Is Marciano the great fighter in the cruiserweight division of all time?

[KO'er]

Obviously cruiserweight wasn't around when he was fighting, since everybody around above 175lbs fought at Heavy, but we're playing by today's rules.

Any fighter around the 180lbs-200lbs mark, could Marciano beat every fighter? IMO Holyfield gives him a terrific match-up, a better match up than he ever faced before.

I reckon Holyfield would win on points. I could imagine a prime Roy Jones Jr going up to 180lbs (or weighing that or 185lbs on the night without adding weight) fighting Marciano, it would be an enthralling match-up.

[dan_cov]

I couldn't see him beating Holyfield myself.
Don't think he'd beat a prime De Leon, Toney or Jirov either.

[Sugarj]

Jack Dempsey?

[Ray Corso]

Lets put them in the ring with him in the late 50s!! At any weight class you want. Marciano is an undisputed, undefeated, Heavyweight Champion of the World! Don't bring him up to the current time send these fighters back to him.
Train in the conditions from the past, utilize the mentors from that era and the one before! Take on Charles, Walcott and the other top ten heavies. The current guys would be in with very different styled fighters than they fight today! They'd see men who press and look to stop them not out point them.
I think theres only 15 men that fought at heavy that could have good chances of defeating Marciano and he would be capable of defeating them also. Tremendous puncher, great will to win, took on anyone over 175lbs because thats where the heavyweight division starts! Ray.

[BigStereotype]

Dempsey would have been the greatest cruiser ever. He was beating guys who outweighed him by 20-60 pounds and ANNIHILATING them. You can make a real argument that he's a top 5 p4p puncher in the history of the sport, up there with Hearns, Fitzsimmons and Shavers.

[them_apples]

Originally Posted by KO'er

Obviously cruiserweight wasn't around when he was fighting, since everybody around above 175lbs fought at Heavy, but we're playing by today's rules.

Any fighter around the 180lbs-200lbs mark, could Marciano beat every fighter? IMO Holyfield gives him a terrific match-up, a better match up than he ever faced before.

I reckon Holyfield would win on points. I could imagine a prime Roy Jones Jr going up to 180lbs (or weighing that or 185lbs on the night without adding weight) fighting Marciano, it would be an enthralling match-up.

well, The Hw division is very deep so Rocky doesnt get as much props. The CW division was and still is lacking, so it's safe to say he'd be one of the top togs.

I could see Holyfield vs Rocky being a good fight. the rest rocky probably catches up too. Toney might fair well vs Rocky as well, but at the same time Rocky's conditioning might take toney down late.

[rightsideup]

Originally Posted by them_apples

well, The Hw division is very deep so Rocky doesnt get as much props. The CW division was and still is lacking, so it's safe to say he'd be one of the top togs.

I could see Holyfield vs Rocky being a good fight. the rest rocky probably catches up too. Toney might fair well vs Rocky as well, but at the same time Rocky's conditioning might take toney down late.

Marciano would give any man under 190 lbs hell. He proved he could give any man in the world hell in his era.