Who is the best modern heavyweight (90s and onward) that you would pick Rocky Marciano to beat?

Lewis though a great fighter never imo had the best of chins(Imo) He very well could of stop Marciano early, but I still think Marciano had the punching power needed to take Lewis out of there, Marciano may weight in the 180's, but the guy could still hit. Lewis and Wlad are 2 fighters I would not be shock if Marciano some how landed the shot to take em out. You can claim Louis's chin all you want, but he had to be wore down and ko(Both times) He was never taken out with 1 punch.

 

Rocky used his size to his advantage. No one could stop Rocky from getting inside. He fought great jabbers and still got close to them.

The big heavies of today have advantages with reach and weight, but once inside, Rocky could generate power while they could not.

Could they wear Rocky out, or would they fade out and tire out first? A never ending flow of Suzie Q's will eventually find their mark. Both Lennox and Wlad had suspect chins.

If either can land clean on Rocky coming in, then Rocky is done, but many better boxers tried that and failed. Short arms also means compact power on the inside.

If Tua, Tyson, Rahman , and Brewster were legit threats, Rocky would be as well.

 

It's not sounding rude imo, it's being honest. I like to watch Marciano fights, I admire him for making use of what he had to remain unbeaten.

But again against the guys of recent years, Holmes, Lewis, Bowe, Fury etc, I'm sorry but just don't see it..

 

Anyone who has a "kill or be killed" attitude...(tough to find in this "safety first" age of boxing)...someone who is in fantastic shape...who works is ass off...someone who has great heart...stamina...conditioning...someone who has no fear...someone who can ignore pain...someone who won't QUIT on his stool...someone who has a very high work rate...someone who has the knack for landing the big punch when he needs to...I can't think of anyone in this day & age...can you?

 

Someone who is a short, face first bleeder and fought mainly over the hill lightheavyweights and never felt the type of power that a Lennox Lewis would hit him with .
Can't think of anyone in this day and age.....can you?

 

You should read more on boxrec. Marciano has three well known opponents at or over 200 lbs in Louis, Kockell, and Savold. Walcott was 198. Also several journeyman like Simmons, Wilson, and Shkor were well over 200lbs.

I'm not arguing with you over if the Rock could KO Lewis, I'm just pointing out you are factually wrong, and the names I listed aren't deep and hidden finds.

I just find it interesting you are arguing so passionately but couldn't bother to do some minimal research.

 

As a rather large guy, myself, who did a little boxing in the gym wars (brittle hands being my downfall), I'm not ashamed at all to say that there was this middleweight in the gym, who I just couldn't get a handle on, despite the fact that I probably outweighed him by 100 pounds. I could have just grabbed him and tossed him out of the ring if it had been no rules wrestling. He even admitted he wouldn't have wanted anything to do with me in a street fight. In the ring? He was almost impossible for me to deal with. With all that said, I don't give weight over say 186 pounds or so a lot of credit in Heavyweight Boxing. (Notice I didn't say NO credit, just not a lot.) Agree or not, that's how I see it. Could a 186 pound Rocky have been Lineal Champion in the 90's and beyond (assuming no Cruiserweight Division)? IMHO, yes. Right off the top of my head, I could see him replacing Holyfield against Douglas and taking the Lineal Title right there, early in the 90's. I see Buster's weight in that fight a hindrance, not a benefit. And I'm sure there would have been more opportunities for Rocky, moving forward to more recent years.

 

Facts don't care about opinions. Even if you throw out the men right at 200 lbs, The Rock still defeated numerous men over 200 lbs.

Your statement was factually incorrect. A man doesn't cease to be over 200 lbs because you deem him a journeyman or past prime. This is goalpost shifting at its worst...


And I would argue Mike Tyson beating a 6'8" man would certainly be a valid point in a Vitali discussion if his ability to defeat an opponent of that height was being called into question.

 

Unfortunately, the speed, strength and skill disparity would be far, far too much.

 

Marciano was so tiny of frame that he wouldn't survive long career-wise routinely fighting today's giants. The wear and tear of those monsters leaning and manhandling him, in both sparring and fights, would be far too much over the duration. He was already susceptible to injury, particularly his back, which was exacerbated by his extreme crouch. Having 250 pound giants, strong giants, grappling, let alone punching... too much.

His best approach would be an attempt to jump from cruiser to heavy and catch a strap in a one-off. But even then, he is such a deficient athlete, stubby, slow, bad balance guy who often required a lot of punches to get the job done... I give him almost no shot.

 

In some way he could replicate what Michael Spinks did to Holmes, but I´m not sure with big Cooney.

In the 90s, I´m not so sure about mentioned Cooper and Moorer. He never saw bangers like that in his days, but got dropped by single taps from lower hitters. If he brawled those two really anything could happen.

I´ll give him about zero chance against the guy who outlasted an all-in fire from Morrison, Ray Mercer.

For 1991, theres aging Tucker.
Same in 1992 plus Alex Garcia.
Later, guys like Mike Hunter, Phil Jackson and Herbie Hide come to mind.

All of that is too much wear over the course, CW or LHW would be his place.

 

If Alex qualifies as a modern heavy, I would pick Rock over him. Thus, the Rock would be adorned with the NABF strap.