Thread: Comparing the careers of Joe Calzaghe + Rocky Marciano

Hey guys, wondered what you thought about the comparison of Calzaghe and Marciano in regards to their rise and subsequent retirement through the boxing world.

Both Marciano and Calzaghe rose quickly through the ranks but at a time when all the top level boxers were on their last legs and on their ascendancy, each fought a boxing legend on their way out of the sport, Joe Louis and Chris Eubank.

Then after spending the majority of their career's fight relative nobodies, they hit their peak and make their name before eventually retiring after fighting more over the hill legends such as Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Bernard Hopkins + Roy Jones Jr.

Thoughts?

Theres no comparison.
Marciano= all-time great
calzaghe= not all-time great

Yup their careers are pretty comparable - However i hate to say it...Calzaghe did fight 1 top level fighter in his prime in Mikkel Kessler. Lacy doesn't count, he struggled with Manfredo (another of Calzaghe's impressive wins on route to legendary status along with Mario Viet x 2)

But yeah, in general both of their undefeated records are pretty shitty

i have never been impressed with marciano, he wouldnt make my top 30 heavyweights of all time where as calzaghe would defo be in top 5 super middleweights (i know SM weight not been around as long but there has been some good fighters at that weight).

Originally Posted by Drago

i have never been impressed with marciano, he wouldnt make my top 30 heavyweights of all time where as calzaghe would defo be in top 5 super middleweights (i know SM weight not been around as long but there has been some good fighters at that weight).

I'm with you. As much as I love the Rock for his heart, toughness, and power, I've always felt that he is severely overrated due to his record. To be truthful, he and Calzaghe are both comparable because they both fought in a relatively weak period of their divisions, and the majority of the class opponents they fought were well passed their prime.

Rocky, IMHO, came around at the right time, because IMO a prime Louis beats the hell out of him and a prime Liston smashes him up bad.

Joe Calzaghe was a tremendous fighter but IMO he gets absolutely outclassed by a prime Roy Jones, either at SMW or LHW.

Marciano would knock his opponents unconscious;

Calzaghe would slap his opponents silly.

Wow really ? i'd love to know 29 other Heavyweights that rank higher than Rocky Marciano, also most of the great fighters skipped the Super Middleweight division.

Originally Posted by Drago

i have never been impressed with marciano, he wouldnt make my top 30 heavyweights of all time where as calzaghe would defo be in top 5 super middleweights (i know SM weight not been around as long but there has been some good fighters at that weight).

that's a freakin ridiculous conclusion to make about Marciano. An old Charles and Walcott were still great fighters when he fought them

x2

Originally Posted by ICB

Wow really ? i'd love to know 29 other Heavyweights that rank higher than Rocky Marciano, also most of the great fighters skipped the Super Middleweight division.