Rocky Marciano is very overrated IMO

[Willow The Wisp]

Iam not so sure. I think Muhammad Ali was more naturally talented and a prime Ali would have given Fury a real fight with Ali being the favourite? .

Certainly, I agree. That and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee.

[Richard]

Certainly, I agree. That and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee.

Cut the sarcasm my friend and smell the real coffee. Iam not denying Fury has very good boxing ability as he does but take away that size of his and he looses a fair bit as a fighter. Oleksandr Usyk is another one who many in boxing feel is more naturally able than Fury but lacks the size which is why Fury is the favourite in their proposed upcoming fight ?.

[Lomadeaux]

Ive read differing things about Marciano though. Boxing Journalists and others weren't sure of him initially eg looked awkward and didn't have the natural talent others had eg Archie Moore. What Marciano did have and I give him credit was a great punch and spirit.

He had a frightening worry of losing. His determination was unmatched and he'd walk through hell to become the victor. He also hit like a ton of bricks.

[Richard]

He had a frightening worry of losing. His determination was unmatched and he'd walk through hell to become the victor. He also hit like a ton of bricks.

Fair points . Again from reading a boxing book written on him I only wish Marciano fought more quality guys in their primes and for a fair while was cleverly matched to maintain that unbeaten record and keep the aura of invincibility about him ?.

[Lomadeaux]

Fair points . Again from reading a boxing book written on him I only wish Marciano fought more quality guys in their primes and for a fair while was cleverly matched to maintain that unbeaten record and keep the aura of invincibility about him ?.

You can only fight who ever is in your era. That's why it's important to fight the best and not avoid like so many fighters do now. There's zero reason why guys like Tank haven't fought the best out there.

To think modern fighters would be able to deal with the fighters of the past is insanity. The be the best back then you had to be better than probably 20-25 times more competition. In local tournaments you'd often have to fight 2, 3, maybe 4 times a night each day of the tournament. You're only allowed to fight once a day in the amateurs now and they can get through a tournament in a weekend. Certain committees will spread it out over the course of a few weeks but it's just not like it used to be. Competition was fierce. It was boxing and baseball. All of todays athletes in America are trying to get to the NFL and the NBA.

[Richard]

All of todays athletes in America are trying to get to the NFL and the NBA.

Huge shame for me .Iam not American or live there but I've read boxing books/autobiography's when the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Frazier use to bring their neighbourhoods to a standstill when people listened in to the wireless. How boxing should be as in my view its the best sport out there. For me politics and all the belts now has watered down and affected how the general public views boxing which has lost its pristine allure sadly now .

[Lomadeaux]

Huge shame for me .Iam not American or live there but I've read boxing books/autobiography's when the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Frazier use to bring their neighbourhoods to a standstill when people listened in to the wireless. How boxing should be as in my view its the best sport out there. For me politics and all the belts now has watered down and affected how the general public views boxing which has lost its pristine allure sadly now .

Yea it's a shame...

[Willow The Wisp]

Cut the sarcasm my friend and smell the real coffee. Iam not denying Fury has very good boxing ability as he does but take away that size of his and he looses a fair bit as a fighter. Oleksandr Usyk is another one who many in boxing feel is more naturally able than Fury but lacks the size which is why Fury is the favourite in their proposed upcoming fight ?.

Oh no my friend, not Sarcasm at all. The Coffee comment is just an old expression; used there to point out that few people on THIS board care much about what I think (or about what anybody here thinks, lol). I'm agreeing with you, that as good as the still in process Tyson Fury is thought to be at this time (And I personally believe that he's a great), I've seem nothing of him to make me think that Ali wouldn't have beaten him to the punch again and again and again and again! Bust the big man up for a late stoppage would be my guess. Size is just like strength, speed, power, durability, even skill. As single elements they only get you so far.
Not far enough for Fury to beat a 1966-74 Ali IMO.
So do you know much about the Cestus clad hands of that bronze statue you have in your profile image there? Brinkmann's supposed Amykos depiction or the real life depiction of the great Satyros of Elis, one of antiquity's formost Heavyweight Champions

[Bundana]

You can only fight who ever is in your era. That's why it's important to fight the best and not avoid like so many fighters do now. There's zero reason why guys like Tank haven't fought the best out there.

To think modern fighters would be able to deal with the fighters of the past is insanity. The be the best back then you had to be better than probably 20-25 times more competition. In local tournaments you'd often have to fight 2, 3, maybe 4 times a night each day of the tournament. You're only allowed to fight once a day in the amateurs now and they can get through a tournament in a weekend. Certain committees will spread it out over the course of a few weeks but it's just not like it used to be. Competition was fierce. It was boxing and baseball. All of todays athletes in America are trying to get to the NFL and the NBA.

I'm confused!

Are you talking about amateur or pro boxing - or both?

When did boxers have to go through 20-25 times more competition to reach the top, than today?

[Lomadeaux]

I'm confused!

Are you talking about amateur or pro boxing - or both?

When did boxers have to go through 20-25 times more competition to reach the top, than today?

Both. 80's competition was still fierce but that's is when it started to taper off.