anyone who picked maricano is a moron, all the great fighters he fought were past there prime, and he still had trouble with walcott in there first fight and with Ezzard Charles, liston ko 5.
Come to think of it, I wonder what the gameplan of a prime Jersey Joe Walcott would have been against Liston.Would it have been similar to his first Louis fight:be elusive,don't let him corner you and if you're on the ropes set traps for him? Personally, I think that the Liston would have been a far better match-up for Walcott than Marciano. In fact Ali took some of Walcott's moves. So it's not an unreasonable assumption to make
anyone who picked maricano is a moron, all the great fighters he fought were past there prime, and he still had trouble with walcott in there first fight and with Ezzard Charles, liston ko 5.
Marciano gets too much flack on the boards.
That being said, I don't like his chances here. Liston is not just a bigger, rangier fighter. He had skills too. Terrific jab, very heavy and effective left hook and straight right, nice body attack. Not just a big puncher, but an effective boxer as well. I think Liston takes this.
He beat a prime Patterson(twice). That alone is more of an accomplishment than marciano's best win. Marciano has 0 wins over prime great fighters.
With all due respect, you can't blame a fighter for the era he fought in. Marciano did what he had to do.
And Patterson was obviously overmatched, suffering two first round blow outs. I would say his previous loss to Ingo doesn't help your argument much either.
Fact is, both Marciano and Liston were dominant during their particular period and both deserve to be considered amongst the greatest heavies.
I will concede that many fans overblow Rocky's 49-0(44) and underrate Sonny because of his two losses to Ali.
Originally Posted by Tunney
Marciano had a 67" reach. Liston had an 86" reach, unusually long arms for his height.
But Rocky beat a lot of other big men - almost everyone he ever fought had a height and reach advantage.
Rocky wins by KO.
Translation: Marciano is white and Liston is black so Marciano wins for that reason and that reason alone.
:lol1::lol1::lol1:
Liston would bloody Marciano with his jab, and unlike Charles and Walcott before him, he wouldnt lose by being caught late. He had a very good chin, and was much bigger. He could also hold his own inside when Marciano did get through.
Marciano had a 67" reach. Liston had an 86" reach, unusually long arms for his height.
But Rocky beat a lot of other big men - almost everyone he ever fought had a height and reach advantage.
Rocky wins by KO.
Translation: Marciano is white and Liston is black so Marciano wins for that reason and that reason alone.
How is Liston an all time great, yet Marciano is overrated? I think at their best Liston would beat Rocky. But you've made it sound as if Listons career was so much better.
Liston cleaned out his division. So did Marciano. Both held the championship in reletively weak era's. One held it longer though and retired undefeated. So what in your estimation makes Liston an all time great, but not Marciano?
He beat a prime Patterson(twice). That alone is more of an accomplishment than marciano's best win. Marciano has 0 wins over prime great fighters.
I would favour Liston, he was at his best against fighters like Rocky. Marciano would come straight at him.
Liston was a good boxer but he was also a little slower and fought rather conservatively, which is why he didn't do great against movers.
He did beat Eddie Machen, Folley and others but he was better when his opponent stood right in front of him, like Marciano would.
It's true that Frazier, or rather Frazier's management, didn't want a fight with Liston because they felt he was not a favourable match-up and taking a risk against Liston who no one wanted to see in the title picture again didn't make any sense. Can't blame them after the 'show' Liston put on in the rematch against Ali..
A whole lot of other top contenders avoided him also... except Leotis Martin who fought a brilliant fight against a slowened down Liston, ending Liston's dreams of another world title shot. Unfortunately the fight ended Martin's career also.
Nothing good came out of that fight, except the highlight reel KO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc_268cv1pI
Liston beats up Willi Besmanoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6gqaQ5uC4
The slugfest against Cleveland Williams
Liston is too heavy a puncher for Rocky, not to mention about what, 30 lbs heavier or something? Smaller guys put the Rock down, Liston would dust him in a couple rounds.
hmmm lets see. Marciano is VERY overrated and Liston was a true hw great. Prime Liston would destroy Marciano, no doubt.
How is Liston an all time great, yet Marciano is overrated? I think at their best Liston would beat Rocky. But you've made it sound as if Listons career was so much better.
Liston cleaned out his division. So did Marciano. Both held the championship in reletively weak era's. One held it longer though and retired undefeated. So what in your estimation makes Liston an all time great, but not Marciano?
It's certainly seems like a bad match-up for the Rock.To my mind, he needed the fast footwork to manoeuvre around Liston's jab and get to him OR the reach to make Liston pay when he missed with one of his punches. There is a reason why Joe Frazier's handlers never considered even a washed up Liston as an opponent from him.At best you can say 50-50 for Marciano in Marciano and Liston's respective primes.One thing though,I thought Marciano could do as better than any other World Champion other than Joe Louis-that is rotate a man's skull with either hand;he would always be in with a chance.
A clip of Sonny.You can see how much he slowed down,when he was past his prime at 3.11 .
One small piece of trivia... Johansson,James Braddock and Marciano all had Patterson to win the first Liston fight.Apparently Patterson's fast hands would be too much for the lumbering oaf.:lol1:
He was hurt when he went down against Moore though. And Liston hit much harder than either one. Also, prime Liston took bombs from Cleveland Williams. I doubt Rocky hit harder than Williams. Liston also once fought 10 rounds with a broken jaw. That took some mental toughness.. Prime Liston was not the same as the old Liston.
He was past his prime against Moore and Moore was a big, big hitter he has the most knockouts of anyone is history, Marciano did come back and batter Moore. I'm not sure if he hit harder than Williams, both of them hit very hard. Williams also didn't have the chin that Marciano possessed, all I know for sure is that it would be a great fight.
im goin with teh rock ...just 2 touch for him ..listons skill wont be enough ..even with the size advantage i still see rock breakin em down back then woulda been 15 so rocky tko13
I think a prime Liston tears Marciano up with his jab and long reach. Liston by mid round TKO.
I think so to, Marciano never really fought anyone amazing, Liston did. If Liston can kill Patterson in one round, i'm sure another 185 lb Marciano should't be hard.
I say KO in 4
Marciano had a 67" reach. Liston had an 86" reach, unusually long arms for his height.
But Rocky beat a lot of other big men - almost everyone he ever fought had a height and reach advantage.
Like who? Walcott, Moore and Charles were not anywhere near as big as Liston. And we are talking skilled big men.
I'm not sure how Liston would deal with Marciano in his face all night taking his shots, even though he was down against Walcott, he wasn't really hurt. Marciano was also pretty good at getting past opponents' jabs and get inside, Liston wasn't exactly a fast guy on his feet either, mentally, I'm not sure if Liston could handle it. I think if Liston wins, it's a TKO on cuts.
He was hurt when he went down against Moore though. And Liston hit much harder than either one. Also, prime Liston took bombs from Cleveland Williams. I doubt Rocky hit harder than Williams. Liston also once fought 10 rounds with a broken jaw. That took some mental toughness.. Prime Liston was not the same as the old Liston.
I'm not sure how Liston would deal with Marciano in his face all night taking his shots, even though he was down against Walcott, he wasn't really hurt. Marciano was also pretty good at getting past opponents' jabs and get inside, Liston wasn't exactly a fast guy on his feet either, mentally, I'm not sure if Liston could handle it. I think if Liston wins, it's a TKO on cuts.
I think a prime Liston tears Marciano up with his jab and long reach. Liston by mid round TKO.
agreed.
rocky had a 69 in. reach and sonny had what 80? 82?
sonny is too big , much stronger and a bit better skilled.
we're talking about a 190 lb. guy against what 210 prime for prime?
as far as the heart thing. sonny got frustrated by ali's movement. rocky will come right at him.
unless sonny takes a dive he tko's marciano.