Who DOESN'T Rocky Marciano beat in a H2H match?

Can anyone imagine Rocky vs Holyfield?

 

Not really, I am just pointing out the elephant in the room.

People often make comments like "Marciano wouldn't be able to take this guy's power", or whatever.

How could you possibly know something like that?

 

Could get ugly.

 

I mean we've already been over this.

If you think a 40-50 pound difference is irrelevant when it comes to punching power vs chin, I don't know what to tell you. Especially if the opponent is faster, more skilled, has great timing, accuracy, etc to actually deliver that power.

In the complete absence of Rocky facing elite or even mediocre punchers/movers/technicians etc at 220+, it becomes harder for some people to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

OK so let's take your example of Andre Ward vs Evander Holyfield.

Most people would pick Holyfield, and would be one of them.

What nobody should be doing is assuming that Andre Ward is not going to be able to take Holyfield's power.

Now let's complicate the matter a bit further.

What if Andre Ward had been the champion in Holyfield's weight class?

What if he had also dominated a few B and C level men Holyfield's size?

Suddenly it doesn't look such a sure thing.

 

A 40 lb. weight difference doesn't always mean the same thing, in two different cases.

For example the difference between a 160 lb. man and a 200 lb. man, is much more important the the difference between a 200 lb. man and a 240 lb. man.

Then there are different ways at a riving at a 40 lb. weight difference.

For example Tomasz Adamek had a 23 lb. weight advantage over Eddie Chambers, which would point to a significant physical advantage.

However Adamek had started out as a light heavyweight, while Chambers basically started out as a heavyweight.

This probably holds true in many cross era comparisons, where such differences in training regime, were more commonplace.

 

I feel extremely confident that a man who was 5"10 185 pounds with a 68 inch reach and who was dropped by light heavyweight Archie Moore and seriously stunned by Walcott couldn't absorb bombs from 220 pound fighters like Foreman,Tyson, Liston and several other heavyweight bombers.

 

I wouldn't.

 

Hmm? explain how you think Rocky would come forward against George Foreman and get the win.

 

He wouldn't,.

However getting dropped by a light heavyweight, does not mean that somebody like Foreman is going to put your lights out, as history has shown again and again.

 

It's as good an indicator as any.......

 

Clay( Pre renamed) was dropped by some light heavyweights and stunned by Henry Cooper, and yet Foreman did failed to bomb him out. You just never know.

 

What is your evidence a 40 pound difference is more important between 160 - 200 vs 200 - 240...?

Rocky started out as a guy in the light heavy range and retired in the borderline cruiser range. I'm talking about him fighting guys who were natural 220+ pound heavies, not guys who gained a bunch of fat or added muscle such as Byrd, Toney, Holyfield, etc.

 

We have never seen Ward stopped, so you shouldn't make the assumption that he couldn't take Marciano's power.

It would seem much more sensible to make a more conservative prediction, such as Marciano wins somehow, or Marciano wins by decision or late stoppage.