Rocky Marciano VS Mike Tyson.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Lets dispense of the logical fallicy that weight automatically equals size. Marciano would be about 205 or so, if he came into fights typical of most fighters today. Tyson, if he ever got into excellent fighting shape, would lose about 5 pounds.

Not picking a winner... Just saying. One way to look at this is what happens to Rocky in the first few rounds if he gets caught clean by Tyson...

Another way is to look at what happens to Tyson, starting to tire in the mid to late rounds, while Rocky starts to pour it on...

And countless fighters really were bigger than Tyson and still got beat.

P4P Marciano is far greater. But in a match with Tyson he's completely out- matched. The size disparity is real.

[billeau2]

And countless fighters really were bigger than Tyson and still got beat.

P4P Marciano is far greater. But in a match with Tyson he's completely out- matched. The size disparity is real.

I agree. Tyson is squat but very strongly built. I see it as real but I wonder how much of an advantage it would be.

[Rusty Tromboni]

I agree. Tyson is squat but very strongly built. I see it as real but I wonder how much of an advantage it would be.

A tremendous amount.

He's also ridiculously fast.

If you wanna argue that in an earlier generation, without the PEDs Tyson wouldn't have been so physically imposing I'd agree. But I still think his handspeed, head movement and combination punching are all wrong for the Rock.

[billeau2]

A tremendous amount.

He's also ridiculously fast.

If you wanna argue that in an earlier generation, without the PEDs Tyson wouldn't have been so physically imposing I'd agree. But I still think his handspeed, head movement and combination punching are all wrong for the Rock.

well heres the one thing I think about. Even at his absolute zenith, Mike would, at a certain point, stop moving his head as much, He would also pursue less. Could that be weathered? And I don't claim to know...

[Rusty Tromboni]

well heres the one thing I think about. Even at his absolute zenith, Mike would, at a certain point, stop moving his head as much, He would also pursue less. Could that be weathered? And I don't claim to know...

His opponents were also resigned to survive.

I am sure Rooney intended to further iron out the bad habits, but impart further skill (see: infighting).

I'm not sure Tyson had a bey long shelf-life. Certainly not fighting the way he did. But he accomplished a lot in a short time and appeared to be on an upward trajectory. He might've been a finest fighter between the Ali and Klitchko eras.

Marciano remained easy to hit throughout the fight. And the kinda damage Tyson would impart early would make its effects known throughout the duration of the fight. If Marciano survives the early rounds (unlikely), I don't see him taking over the fight.

[ShoulderRoll]

39-year-old Archie Moore dropped Marciano. Tyson would have absolutely wrecked him.

[billeau2]

One general point to consider

marciano was, from the start, an illogical success story. The fact he even got anyone, much less Goldman to train him, was kind of crazy. The guy had nothing...He could punch hard and had this drive...something it would seem so many had...

I just think we have to give Rocky all of the intangibles... With that said, Tyson is the logical choice... Most of us if we had to bet the house...

[QueensburyRules]

39-year-old Archie Moore dropped Marciano. Tyson would have absolutely wrecked him.

- -How many times U been wrecked.

Easy $ !!!

[billeau2]

- -How many times U been wrecked.

Easy $ !!!

How many times U been in the drunk tank? Last week?

[Rusty Tromboni]

marciano was, from the start, an illogical success story. The fact he even got anyone, much less Goldman to train him, was kind of crazy. The guy had nothing...He could punch hard and had this drive...something it would seem so many had...

I just think we have to give Rocky all of the intangibles... With that said, Tyson is the logical choice... Most of us if we had to bet the house...

Repeating more myth.


Maricano was a natural talent. It's pretty obvious to watch. Sure, a story has been manufactured to portray him as Boxing's Ruddy. But that's simply not the case.

It's also not the case that Goldman was any better. We have footage from that era. There were plenty of great fighters and plenty of bad ones. It's not like everyone was a Lomachenko or Rigondeaux.

Plenty of very, very crude fighters made it very far and succeeded Pre-War.


It does help that Marciano came post-War, though. I will admit that if he had come of age anytime after JackJohnson he almost certainly wouldn't have been champion. Even Rocky himself was a failed Baseball player. Most men his age were competing in other sports.


Anyway, there's a reason Boxing has weight classes. The Laws of Physics still apply to Boxing, just as they do everything else in your physical world. Marciano, even if he bulks up, lacks the size and speed to compete with Tyson. Moore, Walcott, Charles - these guys took him to the limit.