How does Marciano match up against the crop of heavyweights from the 90's?

[Scott9945]

Carmine Vingo was only half-inch smaller than Lewis and Marciano ended the guy's career very nearly killing him in the ring.. it is an advantage to punch up and a disadvantage punching downwards

You fail to mention that Vingo usually weighed about 190. That hardly makes him comparable to Lennox Lewis in size, strength, or power. We already know that he didn't compare to him in class. As the former champion would have said "Rocky Marciano has never seen anything like Lennox Lewis". And he'd be right.

[paulsinghnl]

i wanna know how these sledgehammer punches of Rocky and his smothering style would match up with all those fighters, i think he'd be able to beat out Holyfield (because he'd like to get in there and fight), Lewis, Morrison. Tyson in his prime with his elusiveness and movement would be an even matchup, can't really pick, Bowe has the best chance because of his skill to fight on the inside and outside. he could outbox him, catch him with the uppercuts coming in, has a great chin, great hooks, so Bowe has the best chance. But those sledgehammer punches, i don't know..

[mrboxer]

marciano would not last 2 full rounds with any of these fighters,he gets clobbered by kayo

[katsidis]

Are you guys kidding me?

They are from different eras. They all beat Marciano.

A 5'10" 190lbs marciano KOs a 6-5 240lbs lewis??? Rocky would be jabbed and beaten to a pulp.

I agree with this, it's not even close in my opinion.

[ROSS CALIFORNIA]

Marciano is seriously over rated. This thread is evidence of that. The only fighter he might beat was Morrison but the rest would beat him easily. He wouldn't get out of the first round with Tyson unless he was ducking and holding the whole time.

[Tiozzo]

despite his size, Marciano had success because he managed to get inside

but aside of chinny Morrisson, all of these guys should knock him out, the size/height/weight/reach difference is just too much

they would just keep him at bay and pepper him with jabs and right cross (Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe)

Tyson would be all over Marciano and knock him out


we musn't forget that Walcott and Moore, who both weighed less than 200 lbs, put Marciano on his arrsse

Marciano not having much of a chance against the greats of the nineties doesn't mean Marciano isn't a great champion, it just means he wouldn't be effective in the nineties era as he was in the fifties era, as he was already a small fighter in his own era...

[PhillyPhan69]

I think Marciano would do just fine:

Morrison: Rocky UD or late KO

Bowe: This would be a fun fight...Bowe is a little to wide open on defense, often taking more punishment than needed. he has the skill set to trouble Rocky and win, but I doubt it would go down that way. Bowe would trouble rocky and possibly score a KD along the way, but ultimately Rocky would take the decision or stop him late.

Lennox Lewis: If Lewis fought conservatively and made the optimum use of his size, reach and weight he could present a huge problem for Rocky. This is probably the only fight where listed that i would make Rocky the underdog in. I am not sure how he closes the distance on Lewsi, and if he does how he avoids getting tied up every time. I wouldn't be surprised if rocky stopped him late (particularly if this was a 15 rounder), but lean towards a Lewis decision or possibly a TKO on cuts.

Holyfield: This would be an ultimate war, and I believe it would be a draw SD/MD one way or the other in an ultra competitive fight. I would fall off the fence if I had to on Rocky's side, but only by a hair. Ultra close SD/MD

Tyson: I think Tyson would definately trouble Marciano early and drop him a time or two. Out of respect for Marciano's heart I don't see him getting stopped, although as good of a finnisher as Tyson was it is well within the realm of possible. As the fight goes on I think marciano's workrate endurance goes up as tyson's declines. With every passing round after 6-8 or so I see Rocky taking control more and more. I would lean towards a close rocky decision or even late stoppage (although unless longer than 12 I will give Tyson's chin and resiliancy enough credit to go the distance..in a 15 rounder I am not sure we can accurately gauge how tyson's endurance would be)...I will lean towards a Rocky decision although and early TKO for Tyosn or late TKO for Rocky is within the reasonable to excpect.

[Canelo Phresh]

i think he has a great shot at beating them all except a prime bowe, that guy was scary

[SBleeder]

Are you guys kidding me?

They are from different eras. They all beat Marciano.

A 5'10" 190lbs marciano KOs a 6-5 240lbs lewis??? Rocky would be jabbed and beaten to a pulp.

A 6'3" 220 lb. David Haye beating a 6'11" 310 pound Nikolay Valuev?

Marciano was indeed from a different era: A better era, an era where fighters were trained properly.

[The_Demon]

Id favour,Lewis,Bowe and Holyfield over him