Would you consider Marciano and "Educated Brawler"?

Definitely. He was moulded out of raw material by CG and taught an effective cross-armed defense, rolling under under straights and hooks while blocking uppercuts and body shots. Marciano was as aggressive as Joe Frazier but while using less energy, if that makes sense. For me he was less gifted than Joe but smarter. He was slick in how he stayed in his crouch to look for openings, read the fight and time his rights; whereas Joe was like the energizer bunny overly bobbing his head about...

 

Absolutely. He realized his physical deficiencies and positive attributes and crafted a style to minimize the former and maximize the latter. Were he simply a brawler, he would be a footnote at best.

 

Yea he was much more than just a face first brawler. Marciano had certain moves that his opponents never adjusted to. The the delivery of his punches was effective.

Rocky had a great teacher in Charley Goldman but he was willing to listen even during the fights to what Goldman told him. The Mathews fight being an example of how to adjust and he used his lefthook to ice him.

 

He had to have ring smarts to counteract the movement of men like Charles and Walcott to be sure. No ordinary brawler would catch those guys by just chasing them all night long. He was excellent at timing other fighters, slipping their jabs, and figuring out their styles which is partially why he often looked better in some of his rematches with guys.

 

George used that cross-arm defense in the 90s...

 

No, George had a superb jab that he sometimes neglected in his first career. He also had a bunch of good punches, & cut off the ring very well. He varied between looping punches & hard straight shots, which could be confusing.

 

They are all clever fighters. Champions. To be champion you got to have some ring smarts.

 

Marciano counter attacked. He often drew the lead first. Feinted. He unloaded like a wild man but he picked his moments. Awkwardness worked for him because he new what he was doing. If he missed he knew the next punch wouldn't because he always brought his feet in. When he missed he carried on the wrong way, because he knew he could not be hit facing the other way but he stepped over knowing the man would follow in and his sucker punch was ready. It looked awful, but it worked.

 

Spot on. I remember seeing the first Walcott fight on video for the first time and was surprised at how Marciano and Walcott were looking to counter EACHOTHER. Marciano didn't take five punches to land one like people make out.

 

I would say he maximized what God gave him.

 

Frazier is often compared to Marciano.I can't see it , he is more simialr to Henry Armstrong imo.

 

no marciano was not edcuated

he is known for chin stamina power. not skill