Marciano vs the following opposition

**Rusty Tromboni** · 05-17-2020, 06:30 PM

Maybe I'm crazy, but I might pick Marciano to beat Schmeling! It might actually be decisive; competitive, but not indisputable.

Clearly Schmeling is the better fighter (both at their best), if less consistent. He also had the much more impressive showcase. But styles make fights, and size matters.

Think about it:

Basilio beat Robinson (kinda). LaMotta beat Robinson (maybe).

Castillo and Maidana made things miserable for Mayweather.

Godoy gave Louis his toughest test.

Pryor was the man to finally stop Arguello.

Holyfield gave Bowe and Lewis there stiffest test (when they were at their best).

A good pressure fighter, can compensate for a disparity in skill, physical talent and experience.

Baer probably ruins Marciano. But Baer rarely competed at his best, while Marciano rarely was anything less than his best. Maybe, just maybe, Baer fades down the stretch, while Rock surges. Baer was sloppy, so he might not tee-off on Marciano like he did Schmeling and Carnera.

But even in that pitiful performance against Louis, with his broken hands, Baer had a defense that Marciano wouldn't have an answer for.

It's not unimaginable that Marciano could win. But it's definitely a stretch.

Carnera SHOULD be too bug for Marciano. But he wasn't too big for Loughran. Tommy was a shade smaller; much further from his prime; and for as ferocious a puncher Rock was, Tommy was non- descript.

Kinda dismisses any concern about the size disparity, right? Not so fast. Marciano and Loughran were diametrically opposed stylistically. And Tommy beat Carnera by boxing him. Marciano should win. And Carnera might even get laid out, remarkably. A poorman's Willard-Dempsey. But it'll be a hard, long, FOUL-filled fight for King of the Hitalians.

**Rusty Tromboni** · 05-17-2020, 06:42 PM

Sharkey ran hot and cold. At his worst he's a non-entity. At his best he does what Charles couldn't. Marciano was always better in rematches. I dunno if the best Sharkey can consistently beat Marciano. Anyhow, I definitely DO know that Sharkey wasn't consistent and Marciano was. So while I pick Sharkey, it's with a caveat.

Galento won't beat Marciano. But he will give us the best fight. Probably it plays out like an exaggerated and protracted version 9f Louis-Galento. A Heavyweight Gatti-Ward, but with knockdowns and a stoppage. It could be that Marciano suffocates Galento early. So maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I just don't see Galento losing in shame.

Godoy and Farr would have been good picks. I'd favor Marciano to earn a decision in both fights. But a loss wouldn't really be an "upset". Both would easily qualify as the best fighter he ever beat.

**HOUDINI563** · 05-17-2020, 06:51 PM

Rocky beats them all with the possible exception of Schmeling. Thinking about even though Schmeling was technically superior to Marciano he would outwork Max.

Quicksilver* · 05-17-2020, 07:23 PM

Would have lost one of those, not sure which one. Him and baer would be a slugfest.

**Rusty Tromboni** · 05-17-2020, 08:08 PM

Originally posted by HOUDINI563

Rocky beats them all with the possible exception of Schmeling. Thinking about even though Schmeling was technically superior to Marciano he would outwork Max.

He's not beating Baer. It's not even worth entertaining that fight.

How do you propose he beats Sharkey?

**HOUDINI563** · 05-17-2020, 08:18 PM

Marciano certainly beats Baer. Aside from a right hand Baers technical skills were nil. He would not be able to keep Rocky off of him and once in close Baer could do nothing as he needed punching room. Marciano would overwhelm Max late for the win.

Sharkey was extremely inconsistent. In his prime he was in agony because of Dempseys body blows. He would not do better vs Marciano who was a great body puncher. Sharkey does not see round ten.

**Rusty Tromboni** · 05-17-2020, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by HOUDINI563

Marciano certainly beats Baer. Aside from a right hand Baers technical skills were nil. He would not be able to keep Rocky off of him and once in close Baer could do nothing as he needed punching room. Marciano would overwhelm Max late for the win.

Sharkey was extremely inconsistent. In his prime he was in agony because of Dempseys body blows. He would not do better vs Marciano who was a great body puncher. Sharkey does not see round ten.

LMAO! The same could be said of Marciano! In fact, it is!

Baer isn't as bad as he's made out to be. He's bigger than Marciano. More athletic than Marciano. Has a better right hand than Marciano. Feints and moves better than Marciano. Has better defense than Marciano.

Marciano never fought anyone as good as Baer - he struggled with fighters much worse. And he never fought in an era like Baer's which favored a puncher. Obviously, Baer fought better men than Marciano and was comfortable in his own era.

I'm not trying to make Baer into Gene Tunney, of course. Even at his best (did we ever witness it?) Baer was s rough limited fighter. But the Baer of lore is a caricature of the real man, mostly formed by what people remember from the Braddock and Louis fights. And actually, even after those fights he'd resume his brutal dominance. No, not the guy that killed Shaaf, wrecked Carnera and Schmeling, but more impressive than Moore, LaStarza, Walcott and Chales could ever hope to be at that weight.

**Rusty Tromboni** · 05-17-2020, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by HOUDINI563

Marciano certainly beats Baer. Aside from a right hand Baers technical skills were nil. He would not be able to keep Rocky off of him and once in close Baer could do nothing as he needed punching room. Marciano would overwhelm Max late for the win.

Sharkey was extremely inconsistent. In his prime he was in agony because of Dempseys body blows. He would not do better vs Marciano who was a great body puncher. Sharkey does not see round ten.

Marciano wasn't Dempsey. Not even close. Sharkey was winning that fight.

**uncle ben** · 05-18-2020, 12:27 AM

Originally posted by Rusty Tromboni

Maybe I'm crazy, but I might pick Marciano to beat Schmeling! It might actually be decisive; competitive, but not indisputable.

Clearly Schmeling is the better fighter (both at their best), if less consistent. He also had the much more impressive showcase. But styles make fights, and size matters.

Think about it:

Basilio beat Robinson (kinda). LaMotta beat Robinson (maybe).

Castillo and Maidana made things miserable for Mayweather.

Godoy gave Louis his toughest test.

Pryor was the man to finally stop Arguello.

Holyfield gave Bowe and Lewis there stiffest test (when they were at their best).

A good pressure fighter, can compensate for a disparity in skill, physical talent and experience.

Baer probably ruins Marciano. But Baer rarely competed at his best, while Marciano rarely was anything less than his best. Maybe, just maybe, Baer fades down the stretch, while Rock surges. Baer was sloppy, so he might not tee-off on Marciano like he did Schmeling and Carnera.

But even in that pitiful performance against Louis, with his broken hands, Baer had a defense that Marciano wouldn't have an answer for.

It's not unimaginable that Marciano could win. But it's definitely a stretch.

Carnera SHOULD be too bug for Marciano. But he wasn't too big for Loughran. Tommy was a shade smaller; much further from his prime; and for as ferocious a puncher Rock was, Tommy was non- descript.

Kinda dismisses any concern about the size disparity, right? Not so fast. Marciano and Loughran were diametrically opposed stylistically. And Tommy beat Carnera by boxing him. Marciano should win. And Carnera might even get laid out, remarkably. A poorman's Willard-Dempsey. But it'll be a hard, long, FOUL-filled fight for King of the Hitalians.

You forgot Tony Galento

Marciano vs the following opposition