Think about this Rocky was a small heavyweigh only 187 pounds but he had a lethal punch.

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/1047/Rock3.html
^ here is the link but I will paste it on here just in case your too lazy to click.

http://www.ringsidereport.com/rockymarcianoarticle.jpg

http://www.onlinesports.com/images/ssg-urm-16a.jpg



43 ko;s in 49 fights

88 percent ko ratio

"Why waltz 10 rounds with an opponent if you can KO him in one?" Rocky Marciano.

It is the Knock Out that excites boxing fans, as much as the Grand Slam in baseball. The power puncher who can take out an opponent with one savage blow at any time in the fight is always going to make for an interesting fight. There have been great sluggers in boxing; Dempsey, Louis, Foreman, Sugar Ray Robinson, Archie Moore, to name a few of the best.
The Ring magazine rates the best punchers on the criteria of those who can knock out quality opponents even in the later rounds, and who can knock out heavier opposition. Of the heavywieghts, the September 1997 issue of The Ring rated the three best punchers as Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, and Rocky Marciano.
Of Marciano they said,"He never sought refuge in a clinch, never tired, and couldn't be hurt....He was an unstoppable force, breaking bodies and spirits. It was a hellish experiance to fight him...Like Dempsey and Louis, he was able to get his whole body into a punch."

When Marciano was destroying all challengers with his blockbuster assault, the U.S. Testing Co. was asked to measure the power of Rocky's wallop. Its findings:
"Marciano's knockout blow packs more explosive energy than an armour-piercing bullet and represents as much energy as would be required to spot lift 1000 pounds one foot off the ground." Boxing Illustrated December 1963
Bert Sugar (Foremost Boxing Historian):
"As indestructible as any fighter in history, Marciano walked into-and through- thousands of hard, clean, jolting shots in the manner of a human steamroller, wrecking his opponents with baseball-bat swings to the arms, the midsection, the head, and just about anything else in reach. Always ready to take two or three punches to land one, the determined Marciano melted down the guards of his opponents, and with the shortest arms in the history of the heavyweight division, hewed them down to size." He said of Marciano's right hand power punch, called the "Suzie-Q", "It was one of the most devastating weapons ever brought into a ring."

Where Did the Power Come From?

How does a 187 pound man hit harder than a 200+ pound man when both are trained fighters? There's an axiom in boxing that says "You can’t teach power. Either a fighter is born with it or not." Hundreds and hundreds of fighters have proven it to be true. One heavyweight is a formidable knockout artist while another rarely hurts an opponent and must win by points, even though they might be identical in height, weight, and the size of their muscles.

Part of it lies in how a fighter sets himself when he delivers his blow. A pure boxer stylist will be on his toes, mobile, with little contact with the floor when he hits. The force of his impact comes from his arms and shoulders only. But a slugger, a Jim Jefferies, Joe Louis, Dempsey, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson, or Marciano, will plant his feet flat as he punches, using the floor for leverage to get more of his body weight behind the punch.

Another part is "commitment to the punch". The fighter who is worried about a counter blow is going to hold something back. He wants to be able to block the counter punch if it comes. But, the fighter who has no fear of retaliation, who accepts that he might get hit in return and couldn’t care less, will put everything into the punch. Marciano knew before he stepped into the ring that he would get hit a lot during the course of the fight. He accepted it beforehand and didn’t let it interfere with his intention to bang away at his opponent. When Rocky let go he was totally committed to the punch, putting every ounce of energy and body weight into every punch.

Marciano’s incredible power began in his feet as they pushed off the mat. The energy was fed by his thick, muscular legs, the swivel of his hips, and the twist he’d put into his upper body as he snapped forward his arm and fist.

Where the power came from might be best illustrated in a letter I received from a doctor who works with internal medical problems and trauma. He told me this: "Now what determines the power of a punch? I mean the formula… The effect of a punch is calculated by the energy applied at the sight of the hit. So the kinetic energy of Marciano's punch, that is the degree of damage the punch would generate, is equal to 1/2 mass x velocity x velocity (1/2mv2). Rocky's was equal to the mass of the arm plus the weight he shoved forward with body weight. Next, he hit in close. As your arm moves forward the time from beginning to end increases as you increase the distance of the thrown punch. Since velocity = feet per sec, that means the longer the range the less velocity. Now the energy generated is, remember, mass times vel x vel. Well if your punches are so much shorter, traveling only a few inches, your velocity is incredible! And the transmitted energy at impact is enormous! That calculation of energy is the destructive force (damage) to the body. Basically he broke his opponents up inside. Had George Foreman been a swarmer, he would have been a better fighter. He was a slugger. But as strong as he was he hit from too far away. Frazier was not as powerful as Marciano. He had a similar style, but didn't hit as hard (didn't use shifting weight, etc)."

This generation of power to the point of impact was described by boxing writer Nat Tashman in the July 1986 issue of Boxing Beat:
"Considering the weight advantage Rocky gave away to opponents, few seem to know the key to his power. Fully believing in his ability to take a punch and confident he couldn’t be knocked out, he’d wade in to position himself as close as he could get. Then, like lifting a weight, he’d plant his muscular, stumpy legs and thighs, and swivel-hip his punch. At that point, he was delivering his full 187 pound, adrenaline-loaded wallop for the lights-out contact."

What boxers and sports writers said of Marciano's punching power:

His Opponents:
Joe Louis, knocked out by Rocky in the 8th round, said of Marciano, "It hurt to bump into him....He hits harder than Max Schmeling...this kid is tough enough to beat anyone."
He also said, "The Rock didn't know too much about the boxing book, but it wasn't a book he hit me with. It was a whole library of bone crushers."

Jersey Joe Walcott, who lost his title to Marciano in a 13th round KO and a rematch in a 1st round KO, was asked who hit harder, Joe Louis or Rocky Marciano. "Joe could take you out with combinations...Marciano was a one-punch artist. He threw every punch like you throw a baseball, as hard as he could. I have to say, with all respect to Joe, Marciano hit harder."

Ezzard Charles "Rocky numbs you all over. Wherever he hits you, he hurts you; on the arms, the shoulders, the neck and the head."

Archie Moore (KO'd in 9th), when asked by reporters which of Marciano's punches hurt him, said, "Man they all hurt."
He also said, "After a fight with Marciano, it felt like you had been beat all over the upper body with a blackjack or hit with rocks."
"He could hurt you, sure, but it was the quantity of his punches. He just had more stamina than anyone else in those days. He was like a bull with gloves."

Roland LaStarza "I would throw a hard punch, then he would throw a hard punch. The difference was that Rocky would throw 10 more. He just never stopped throwing punches."

Harry "Kid" Matthews "He was a great puncher, one of the best of all-time. He just threw one punch after another, and all of them were hard."

"Dan, I can still feel his punches. He kept punching me in the upper arms until I could no longer hold them up to defend or throw punches". Phil Muscato, 5th round KO victim of Rocky, to his nephew Dan, many years after his fight with Marciano.(Thanks to Dan Muscato).

Bernie Reynolds (1952 opponent) "He had amazing strength. Any time Marciano hit you, he could hurt you. He didn't do much flicking; every punch was a knockout punch."

Other Fighters and Boxing Experts:
Floyd Patterson, who knocked out Moore for Rocky's vacated title said, "In the ring he looked sloppy and awkward sometimes, but that was deceptive because he was terribly strong, could punch and take a punch...Jersey Joe Walcott had made him miss for twelve rounds and then Rocky took his title away in the thirteenth. Ezzard Charles seemed to be making him look bad, but Rocky busted up his face something horrible...I respected Marciano"

Jack Dempsey, interviewed in the 1953 fall edition of Fight magazine said, "What everyone forgets is that Marciano can punch harder with a right hand than any modern-day heavyweight. In his first fight with Walcott, Rocky needed only one blow to win the title. The power in his right scrambled Jersey Joe's brains at Chicago."
"I've scored my share of knockouts along the way, but more often than not my opponents got up after being knocked down and had to be knocked down repeatedly. The same is true of Joe Louis. But Marciano needs only one solid smash and it's all over.
That's why I say Rocky Marciano is the hardest-hitting heavyweight champion I have seen."

Carmine Basilio "Today he’d look like a midget against some of those heavyweights around, but he’d clobber them all. A great fighter, very tough."

Jack Hurley, Harry "Kid" Matthew's manager, "I never saw a fighter so confident, so sure every punch he was throwing was the knockout."

Tommy Loughran (Light heavyweight champion 1927-29) "He is great by accident, or maybe instinct. He moves in and belts you, and wallops you, and moves away, and all by instinct. Then Rocky comes up with that hook, and his whole body is behind it. You have to class him with Jack Dempsey. When the fight started, Dempsey had only one thought-to knock you out. That's Marciano's instinct."

"Marciano's gloved fists broke blood vessels and bones in LaStarza's arms and elbows. First the arms grew heavy, then they began to ache awfully, then they grew numb. As the relentless battle wore on, LaStarza found it harder and harder to raise his arms, much less jab with them or punch with them. His hands lowered, his defense dissipated, Marciano began to punish him about the head. LaStarza began to take a terrible beating." Bill Libby, "The Story of a Champion", 1971.

Fred Brown said, "He hits you with something that looks like a little tap to the crowd, but the guy who gets it shakes right down to his legs."

"A right hand that registered nine on the Richter scale." Red Smith, New York Times sports columnist.

"He's the hardest hitting fighter I've ever seen. After one of his knockouts, I never take my eye off his victims till they move again." Bill Corum, sports writer.

"Rocky Marciano was probably the most ferocious man ever to win the title, and the most relentless." Ebony magazine.

"Why? His man's not that tall." Bugs Baer's reply when Don ****ell's manager requested a 20 foot ring instead of 16 foot.

"Louis is faster with a barrage of punches, but Rocky hurts more with one punch than Joe did with four. Rocky hurts you every time he connects." Response to a reporter from a sparring partner of both Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano.

"He was chastised by the press every time he fought as being a Neanderthal, no concept of boxing, who was going to get beat as soon as he got in with someone who could box, who was gonna make him look silly…It took a long time for the boxing scribes to realize they were in the presence of sheer power." Ferdie Pacheco

....Yeah, he was a "sick" heavy handed dude and I think he gets overlooked alot when talking of the greats. Talk **** about his record all you want but the bottom line is that he retired undefeated and nobody can take that away.

Interesting article indeed.

I also heard he hurt his hands alot of times in his career...could be because of the gloves, could be because of his power, or it could be because of both.

....Yeah, he was a "sick" heavy handed dude and I think he gets overlooked alot when talking of the greats. Talk **** about his record all you want but the bottom line is that he retired undefeated and nobody can take that away.

Did you read the qoutes? man he made these fighters bones rattle hahaha, Rocky would be a great fight against tyson he would beat tyson cause he had better stamina and rocky had ton more heart too.

Rocky feared no one in that ring! I believe Ali could have outboxed him but one punch would lay anyone out you would have to do alot of running.

anyone remember that scene in "Coming to America" (Eddie Murphy flick from the mid 1980s) where the old guys are sitting in the barbershop arguing about all the old great fighters - Marciano, Louis, etc.? One of the funniest scenes in movie history, if you ask me, and a good one for boxing fans in particular - rent the movie just for that...

anyone remember that scene in "Coming to America" (Eddie Murphy flick from the mid 1980s) where the old guys are sitting in the barbershop arguing about all the old great fighters - Marciano, Louis, etc.? One of the funniest scenes in movie history, if you ask me, and a good one for boxing fans in particular - rent the movie just for that...
"Every time we talk bout boxing theres a white person pulling Rocky Marciano out his ass!"
What about that new boy? The one that look like a bull.

lmao that scene was classic. That is when Ed was still funny.

anyone remember that scene in "Coming to America" (Eddie Murphy flick from the mid 1980s) where the old guys are sitting in the barbershop arguing about all the old great fighters - Marciano, Louis, etc.? One of the funniest scenes in movie history, if you ask me, and a good one for boxing fans in particular - rent the movie just for that...

...Yeah, it was a great and funny scene for sure.

Marciano beating Tyson? Maybe, but not the likeliest of outcomes if you ask me. Tyson would outweigh Marciano but 40 lbs, all solid. He is quicker and has just as good defense and his stamina is not bad in his prime. Marciano=very hittable. Tall boxers with size had success over Tyson, and only one of those in his prime when Mike was not exactly "at his best" in many people's opinions.

Marciano never had to deal with someone like Tyson in his era. I'm not sure he could. Heart only gets you so far. Whatever happened it would be damned quick and hellacious is what I would say.

Good article. Thanks for posting. Gotta love the Rock!

Good read.

Marciano beating Tyson? Maybe, but not the likeliest of outcomes if you ask me. Tyson would outweigh Marciano but 40 lbs, all solid. He is quicker and has just as good defense and his stamina is not bad in his prime. Marciano=very hittable. Tall boxers with size had success over Tyson, and only one of those in his prime when Mike was not exactly "at his best" in many people's opinions.

Marciano never had to deal with someone like Tyson in his era. I'm not sure he could. Heart only gets you so far. Whatever happened it would be damned quick and hellacious is what I would say.

^don't count the rock out! Tyson in his prime intimidated opponents! tyson weigh like 220 pounds back then! most of tysons opponents didnt have to courage to not freeze up and slug with him, when someone wasnt scared of tyson he lost! Buster douglas,evander,and danny williams. Evander was not the most powerful puncher he was a small heavy and he had all upper body and chicken legs imagine Tyson vs Tua that would be the closest we could hope for.

^don't count the rock out! Tyson in his prime intimidated opponents! tyson weigh like 220 pounds back then! most of tysons opponents didnt have to courage to not freeze up and slug with him, when someone wasnt scared of tyson he lost! Buster douglas,evander,and danny williams. Evander was not the most powerful puncher he was a small heavy and he had all upper body and chicken legs imagine Tyson vs Tua that would be the closest we could hope for.


If the Rock would allow himself to clinch to get out of the first couple rounds he would kick Tyson's ass.

I don't think he would do this. No matter how tough you are, you can't just take Tyson punches.

I see him going down in 1 or 2 rounds.

Marciano beating Tyson? Maybe, but not the likeliest of outcomes if you ask me. Tyson would outweigh Marciano but 40 lbs, all solid. He is quicker and has just as good defense and his stamina is not bad in his prime. Marciano=very hittable. Tall boxers with size had success over Tyson, and only one of those in his prime when Mike was not exactly "at his best" in many people's opinions.

Marciano never had to deal with someone like Tyson in his era. I'm not sure he could. Heart only gets you so far. Whatever happened it would be damned quick and hellacious is what I would say.

How about Holyfield? He handled Tyson and hes not exactly a superheavyweight; all it took was some skill and determination. I think the Rock was every bit Evander's equal in each each of those things except Rock hit a hell of a lot harder. The Rock would crush Mike's body and spirit.

Yall make a good point to me about Holyfield, but I don't think was Tyson at his best. He was a bit past his prime (like Ali) at that point. Still he was close to his best, but Holyfield has a legendary chin. Maybe the best ever. Could Rock take those punches from a prime Tyson? I don't think so. Maybe though. Wish we could find out.

Mardiano's chin was much better than Holyfield's. Marciano was caught off balance and by surprise by Walcott and Moorer. Holyfield was really almost knocked out by Bert cooper. The Rock's chin wins.

Ive been saying it all along, marciano is the greatest ever and would beat a prime tyson.

tyson fails when someone fights back and brings the fight to him.

Marciano goes in for the kill when mike tires in the 8th ore later.

Ive been saying it all along, marciano is the greatest ever and would beat a prime tyson.

tyson fails when someone fights back and brings the fight to him.

Marciano goes in for the kill when mike tires in the 8th ore later.


Marciano had something he had MENTAL and physical toughness ala Marvin Hagler! He had that hunger till the end. Marciano fought like Buster douglas when he beat tyson except Rocky fought like that every right. Joe louis said marciano was the hardest hitter he ever faced, remember also marciano has some heavy hands and big bones Mike tyson has smaller wrists smaller frame and alot of muscle packed on it. Like I said this is a slugfest and this fight can go either way.

Marciano had something he had MENTAL and physical toughness ala Marvin Hagler! He had that hunger till the end. Marciano fought like Buster douglas when he beat tyson except Rocky fought like that every right. Joe louis said marciano was the hardest hitter he ever faced, remember also marciano has some heavy hands and big bones Mike tyson has smaller wrists smaller frame and alot of muscle packed on it. Like I said this is a slugfest and this fight can go either way.


Imagine a skilled, powerful fighter with the heart of Arturo Gatti!! Damn I'm so proud to be Italian for the heart and class displayed by Italian fighters throughout the course of history!! (Vinny Pazienze excluded of course)

Imagine a skilled, powerful fighter with the heart of Arturo Gatti!! Damn I'm so proud to be Italian for the heart and class displayed by Italian fighters throughout the course of history!! (Vinny Pazienze excluded of course)


^lmao vinny.

But seriously Italian fighters got mad heart! Only if they had a fighter who had the chin of marciano, the power of marciano, the heart of arturo gatti and the slick skill of paulie malinaggi then that would be something.


Right now Ricardo Mayorga has the best chin in boxing period he kinda reminds me of the old school fighters except he doesnt train as hard.

Did you see gatti when he fought oscar? oscar sleary outweighed him and was taller but gatti went down and didnt wanna stop and he even rocked oscar, it looked like a featherweight fighting a welterweight thats how much they looked in difference but gatti didnt stop his corner had to throw the towel in. I feel if Gatti had buddy mcgirt in his corner when he fought oscar things would have been a bit more different.

^lmao vinny.

But seriously Italian fighters got mad heart! Only if they had a fighter who had the chin of marciano, the power of marciano, the heart of arturo gatti and the slick skill of paulie malinaggi then that would be something.


Right now Ricardo Mayorga has the best chin in boxing period he kinda reminds me of the old school fighters except he doesnt train as hard.

Did you see gatti when he fought oscar? oscar sleary outweighed him and was taller but gatti went down and didnt wanna stop and he even rocked oscar, it looked like a featherweight fighting a welterweight thats how much they looked in difference but gatti didnt stop his corner had to throw the towel in. I feel if Gatti had buddy mcgirt in his corner when he fought oscar things would have been a bit more different.


I remember that fight with Oscar!! Im glad they stopped it though because ARturo has so much heart he would have been killed before he ever allowed himself to quit.. With Italians it's in the blood!!

I remember that fight with Oscar!! Im glad they stopped it though because ARturo has so much heart he would have been killed before he ever allowed himself to quit.. With Italians it's in the blood!!


Man gatti is gonna terrorize mayweather.

Truly the perfect fighter, a top-knotch slugger with a chin of granite and unlimited stamina. What could anyone do but run and gun and pray that he never lands. In a 12 round fight, Ali might take him... in 15 rounds no one in history could.

the initial post was a good read.

but, what i find funny is how some people, like teddy atlas, go on about how punchers are born and not made. i would call that nothing more than pure b#ll****. i happen to know a few people who happened to develope a powerful punch, and were not naturally born with the "gift" of heavy hands. hell, even jack dempsey himself dedicates a whole chapter to this myth. just wait 'till tszyu divulges some of his "secrets" when he officially retires. and the answers might surprise you.

Didn't realise this was an old thread, interesting article.

the initial post was a good read.

but, what i find funny is how some people, like teddy atlas, go on about how punchers are born and not made. i would call that nothing more than pure b#ll****. i happen to know a few people who happened to develope a powerful punch, and were not naturally born with the "gift" of heavy hands. hell, even jack dempsey himself dedicates a whole chapter to this myth. just wait 'till tszyu divulges some of his "secrets" when he officially retires. and the answers might surprise you.

^really thought they are born and not made! just like some people got rhytyhm and some dont! just like some people can draw and paint art and some people can barely paint a stick figure it is a gift!

What color was the guy who wrote this story?White as we all know.Just another attempt by a white guy to build up a fighter of his race.
How many 240 pound black fighters did Marciano knock out in his career?How many did he fight period?Most of the fighters Marciano fought were other small white guys like himself.So knocking out a 180 pound fighter using small gloves isn't impessive at all.
Let me tell you how pathetic Marciano's power was.Archie Moore started his career at middleweight.155 to 160 pounds.Moore stayed at this weight for 8 years and was knocked down at least 30 times in his career and stopped on several occations by other middleweights in one or two rounds.Moore was in his 20s when he was being beat and knocked out by these middleweights so his body was stronger and his chin was better(which isn't saying much since he was knocked down more than any other figher in any weight class who ever became champion)When Moore fought Marciano he was at least 42 years old some sources say he was at least 3 years older than that.In any case the older you get the less fluid you have around your brain.That means you get knocked down easier,you get concussions easier and you could suffer brain damage easier.But yet it took Maricano 9 rounds of punching just to stopped a aged warrior who's chin was glass to began with but now worse because he was older.
Charles was also a natual middleweight who stayed at this weight class for around 7 years.Charles was also knocked out several times by middelweights and knocked down many more times.In their first fight Charles went the 15 round limit.If Maricano's power was so great wouldn't it be easier for him to knock out to blow up middleweights who were both past their physical prime?
Jones was only knocked down 2 times in his career and stopped 2 times which means his chin is light years better than Moores.How many people in believe it would take a prime Tyson,Foreman,Lewis,Bowe,Tua ect ect ect 9 rounds to knock out a 40 year old Jones?And i mean all of them actually landing power punches on Jones for 9 rounds.
These little stories just show how some people try to use stupidity to build up their points.Like the stories that Duran could knock out a fully grown healthy horse with one punch.To say Maricano was powerful for a 180 pounder would be saying to much.If Marciano was knocking out fighters like Holyfields the Toneys you know people of that nature you could say he punched hard for a guy his size.But he didn't and as i said fighters from his era wore smaller gloves.Smaller gloves=more knock downs and knock outs,bigger gloves= less knock downs and knock outs .That is why fighters spar in big gloves.
You can't compare anything Marciano did to anything fighters do now.Maricano wasn't the hardest punching heavyweight because he isn't a heavyweight but a cruiserweight.You can't say Maricano punched hard for his size because Marciano basically fought stiffs his whole career.Just as people need to get off Tysons nutts people also need to get off Marciano's nutts.

What color was the guy who wrote this story?White as we all know.Just another attempt by a white guy to build up a fighter of his race.
How many 240 pound black fighters did Marciano knock out in his career?How many did he fight period?Most of the fighters Marciano fought were other small white guys like himself.So knocking out a 180 pound fighter using small gloves isn't impessive at all.
Let me tell you how pathetic Marciano's power was.Archie Moore started his career at middleweight.155 to 160 pounds.Moore stayed at this weight for 8 years and was knocked down at least 30 times in his career and stopped on several occations by other middleweights in one or two rounds.Moore was in his 20s when he was being beat and knocked out by these middleweights so his body was stronger and his chin was better(which isn't saying much since he was knocked down more than any other figher in any weight class who ever became champion)When Moore fought Marciano he was at least 42 years old some sources say he was at least 3 years older than that.In any case the older you get the less fluid you have around your brain.That means you get knocked down easier,you get concussions easier and you could suffer brain damage easier.But yet it took Maricano 9 rounds of punching just to stopped a aged warrior who's chin was glass to began with but now worse because he was older.
Charles was also a natual middleweight who stayed at this weight class for around 7 years.Charles was also knocked out several times by middelweights and knocked down many more times.In their first fight Charles went the 15 round limit.If Maricano's power was so great wouldn't it be easier for him to knock out to blow up middleweights who were both past their physical prime?
Jones was only knocked down 2 times in his career and stopped 2 times which means his chin is light years better than Moores.How many people in believe it would take a prime Tyson,Foreman,Lewis,Bowe,Tua ect ect ect 9 rounds to knock out a 40 year old Jones?And i mean all of them actually landing power punches on Jones for 9 rounds.
These little stories just show how some people try to use stupidity to build up their points.Like the stories that Duran could knock out a fully grown healthy horse with one punch.To say Maricano was powerful for a 180 pounder would be saying to much.If Marciano was knocking out fighters like Holyfields the Toneys you know people of that nature you could say he punched hard for a guy his size.But he didn't and as i said fighters from his era wore smaller gloves.Smaller gloves=more knock downs and knock outs,bigger gloves= less knock downs and knock outs .That is why fighters spar in big gloves.
You can't compare anything Marciano did to anything fighters do now.Maricano wasn't the hardest punching heavyweight because he isn't a heavyweight but a cruiserweight.You can't say Maricano punched hard for his size because Marciano basically fought stiffs his whole career.Just as people need to get off Tysons nutts people also need to get off Marciano's nutts.


Wow, not only are you playing the race card to squeeze out any reason to hate on someone but you are also wrong about Marciano never fighting larger men. Jerry Humphrey Jackson was 254 lbs and 2-0 when he fought Rocky who was 5-0... after getting knocked out in the first round he never fought professionally again. So don't play the size argument either. He was outweighed by 31 of his 49 opponents which is about 2/3 of them. Opinion is one thing but when you got no ground to stand on for your argument and start accusing someone of liking a fighter based on the color of their skin you are overstepping the boundaries of a civilized, opinionated discussion and just being plain ignorant.

And if the gloves are what knocked people out, how come no one could knock Rocky out back then? Because he was the best, no one of his time could beat him regardless of skin color and there is no other heavyweight in history that can make that claim. No matter how much an armchair critic like yourself wants to berrate him, you cannot take away his achievements. Loe Louis and Jack Dempsey both said Rocky was the beest fighter, so you pretend to know more about boxing than 2 of the best heavyweights who ever fought? Keep dreaming... keep playing the race card, it's all you got on this one.

What color was the guy who wrote this story?White as we all know.Just another attempt by a white guy to build up a fighter of his race.
How many 240 pound black fighters did Marciano knock out in his career?How many did he fight period?Most of the fighters Marciano fought were other small white guys like himself.So knocking out a 180 pound fighter using small gloves isn't impessive at all.
Let me tell you how pathetic Marciano's power was.Archie Moore started his career at middleweight.155 to 160 pounds.Moore stayed at this weight for 8 years and was knocked down at least 30 times in his career and stopped on several occations by other middleweights in one or two rounds.Moore was in his 20s when he was being beat and knocked out by these middleweights so his body was stronger and his chin was better(which isn't saying much since he was knocked down more than any other figher in any weight class who ever became champion)When Moore fought Marciano he was at least 42 years old some sources say he was at least 3 years older than that.In any case the older you get the less fluid you have around your brain.That means you get knocked down easier,you get concussions easier and you could suffer brain damage easier.But yet it took Maricano 9 rounds of punching just to stopped a aged warrior who's chin was glass to began with but now worse because he was older.
Charles was also a natual middleweight who stayed at this weight class for around 7 years.Charles was also knocked out several times by middelweights and knocked down many more times.In their first fight Charles went the 15 round limit.If Maricano's power was so great wouldn't it be easier for him to knock out to blow up middleweights who were both past their physical prime?
Jones was only knocked down 2 times in his career and stopped 2 times which means his chin is light years better than Moores.How many people in believe it would take a prime Tyson,Foreman,Lewis,Bowe,Tua ect ect ect 9 rounds to knock out a 40 year old Jones?And i mean all of them actually landing power punches on Jones for 9 rounds.
These little stories just show how some people try to use stupidity to build up their points.Like the stories that Duran could knock out a fully grown healthy horse with one punch.To say Maricano was powerful for a 180 pounder would be saying to much.If Marciano was knocking out fighters like Holyfields the Toneys you know people of that nature you could say he punched hard for a guy his size.But he didn't and as i said fighters from his era wore smaller gloves.Smaller gloves=more knock downs and knock outs,bigger gloves= less knock downs and knock outs .That is why fighters spar in big gloves.
You can't compare anything Marciano did to anything fighters do now.Maricano wasn't the hardest punching heavyweight because he isn't a heavyweight but a cruiserweight.You can't say Maricano punched hard for his size because Marciano basically fought stiffs his whole career.Just as people need to get off Tysons nutts people also need to get off Marciano's nutts.



Ignorance is bliss.

What color was the guy who wrote this story?White as we all know.Just another attempt by a white guy to build up a fighter of his race.
How many 240 pound black fighters did Marciano knock out in his career?How many did he fight period?Most of the fighters Marciano fought were other small white guys like himself.So knocking out a 180 pound fighter using small gloves isn't impessive at all.
Let me tell you how pathetic Marciano's power was.Archie Moore started his career at middleweight.155 to 160 pounds.Moore stayed at this weight for 8 years and was knocked down at least 30 times in his career and stopped on several occations by other middleweights in one or two rounds.Moore was in his 20s when he was being beat and knocked out by these middleweights so his body was stronger and his chin was better(which isn't saying much since he was knocked down more than any other figher in any weight class who ever became champion)When Moore fought Marciano he was at least 42 years old some sources say he was at least 3 years older than that.In any case the older you get the less fluid you have around your brain.That means you get knocked down easier,you get concussions easier and you could suffer brain damage easier.But yet it took Maricano 9 rounds of punching just to stopped a aged warrior who's chin was glass to began with but now worse because he was older.
Charles was also a natual middleweight who stayed at this weight class for around 7 years.Charles was also knocked out several times by middelweights and knocked down many more times.In their first fight Charles went the 15 round limit.If Maricano's power was so great wouldn't it be easier for him to knock out to blow up middleweights who were both past their physical prime?
Jones was only knocked down 2 times in his career and stopped 2 times which means his chin is light years better than Moores.How many people in believe it would take a prime Tyson,Foreman,Lewis,Bowe,Tua ect ect ect 9 rounds to knock out a 40 year old Jones?And i mean all of them actually landing power punches on Jones for 9 rounds.
These little stories just show how some people try to use stupidity to build up their points.Like the stories that Duran could knock out a fully grown healthy horse with one punch.To say Maricano was powerful for a 180 pounder would be saying to much.If Marciano was knocking out fighters like Holyfields the Toneys you know people of that nature you could say he punched hard for a guy his size.But he didn't and as i said fighters from his era wore smaller gloves.Smaller gloves=more knock downs and knock outs,bigger gloves= less knock downs and knock outs .That is why fighters spar in big gloves.
You can't compare anything Marciano did to anything fighters do now.Maricano wasn't the hardest punching heavyweight because he isn't a heavyweight but a cruiserweight.You can't say Maricano punched hard for his size because Marciano basically fought stiffs his whole career.Just as people need to get off Tysons nutts people also need to get off Marciano's nutts.
lol,,,this coming from one of the board racists

Marciano was small compared to most heavyweights champ and his reach was merely about 68 inches but I believe he can be devastating. That one punch right cross to always crafty Walcott that separate Waltz from his senses was a prime example. Marciano does not possess great speed or technical skills like being grace but he impose himself inside and does the clubbing blows which was very effective. Though he never cross Louis prime, it's hard to say how can he take Louis punches. But still Marciano should be considered among boxing finest.

for 1 thing..during marciano times...those werent really boxing gloves..but like paded mits...imaging TUA PETER L.LEWIS TYSON KLITCHKOS hitting somebody with 1 of those damn mits..it would be alot of casaulities in boxing

When marciano threw a punch he looked like he was swinging a bat! he put all his weight into his punches.

http://www.profiboksz.hu/genesis/hiressegek/walcott.gif
http://www.terra.es/personal3/r3198r/rockymarciano.jpg

....Yeah, he was a "sick" heavy handed dude and I think he gets overlooked alot when talking of the greats. Talk **** about his record all you want but the bottom line is that he retired undefeated and nobody can take that away.

absolutly, gotta love the rock

Marciano is P4P the strongest fighter ever.

He's strong even compared to larger heavyweight like Ali, Holmes, Tyson.

Marciano is P4P the strongest fighter ever.

I dont buy that. I dont see how he was any stronger than Jack Dempsey.

Ali was really a very weak puncher for a man of his size. He really was quite a huge guy if you ever look at his stats.

I dont buy that. I dont see how he was any stronger than Jack Dempsey.

I havn't seen Dempsey fight so I cant rank him. Of the fighters I have seen fight. Marciano is P4P the strongest.

Ali was really a very weak puncher for a man of his size. He really was quite a huge guy if you ever look at his stats.


LMAO! Ali is not a puncher at all! he was never known for his power but his speed and aglility he was known for. He was a volume puncher with an awesome jab and 1,2 combination.

LMAO! Ali is not a puncher at all! he was never known for his power but his speed and aglility he was known for. He was a volume puncher with an awesome jab and 1,2 combination.

For a man of his size. He is was disprotionatly weak puncher.

For a man of his size. He is was disprotionatly weak puncher.

true. but he wasnt built like a power puncher he didnt have the powerful shoulders that most power punches have. But he wasnt slow like a man his size either! very light on his feet for a man his size so he made up for it in his agility.

true. but he wasnt built like a power puncher he didnt have the powerful shoulders that most power punches have. But he wasnt slow like a man his size either! very light on his feet for a man his size so he made up for it in his agility.

I think Ali's dancing is overrated. In most of quality wins he did very little dancing. I think he was a very good defensive fighter more than a dancer. This is my opinion though that his wins over Sonny Liston are disgustingly overrated. As I believe liston is disugtingly overrated, as mainly a means of propping up Ali's legacy. A man who got more gift decscions and positive press coverage than any other fighter in history. He should of lost to an array of fighters who you might consider as somewhat mediocre. The win over Foreman as I state in my undying thread in boxing history in the only thing cementing what is his "legacy." His "legacy" besides the drama for the Frazier fights and victory over Foreman is ****.

Mostly consisting of running his mouth over black pantheresque views.

Ali was good for boxing he made it huge in the 70's and 80's.

ali wasnt even boxing in the 80's, and about the rock i think he was the hardest puncher ever he broke jaws and arms and knocked people unconsious, you dont see tyson or foreman doing that

You are a ******* of enormouse poportion.... You need to sober up...

You are a ******* of enormouse poportion.... You need to sober up...

if your gonna insult someone, it would be a good ideea to tell who your insulting.

Jack Hurley, Harry "Kid" Matthew's manager, "I never saw a fighter so confident, so sure every punch he was throwing was the knockout."

Tommy Loughran (Light heavyweight champion 1927-29) "He is great by accident, or maybe instinct. He moves in and belts you, and wallops you, and moves away, and all by instinct. Then Rocky comes up with that hook, and his whole body is behind it. You have to class him with Jack Dempsey. When the fight started, Dempsey had only one thought-to knock you out. That's Marciano's instinct."

"Marciano's gloved fists broke blood vessels and bones in LaStarza's arms and elbows. First the arms grew heavy, then they began to ache awfully, then they grew numb. As the relentless battle wore on, LaStarza found it harder and harder to raise his arms, much less jab with them or punch with them. His hands lowered, his defense dissipated, Marciano began to punish him about the head. LaStarza began to take a terrible beating." Bill Libby, "The Story of a Champion", 1971.

Fred Brown said, "He hits you with something that looks like a little tap to the crowd, but the guy who gets it shakes right down to his legs."

"A right hand that registered nine on the Richter scale." Red Smith, New York Times sports columnist.

"He's the hardest hitting fighter I've ever seen. After one of his knockouts, I never take my eye off his victims till they move again." Bill Corum, sports writer.

"Rocky Marciano was probably the most ferocious man ever to win the title, and the most relentless." Ebony magazine.

"Why? His man's not that tall." Bugs Baer's reply when Don ****ell's manager requested a 20 foot ring instead of 16 foot.

"Louis is faster with a barrage of punches, but Rocky hurts more with one punch than Joe did with four. Rocky hurts you every time he connects." Response to a reporter from a sparring partner of both Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano.

"He was chastised by the press every time he fought as being a Neanderthal, no concept of boxing, who was going to get beat as soon as he got in with someone who could box, who was gonna make him look silly…It took a long time for the boxing scribes to realize they were in the presence of sheer power." Ferdie Pacheco


i bow down to u. that was a great post. ive learned to throw my punches with alittle more power thatnx to your post. so if i make it in boxin u will be named

i bow down to u. that was a great post. ive learned to throw my punches with alittle more power thatnx to your post. so if i make it in boxin u will be named


thanks man, you look like a mini tyson.

ali wasnt even boxing in the 80's, and about the rock i think he was the hardest puncher ever he broke jaws and arms and knocked people unconsious, you dont see tyson or foreman doing that


It also depends on who your fighting also,some people can take good shots some don't. U can be the sorriest ****er in the world and have a excellent chin and a good body

How tall was Rocky by the way?

between 5'10 1/4 and 5'11 nobody really knows

u know thats funny cause slyvester stallone was only 5'7 he was my height!!!!!!!

u know thats funny cause slyvester stallone was only 5'7 he was my height!!!!!!!

ive read some where that he is 5.10 (stallone)

stallone is listed as 5'9, 5'10

how do you know that he realy is 5.7?

have you meet him ore something?

how do you know that he realy is 5.7?

have you meet him ore something?


that myth was killed long time ago! he has been on the contender and he is pretty tall maybe 5 10 or 5 11. He was taller then sugar ray leonard who claims 5 feet 10 but is more like 5 feet 8.

Who has the reported "hardest punch in boxing history"?

So what you mean by lemonade?
I dont think Tyson beats Rocky, its possible, very well possible/
Remember, if Rocky was alive today, he would be 200lbs easy, his walking weight was 230 lbs, Rocky would be 6ft with at least 70inches reach and lion's heart.

So whats this points thing I get, cash and all? Can i Upload photos here, what's email for support?

Rocky was 5 11 with 68 inch reach!

Did you read the qoutes? man he made these fighters bones rattle hahaha, Rocky would be a great fight against tyson he would beat tyson cause he had better stamina and rocky had ton more heart too.

Rocky feared no one in that ring! I believe Ali could have outboxed him but one punch would lay anyone out you would have to do alot of running.

Not this **** again, lol...

I like Rocky, and I am not one to always mention size because sometimes it can be the most overrated thing, but Tyson was bigger, stronger, faster, more accurate with his punches, just basically a better fighter all around, at least in his prime.

There was a good article on another webiste that had Dempsey vs Marciano, why Dempsey would win...it was pretty convincing...I expect the same for Tyson.

Lets not forget that Walcott was giving Marciano all that he could handle in the first fight, and Walcott was absorbing Marciano's punches, many landing flush from about the 6th round on.

I don't think Tyson would of took that long in beating a faded, balding, Joe Louis either.

Roland LaStarza also gave him trouble in the first fight...some even believe Rocky lost that fight.

Rocky fought a lot of fighters that though are "Great" fighters, are really light-heavyweights, at the most cruiserweights. you could also use that old argument that they used even around his time, that he was fighting "older" fighters.
Lets just say that a lot of these fighters took more poundings than Paris Hilton's vagina

I am not bashing him at all, just stating a few things to those that want to make everybody that is undefeated like they are some type of God.

Ask yourself this, if Maricano fought Louis in his prime, Ali, Dempsey, Foreman, Tyson, etc. would he still be undefeated?

and yes, the same goes for Tyson

Did you read the qoutes? man he made these fighters bones rattle hahaha, Rocky would be a great fight against tyson he would beat tyson cause he had better stamina and rocky had ton more heart too.

Rocky feared no one in that ring! I believe Ali could have outboxed him but one punch would lay anyone out you would have to do alot of running.


Yes, because all the Rock had to do is land one punch and it would bring down a building...

Ali, man this guy would get knocked out if Rocky landed one of his "Suzie Q's" :rolleyes:

Ali fought Shavers, Frazier and Foreman, yet he managed not to get knocked out...hell, when Ali had parkinsons and fought Larry Holmes, Larry couldn't knock him to the ground.


Its OK though, when I was young I had my illusions about certain fighters...its a great thing to have and a sad thing to lose, so maybe you should just block out what I say

^don't count the rock out! Tyson in his prime intimidated opponents! tyson weigh like 220 pounds back then! most of tysons opponents didnt have to courage to not freeze up and slug with him, when someone wasnt scared of tyson he lost! Buster douglas,evander,and danny williams. Evander was not the most powerful puncher he was a small heavy and he had all upper body and chicken legs imagine Tyson vs Tua that would be the closest we could hope for.


lol, this **** keeps getting repeated...I guess for the first 37 fights or so that nobody threw a punch at Tyson :rolleyes:

Trevor Berbick, though looking scared, even came out swining until his ass got caught.

How about Razor Ruddock?

Seriously, I made a "New Topic" on this before, Tyson's skills are what people feared more than his stare...when you have a guy that is 220lbs with speed, power, accuracy, and a killer determination to "F" you up, you are going to be scared.

Remember, even if Tyson did scare the **** out of people, have we forgotten that the PSYCHOLOGICAL BATTLE IS A BIG PART OF WARFARE...Tyson said it himself, the better fighter is the one that can keep his "Composure"



If I am going to go up against a Siberian Tiger I am going to be scared...I don't care how big my balls are, I know that Tiger is bigger, stronger, faster, more accurate, big ass fangs, and those eyes tell me that he hasn't been fed in days :D

Marciano had something he had MENTAL and physical toughness ala Marvin Hagler! He had that hunger till the end. Marciano fought like Buster douglas when he beat tyson except Rocky fought like that every right. Joe louis said marciano was the hardest hitter he ever faced, remember also marciano has some heavy hands and big bones Mike tyson has smaller wrists smaller frame and alot of muscle packed on it. Like I said this is a slugfest and this fight can go either way.


I feel like "Mr. Clean" :D

Was that a "trained and motivated" Tyson that fought Buster?
Did Tyson have Kevin Rooney there?

Tyson was smaller framed?

Rocky Marciano:.......................Mike Tyson:

Height: 5'10 1/4.......................5'11 1/2
Weight: 184.............................218
Reach: 68...............................71
Chest/Norm: 39.........................43
Chest/Exp: 42...........................45
Waist: 32...............................34
Biceps: 14..............................16
Neck: 16 3/4............................19 3/4
Wrist: 7 1/2............................8
Calf: 14 3/4............................18
Ankle: 10...............................11
Thigh: 22...............................27
Fist: 11 1/2............................13
Forearm: 12.............................14

http://www.ibhof.com/ibhftape.htm


I don't have any Lab tests on either of them so I can't tell you how high their horomone count is/was

http://www.forwardtimes.com/images/mike-tyson.gif

http://wokkil.pair.com/postpix/marcianox.jpg



Rocky was one tough S.O.B. but every fighter has their faults, it's called being human

How about Holyfield? He handled Tyson and hes not exactly a superheavyweight; all it took was some skill and determination. I think the Rock was every bit Evander's equal in each each of those things except Rock hit a hell of a lot harder. The Rock would crush Mike's body and spirit.


Well I guess if you count a man that hasn't trained since he left Rooney, spent some time in jail, didn't get back on track, yeah, I say that was a fair fight ;)



How do you know Rock hit harder than Holyfield?

How long did it take again to knock out Walcott, Charles, LaStarza, etc.?


When I was a kid I used to think all that Rocky and Tyson had to do was hit you once and you would fall, but guess what, I grew up and watched fights and I found it wasn't true.

A lot more people held Tyson than they did Marciano, just another quick little fact

the initial post was a good read.

but, what i find funny is how some people, like teddy atlas, go on about how punchers are born and not made. i would call that nothing more than pure b#ll****. i happen to know a few people who happened to develope a powerful punch, and were not naturally born with the "gift" of heavy hands. hell, even jack dempsey himself dedicates a whole chapter to this myth. just wait 'till tszyu divulges some of his "secrets" when he officially retires. and the answers might surprise you.

you can build power...the key is to reach your full potential

Lets not get way to ahead of ourselves though...I don't care how much Tszyu has worked on his "Power", he hasn't seemed to develop that power on the level of Foreman's has he

There is a good portion of it that has to do with GENETICS, the other part is hard work/devoloping your "gift"

Next thing you are going to tell me is that you will be able to run like Bo Jackson, all you need to do is to know the "secrets."
Well here is the secret, he is BO Jackson and you are not :D

for 1 thing..during marciano times...those werent really boxing gloves..but like paded mits...imaging TUA PETER L.LEWIS TYSON KLITCHKOS hitting somebody with 1 of those damn mits..it would be alot of casaulities in boxing


I am not sure on the exact facts, but I think they were 8 oz, and padded with horse hair.

If you take that into the equation then you have to give a lot of these guys credit for taking the punishment

Ali was really a very weak puncher for a man of his size. He really was quite a huge guy if you ever look at his stats.


He has a lot of knockouts though for a guy with a "weak punch"

He isn't a powerfull puncher, but the guy has some type of punch...you also have to remember that he displayed better power when he sat on his punches, rather than just throwing it on the move...Floyd Mayweather Jr. displays good, not great, power when he decides to sit on his punches.

Ali wasn't "Weak" either...the guy might not have had a big punch, but he was able to push back Frazier, Shavers, and Foreman, who were supposedly "Stronger."
I bet Larry Allen (NFL) is stronger than Foreman in lifting, but he can't punch like Foreman

I think Ali's dancing is overrated. In most of quality wins he did very little dancing. I think he was a very good defensive fighter more than a dancer. This is my opinion though that his wins over Sonny Liston are disgustingly overrated. As I believe liston is disugtingly overrated, as mainly a means of propping up Ali's legacy. A man who got more gift decscions and positive press coverage than any other fighter in history. He should of lost to an array of fighters who you might consider as somewhat mediocre. The win over Foreman as I state in my undying thread in boxing history in the only thing cementing what is his "legacy." His "legacy" besides the drama for the Frazier fights and victory over Foreman is ****.

Mostly consisting of running his mouth over black pantheresque views.


WOW, that is all I am going to say

true. but he wasnt built like a power puncher he didnt have the powerful shoulders that most power punches have. But he wasnt slow like a man his size either! very light on his feet for a man his size so he made up for it in his agility.


Have you ever really looked at Ali's wing span...his shoulders are quite broad...his chest measurements are pretty impressive too...They say when Sonny Liston, and even Foreman got into the ring with Ali that they realized that Ali wasn't as "Small"...Ali actually looked like the bigger man, but it is this perception that your "Power punch" is what makes you Godzilla

It also depends on who your fighting also,some people can take good shots some don't. U can be the sorriest ****er in the world and have a excellent chin and a good body


TEX COBB?????....this guy might have been the most skilled fighter, but he had heart, and was a wall

anyone remember that scene in "Coming to America" (Eddie Murphy flick from the mid 1980s) where the old guys are sitting in the barbershop arguing about all the old great fighters - Marciano, Louis, etc.? One of the funniest scenes in movie history, if you ask me, and a good one for boxing fans in particular - rent the movie just for that...
Rocky rules, I think only Tyson had better punches!

Hey can u email me tell me how to find all my threads, i am new here!

Imagine a skilled, powerful fighter with the heart of Arturo Gatti!! Damn I'm so proud to be Italian for the heart and class displayed by Italian fighters throughout the course of history!! (Vinny Pazienze excluded of course)

What's the deal with Vinny?

Have you ever really looked at Ali's wing span...his shoulders are quite broad...his chest measurements are pretty impressive too...They say when Sonny Liston, and even Foreman got into the ring with Ali that they realized that Ali wasn't as "Small"...Ali actually looked like the bigger man, but it is this perception that your "Power punch" is what makes you Godzilla

i think alis chest was 44 and foremans was 46 alis arm was 15 and foremans was 16 in his prime,
not a massive size difference and foreman is BIG george foreman! foreman was one of few fighters that ali was weaker than, all that all changed after round 5!

Have you ever really looked at Ali's wing span...his shoulders are quite broad...his chest measurements are pretty impressive too...They say when Sonny Liston, and even Foreman got into the ring with Ali that they realized that Ali wasn't as "Small"...Ali actually looked like the bigger man, but it is this perception that your "Power punch" is what makes you Godzilla

They said Ali also had hand problems and had to be injected with pain killers before most of his early fights, later the problems went away and he sat down on his punches noticeably more in his later fights. I guess the media raved about Foreman's and Frazier's strength because they fought like they were strong (Foreman really was) and Ali fought like a small fighter early in his career.

i think alis chest was 44 and foremans was 46 alis arm was 15 and foremans was 16 in his prime,
not a massive size difference and foreman is BIG george foreman! foreman was one of few fighters that ali was weaker than, all that all changed after round 5!

Which Ali?
The one that weighed 206 or the one that weighed 220?
I don't trust some of the listed stats though because Tyson and Foreman's arms are supposedly 16 inches. My arms are 16 inches and I seriously doubt they are as big as a prime Foreman's arms lol

They said Ali also had hand problems and had to be injected with pain killers before most of his early fights, later the problems went away and he sat down on his punches noticeably more in his later fights. I guess the media raved about Foreman's and Frazier's strength because they fought like they were strong (Foreman really was) and Ali fought like a small fighter early in his career.


Never knew he had hand problems in his early part of his career...you do thicken as you age into your 20's to early 30's.

Which Ali?
The one that weighed 206 or the one that weighed 220?
I don't trust some of the listed stats though because Tyson and Foreman's arms are supposedly 16 inches. My arms are 16 inches and I seriously doubt they are as big as a prime Foreman's arms lol


I have seen guys measure two different ways, unflexed and flexed, so if I had to take a guess, it was unflexed.

You have to remember it is not good to have really big arms in boxing...the bigger your arms in boxing, having to throw so many punches, will wear you out faster.

I have seen guys measure two different ways, unflexed and flexed, so if I had to take a guess, it was unflexed.

You have to remember it is not good to have really big arms in boxing...the bigger your arms in boxing, having to throw so many punches, will wear you out faster.

Yeah I agree, I think that was a big burden for Big George and still is for fighters like Briggs. I think the hand problem with Ali was calcium deposits in his knuckles