Would Marciano have beaten Charles in his prime ?

Agreed, Walcott, Charles, and Lastarza were all very good boxers who had plenty of moments against Marciano. Two of them were past their primes, and none of them were as good as Ali or Holmes even at their very best. Walcott had the Rock well behind on the scorecards and even down once, before losing in the 13th. A lot of folks try to argue that Walcott was more of a puncher than a boxer, but I'm not so sure. I think he definately had some puncher's attributes and could bang when he had to, but he also used a lot of footwork and jabbing for a man who was a pure "puncher" according to some. In either case, I would not pick the Rock to beat Holmes, Ali or even several other great boxers that I think of.

 

Argue the point with the people close to him who made the point in the first place.

 

I feel at times that Marciano does not get his just due for being a great champion...His style and physical qualities suited him perfectly...Angelo Dundee always used to comment that Charley Goldman did a fantastic job on Rocky...That being said, I feel that Charles was a special fighter...it would have done nothing but helped him if he had been a little younger in his fights with Rocky...IMO the fight(s) would have been closer, much closer...with Charles being better able to use his boxing skills...but Marciano was a very determined fighter, who was haunted by the spectre of losing...He felt like he would have been an 'embarassment' to himself and his family if he were to lose a fight...He trained like a fanatic, doing roadwork up to fifteen miles a day...He was literally obsessed with being in condition to fight...I remember a qoute when he fought Walcott the first time...he said something to the effect that he did not care if Walcott had brought an axe into the ring...He was not going to be stopped from winning...He fought blind in that fight due to liniment from Walcott...How determined do you think he was going into those rounds with a devastating puncher, not being able to fully see?
I still think Marciano...but closer.

 

Are any of them physicians? If such a diagnosis was made, why was he allowed to continue boxing for years?

 

Charles could win a point decsion vs Marciano if he used his feet more, but that was not his style. Charles liked to throw punches and brawl. I think Marciano beats Charles if Charles were 3-5 years younger, though it would be a tougher fight for Rocky.

 

Because the problem was, of course, diagnosed right then and there while he was still boxing, right?

 

I think Marciano still wins. Wasn't it Moore that said a peak Charles would have beat Rocky?

 

Charles fought the fight of his carreer in first Marciano bout, writers who had followed most of his career said it was his best showing. Charles WAS in prime when he fought Marciano, he slipped after those two fights not because of age, but due to severity of punishment he took in those two bouts.

 

...i knew and still know the survivors of those who followed charles from early in his career....(i am one of them) and some who were there at the very beginning and none of them (us) think...or thought.....that he fought his greatest fight in the marciano bout. most of ther writers who did saw him later...some not even before he came to new york...when his great light heavy days were behind him. he was actually a bit past his prime when he fought joe louis.

i am not saying he would have beaten marciano...just disputing the thread about that being his greatest fight. he was actually at his fantastic best when he weighed between 171 and 175....and THAT ezzard charles would have beaten the one who fought marciano. he would have been too small to have beaten marciano at that weight. i think the charles who beat joe louis may well have done it, though.

as for his illness....it was a very mysterious case of lou gehrig's disease in that his diagnosis came long after the first hints of symptoms. he was officially diagnosed in 1965....and lived ten more years, which is unusual. for some reason his breathing or his swallowing were not affected until much later than is usually the case. there was SOMETHING wrong before the als diagnosis and there may have been other factors. it is virtually impossible though that the als was present in any form as early as the marciano fight. however, ezzard said he had a little trouble with moving to his side as early as the final walcott fight but he had no idea what was causing that problem.

 

How Holmes and Ali got here, I never knew, but for the record, I dont belive either one of em, would handle the Rock. Marciano imo would gring a good stuggle with them. I think Ali has the balls to last to the 15 round, and perhaps edge Marciano in a war imo. And I think Holmes would have falling short.

 

Neither would be able to KO Marciano, they just didn't have the power. Ali and Holmes could both take a huge punch though. I suppose the question for Ali and Holmes fans to answer is this; could either or both take a 15 round pounding from a prime Marciano. G-d knows neither of them would be able to end the fight before round 15 against Marciano.

 

Speaks volumes, doesn't it?

Great post :good

 

No chance either of them could cut Marciano to shreds and earn a TKO?

Selling both more than a little short, methinks.

 

What did Marciano do to Ezzard's face? Was the fight stopped?

Holmes and Ali are fighting in Marciano's time - before a bunch of homo rule makers took over completely.

Another thing, this little issue of Marciano having paper thin skin is completely false.

 

You guys are selling the Rock short saying they can just walk in that ring, and saying Ali or Holmes can do what ever they want with no worrys what so ever, as the Rock would be a walk in the park.