Vitali Klitschko vs. Rocky Marciano

[Scott9945]

The size difference is just too much. And let's not draw comparisons between Vitali and Valuev. I mean, it's like arguing a battleship is the same as an ocean liner because they are both big and can float.

Vitali is a tough proposition. For anyone - including the likes of Frazier, Liston, Holmes, Ali and Foreman.

I'm not saying he beats those guys, but he'd certainly give all of them something to think about.

A fifty pound disadvantage against some tomato can is achievable. Look at Haye vs Valuev (okay, he's not a bum - but he's no Sonny Liston either). But twelve (or fifteen) rounds against a guy who hits hard enough to stagger Lennox Lewis (whose chin was, contrary to popular opinion, rock solid when his mind was on the job) and who can take a fully powered Lewis uppercut on the button and still stand up is just not realistic.

Quick experiment: find someone who is taller than you and just thirty pounds heavier - and then get him to lean on you for three minutes. It's exhausting. Marciano would be a physical wreck by the middle rounds and Vitali would simply jab him to death.

And this is no K-nuthugger speaking.

Excellent comments. Hopefully you won't be labeled a "size whore".

[Holtol]

Quick experiment: find someone who is taller than you and just thirty pounds heavier - and then get him to lean on you for three minutes. It's exhausting. Marciano would be a physical wreck by the middle rounds and Vitali would simply jab him to death.

And this is no K-nuthugger speaking.

Some one who is taller and bigger is not going to have more endurance then someone who is shorter and lighter. The volume of blood the heart has to pump to the muscles in a bigger man is much greater. The heart and lungs have to work much harder to supply oxgen to the muscles.

You don't have to let a big man lean on you all night either. Marciano is not going to just hold Vitali's weight up for him all night. Vitali would end up having to manipulate his own weight Marciano would not do it for him. Vitali's wieght would tire Vitali out not Marciano. Marciano was also a very good grappler he would not fall for such a simple trick.

[winky's right]

Some one who is taller and bigger is not going to have more endurance then someone who is shorter and lighter. The volume of blood the heart has to pump to the muscles in a bigger man is much greater. The heart and lungs have to work much harder to supply oxgen to the muscles.

You don't have to let a big man lean on you all night either. Marciano is not going to just hold Vitali's weight up for him all night. Vitali would end up having to manipulate his own weight Marciano would not do it for him. Vitali's wieght would tire Vitali out not Marciano. Marciano was also a very good grappler he would not fall for such a simple trick.

So you're arguing that Vitali's size would actually be a disadvantage in this match-up? Interesting..

[Holtol]

So you're arguing that Vitali's size would actually be a disadvantage in this match-up? Interesting..

There are advantages and disadvantages in everything. What matters is who utlizes their advantages the best.

When I was a boy I had a yorkshire terrier that only wieghed about 12 pounds. I was walking Jimmy down the road one day and from across someones yard a Rottweiler came charging, about 100 pounds muscles rippling and in its prime. It came right at Jimmy and me full of aggresion and lowered his head to likely tear my dog in half. But as the Rottweiler lowered his head Jimmy jumped up and bit down into the top of the Rottweilers head. And did not let go.

I had never really thought of it before but when a dog as small as my dog bites onto the top of a big dogs head. The big dog can not get it off because his mouth has litterly nothing to bite but air. Jimmy just heald on to the top of the Rottweilers head and did not let go. The owner and me eventually were able to get Jimmy off but it actually took a long time. And at one point I had to kick my dog to get him off.

The Rottweiler later died of some sort of serious infection for some reason dogs can not bite dogs or humans bite humans for some reason there is a risk of a serious infection.

Thats one exsample of something small having an advantage over something that is big. There are many others also it is just one exsample that played out in my life that I found interesting.

[JAB5239]

I'd be rooting for Marciano but betting on Vitaly. In terms of greatness.....it isn't even close.

[winky's right]

There are advantages and disadvantages in everything. What matters is who utlizes their advantages the best.

When I was a boy I had a yorkshire terrier that only wieghed about 12 pounds. I was walking Jimmy down the road one day and from across someones yard a Rottweiler came charging, about 100 pounds muscles rippling and in its prime. It came right at Jimmy and me full of aggresion and lowered his head to likely tear my dog in half. But as the Rottweiler lowered his head Jimmy jumped up and bit down into the top of the Rottweilers head. And did not let go.

I had never really thought of it before but when a dog as small as my dog bites onto the top of a big dogs head. The big dog can not get it off because his mouth has litterly nothing to bite but air. Jimmy just heald on to the top of the Rottweilers head and did not let go. The owner and me eventually were able to get Jimmy off but it actually took a long time. And at one point I had to kick my dog to get him off.

The Rottweiler later died of some sort of serious infection for some reason dogs can not bite dogs or humans bite humans for some reason there is a risk of a serious infection.

Thats one exsample of something small having an advantage over something that is big. There are many others also it is just one exsample that played out in my life that I found interesting.

It's one thing to say that size is a detriment in some circumstances; it's another to say that it is advantageous for Rocky to be 5'10 187lbs against a 2'8 250lb Vitali.

I'd be rooting for Marciano but betting on Vitaly. In terms of greatness.....it isn't even close.

Thanks for your objectivity, that's what I've always liked about your posts. I agree that Vitali is a hard match-up for Rocky.

[Holtol]

It's one thing to say that size is a detriment in some circumstances; it's another to say that it is advantageous for Rocky to be 5'10 187lbs against a 6'8 250lb Viali

There are advantages and disadvantages in everything. What matters is who utilizes their advantages the best.

What I meant is that there are advantages to all different sorts of body types. For instance Marciano had short arms they can be an advantage though and Marciano made an advantage out of having short arms. Also smaller people have more stamina then big people look at the weights of long distance runners or cyclists. I never meant that Marciano is automatically better because he is smaller. I was just pointing out some of the advantages of Marciano's body type compared to Vitali's.

[Barn]

The size difference is just too much. And let's not draw comparisons between Vitali and Valuev. I mean, it's like arguing a battleship is the same as an ocean liner because they are both big and can float.

Vitali is a tough proposition. For anyone - including the likes of Frazier, Liston, Holmes, Ali and Foreman.
.

Ali, Liston Foreman, Holmes would all beat Vitali.

Im not as confident with Frazier although I do believe he would get the KO.

[The_Demon]

People also need too take into consideration just how weak Vitalis resume is,its almost a moot point but he really hasnt beaten anybody too get excited about,which is part of the reason he has such a high KO ratio and often looks good in winning,the two guys of note on his record are Byrd and Lewis,funny that dont you think

[jimmy1569]

Klitschko just flat-out isn't a puncher, though. His brother, yes, but size doesn't mean all that much if you don't know how to properly generate power, & Klitschko simply does not. He doesn't have that talent, & his actual punching technique is infamously poor. When you throw in how deep he's throwing down at a sub-6' rival who is fighting out of a crouch, I just cannot see this argument that Klitschko is going to badly batter & bruise Marciano.

If Klitschko wins (& he may very well), it's a decision all the way based on fighting tall well & leaning on Marciano, in addition to using his jab as much as he can. I don't think he'd get near to stopping Marciano.

I stopped reading at Klitschko "don't know how to properly generate power"
Ask every one of his knockout victims if they take homage to that assinine comment of yours.

For all of you's picking the Rock.... gimme some of what y'all are smoking as I 'd like to get high myself. Any version of Vitali would utterly destroy Rocky Marciano. The Rock was easy to hit..doesn't have any special defensive abilities so Klitschko would NOT be missing the target. Let Rocky go to the crouch....he'll be met by debillitating jabs he's never had the luxury of facing before. How much reach did Rocky have..he'd literally fall over throwing a telegraphed left from left field.... Rocky Balboa has a better chance to pull the upset.