Would Rocky Marciano have adapted to modern training methods?

True.

But PEDs increases explosiveness even as you put on mass, and a correct weight training can do the same thing. So with PEDs and an intelligent use of weight training I think Rocky would have become stronger and more powerful without suffering in terms of flexibility and speed. PEDs being the most important factor here.

 

"With those achievements comes suspicion. Although Karelin has passed every drug test he has taken, some skeptics insist that such a physique must have been created with steroids. Others speculate that he owes his size to growth hormones. The latter group has given Karelin one of his many nicknames: the Experiment.
“It’s normal,” says Karelin. “It’s human nature to be jealous when somebody is very successful. I’ve been through every single official doping control. Even when I don’t have to, I volunteer because nobody believes I’m a natural man.”
“In this respect, the wrestler’s g****vine is pretty reliable,” says USA Wrestling associate director Greg Strobel. “Nothing’s been said about him.”"

http://www.bjjee.com/articles/wrest...-for-my-strength-it-makes-me-self-sufficient/

Marcianomust have been on steroids too. How else could he go 49-0? Ali as well. How could he have such speed for a big man? Foreman without a doubt was on hormones. No way a normal person can be such a beast. So obviously Karelin (887-2) had to have peds oozing out of his ears :roll:

 

Marciano was 46 years old when the computer fight took place. That's why he was fat and his muscle tone was deteriorated. Nothing to do with his frame.

Marciano weighed in a ripped chiseled 193lb vs Keene Simmons in 1951

 

We know that the 80's were rife with PEDs, especially the Communist bloc. Hell, Russia has continued the tradition to this day.

Yes, he didn't test positive. Neither did Flo Jo. Neither did Bubka, or many other athletes that set records that still stand untouched.

In the 50's there weren't many "female" athletes with beards. In the 80's there were.

 

This.

 

Well, I guess that your post has proved it then. No need to continue :roll:

 

I've no doubt he would be a solid 210 pound competitor today. He'd still be known for disgusting power and incredible stamina.

Whether he'd be able to penetrate the defences of the SHW elite remains to be seen. He beat Shkor who was former world ranked, so we know for certain he can beat men of that size, the question is how good a man of that size could he be realistically favoured over. It's a question I don't have the answer to.

 

I think Marciano benefited from the era in which he fought in. HW's weren't all that big during Rocky's time. I wonder how he would've done had he come along at a later time, say the late 60's to mid 70's. could he deal with fighting men the size of Norton, Ali, Foreman, Bugner, Lyle et al or would it take a toll on his body. Not only were these men big, but they were good as well. I'm not putting down Marciano at all. He's one of my favorite HW's. but i can't help but wonder how he would've fared had he come along later. I think the 50's was perfect for him and his dedication to conditioning should be a template for all fighters to follow.

 

I'm skeptical. I can't think of any Italians with a Tyson or Tua build. It's basically normal for Samoans and there have been plenty of black fighter built that way too, mostly mediocrities on both counts but that's beside the point. Italian heavyweights tend to come out looking like Camarelle, Joe Mesi, and Damiani.


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Marciano would have benefited from modern weight lifting. Being careful to build myofibrillar hypertrophy. If style was rugged and brutal and relied on a great chin, fantastic punching power, and a low crouch. I'm not saying he would have become waay better than he did but he would be around the 205-215 area as a result. A cannonball of sorts who I am confident would go through anyone he faced.