Would Marciano have been a better boxer had he started earlier?

Yeah, for sure.

 

Not by much, because by the time he finished, he wasn't really that bad at all. The only thing he really could have improved on was his footwork.

We have been over this before, but at 5'10" with a 69 inch reach, he was never going to be a classic outboxer. Instead, he developed an alternative style of coming in low, and training stamina so that when he got inside, he could land power-punches in bunches. Not only did it play to the strengths of his body, but it played to his life experience, as he was used to getting into the low catchers-crouch from baseball.

There wasn't much outside of that admittedly bad footwork to be improved on.

 

Yeah he could have been even better had he started earlier. There’s a reason why most athletes who started young become the very large majority of pro athletes.

When your young your brain is more able to adapt and adapt your body to what your doing It’s a big disadvantage to start any sport at 23 compared to an age like 7.

In fighting sports it does happen with more frequency though maybe due to it being more of a niche sport and not having quite the talent pool.

 

Marciano had already been an athlete, it's not like he just jumped up and decided to be a fighter with no physical activity before. He might have been able to tweak this or that starting at a younger age, but not much.

 

I want to know how much further people think he could have gone if he didn't retire at 32 as well.

Like I know it's kinda irrelevant and speculation but still.

 

The division wasn't great so if Goldman keeps him away from the wrong type of fighters, Rocco could arguably hold the belt until either Patterson or maybe even Liston wrestles it from him, depending on how long the boxing authorities and fans would allow him to avoid the most formidable opponents.

Truth be told, his body was breaking down and I don't think he retained the enthusiasm to continue training in the manner that he did - this is a dangerous thing for a fighter and it's very possible that someone pulls a Buster Douglas on him and that he never recovers the belt.

 

Yeah, Marciano's training and entire boxing style should've told you everything you need to know about him,he worked hard,but way too hard to last that long.

 

I don't think so. He was a born fighter, a natural, had a natural instinct and his career couldn't have gone better. He got into boxing at the perfect time for him and he got out at the perfect time. He turned his clumsiness into an asset. I don't think he could have done better even if he had more time.

 

Maybe not so natural,I heard he played baseball or so that caused him to become strong,but he did made out the most from his physicality, Charley Goldman is a good man.

 

Maybe or maybe not, since sometimes when guys start at an early age they burn out fast or lose interest, since Patterson and Tyson started young, but after having great success at a young age both lost interest in the sport and stopped improving.

That said Marciano actually started boxing at 20 years old, since by the time he was 23 years old he already had around 30 army bouts under his belt. He also boxed in a few smokers as a teenager, but didn't stick with it. Also, in my opinion starting late at boxing isn't always a negative since guys that start late like Langford, Willard, Larry Holmes, Qawi, Bonecrusher Smith, ect... are often times more motivated to achieve success and work twice as hard as a child prodigy.

Here is a piece with Marciano talking about his background in boxing.

Rocky Marciano, the crown prince of the heavyweight boxing division, isn't exactly a self-made fighter, but the "killer instinct" which has carried him to 33 knockouts out of 38 professional fights is strictly self-acquired.

"Beating the other guy is a business to me," is the way Rocky explains it. "You see I didn't get serious about boxing until I figured it could bring me money and fame I never dreamed of after I was going no place fast out of the ring."

All of which helps explain why Marciano got such a late start as a fighter.

The 28-year-old Rocky, who only turned pro five years ago, is in Dayton winding up an exhibition tour designed to bring in a little extra money. He'll referee the feature event on the 21st annual Journal Herald Adopt-A-Family wrestling program at the University of Dayton fieldhouse tomorrow night.

"I boxed a little as a kid and a little in the army, but I never took it serious until I got out of the army. I hung around home doing a little bit of everything and not making any money. When I figured it out that I could make a good living out of boxing, that's when I went at it seriously."

"Right now boxing means everything to me. I want that championship not only for myself but for my family and my friends who have helped me."

Among Rocky's "friends" are Marty Weill, his manager and Jack M. Wrest, the Dayton diamond man who follows the fight game closely and refers to Rocky as "my protege." Wrest, a close friend of Marty's dad, Al Weill (matchmaker for the IBC in New York), is considered a member of the Marciano entourage at a fight.

"This guy could knock out both Charles and Maxim the same night," Jack declared with emphasis and added as Marciano grinned at him, "and Walcott too!"
https://imgur.com/wacK4w3

 

Doubt it, he'd have fought more fights and he takes a lot of shots.