmes would beat him as well...
Foreman, 2nd career, older version...
Tommy Morrison..

Not trying to dis the rock, he was a good champ for his day, but botom line at 5-9 or 5-10 185-190 lbs, with a very short reach, he was just too small to be competitive against guys that are so much bigger and more powerful, not to mention, he was prone to cuts...

 

The BOLD ones I question.

Where the **** are all the old timers? Why am I the Marciano defender here? I coined the name "Lilliputian son of Abruzzi"...

Bizarro World

 

Yet another era comparison. atsch
I'm out....

 

Basically all the guys after him. He was a mediocre boxer and a wild, inaccurate puncher. Not to mention he was tiny. He was lucky to fights against the opponents he did. Wlad would smash him to bits.

 

The problem with judging Marciano by his measurables, is that he far exceeded his physical limitations. He was more than his gifts. It's easy to say oh he was short, and had even shorter reach he can't win. None of that factors in his will to win, based on his physical dimensions there is no way he should of even reached 49-0. I think Marciano would surprise a few people and actually win a few of these fights that are deemed on here Unwinnable for little Rocky.

 

Some people are claiming Jeffries, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney and Louis would beat him. So not entirely an era comparison.

I see no way in hell that Jeffries beats him. And don't bring the Sharkey comparison. There is a gulf of talent and accomplishmentbetween the two.

Nor do I think Johnson would turn the trick. I don't think beating a 156 pound Langford or crude as cut grain McVea proves he could do the trick. I don't think Jack liked high output, and he especially wouldn't like the ferocity of the output Marciano shipped. Say what you will regarding the ages of Walcott and Charles, they were two of the craftiest who ever entered the ring. Marciano gave each a tough fight from round 1. He didn't simply outlast them. He worked at figuring them out and wilting them from the first bell. And when the chips were down against Ezz, he closed the show in a single round, so we know he has the championship intangibles.

 

Of the pre-1960's champions, I would only favor Louis to beat him.

 

How many top level opponents did Johnson face who were in their primes? I can't wait for your answer.

The Ring Magazine came out with a top 100 punchers of all time list. Moore came in at # 4 on the list, and Walcott came in at # 63 on the list. Jack Johnson did not make the top 100 list. Still think Johnson was as good a puncher?

 

1.Muhammad Ali - Decision
2.Joe Louis - KO
3.Larry Holmes - Decision
4.Lennox Lewis - KO
5.George Foreman - KO
6.Vitali Klitschko - KO
7.Wladimir Klitschko - KO
8.Riddick Bowe - KO
9.Evander Holyfield - Decision
10.Mike Tyson - KO
11.Joe Frazier - KO
12.Ken Norton - Decision
13.Ike Ibeabuchi - KO
14.Tim Witherspoon - Decision
15.Sonny Liston - KO
16.Pinklon Thomas - Decision
17.Teofilo Stevenson - Decision
18.Felix Savon - Decision
19.Donovan Ruddock - KO
20.Michael Dokes - Decision
21.Michael Moorer - Decision
22.Max Baer - KO
23.Max Schmeling - Decision
24.Jack Dempsey - KO
25.Michael Spinks - Decision
26.Gene Tunney - Decision