Thread: Rocky Marciano would crush Mike Spinks

Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

No way out for "timid" Michael Spunks in this one. He'd be quaking in his boots no different than how he quaked in his boots vs Tyson.

Marciano was just as intimidating.

Marciano KO 4

Do elite black fighters in the prime ever lose to white fighters ? I can't think of many, if any times that has happened. But in regards to this fight. I'm not sure, meaning, I'm not sure how good Marciano was. I think he was either great or rubbish. No in between. All you know is that he was great in his era. That's all you can say about him.

Would he have beaten a young Cassius Clay ? Depends. You could say if Henry Cooper could catch up and floor Clay heavily then you'd think Rocky could do the same. But then you could also say if if an old Jersey Joe Walcott could outbox Rocky and be way ahead on points until he was knocked out in the 13th round, then you'd think Clay or Spinks could finish the job off.

But the fight would be fought on the outside, with clay winging and slashing and busting up Rocky. But the key to any fight Rocky is in, is whether he can control the range. If he could control the range in a fight with Clay or Spinks, that is, could he get under the jab ? stay out of range of the jabs then dart in and out, then it could get interesting. With a lot of old time fighter like Rocky and Joe Louis they did not move their feet as much.

I just think fighters like Clay and even Spinks would have been too athletic for Rocky, gave him too much movement, but I again, I don't think they would have been able to hurt Rocky. I don't think they hit hard enough to stop Rocky coming forward. So it would have been an interesting fight.

Ezzard Charles was 32 when he fought Marciano. That isn't very old.

Joe Louis was 37. Is that old when fighting a "bum" like Marciano(as some people in history have considered him).. 37 is not old for an all time great HW.

you're right Clay and Spinks could not hurt Marciano. I think he could get under the jab. I think his unorthodox stance would frustrate the living shit out of Clay"s flicking jab. I think Marciano had the perfect style to fight Clay. Clay would land FUCK-ALL jabs or hooks. Marciano on the back foot and punching up from the floor.

Joe was 137 years old!

Originally Posted by Master

Joe was 137 years old!

I love that scene.

No but seriously. Larry Holmes fought prime Tyson at 38. Holmes fought 10 more years after that. George Foreman was just shy of 50 when Briggs got that shit decision. Klitschko is 40. Etc etc.

Ezzard Charles was 32. Joe Louis 37. Archie Moore 38. Joe Walcott 38. Yes they most of them past their prime but hardly old men! Roland LA Starza 27. Don't Cockell 26.

Let's not exaggerate here. Walcott had Marciano DOWN AND OUT with HUGE POWER PUNCHES right on the button.

Round one. He should have finished him, no? Round one. Fresh as a daisy, even a 38 year old. Round one. What's his excuse? He was too old for round one? But not too old to decapitate Marciano like he almost did.

Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

Originally Posted by Master

Joe was 137 years old!

I love that scene.

No but seriously. Larry Holmes fought prime Tyson at 38. Holmes fought 10 more years after that. George Foreman was just shy of 50 when Briggs got that shit decision. Klitschko is 40. Etc etc.

Ezzard Charles was 32. Joe Louis 37. Archie Moore 38. Joe Walcott 38. Yes they most of them past their prime but hardly old men! Roland LA Starza 27. Don't Cockell 26.

Let's not exaggerate here. Walcott had Marciano DOWN AND OUT with HUGE POWER PUNCHES right on the button.

Round one. He should have finished him, no? Round one. Fresh as a daisy, even a 38 year old. Round one. What's his excuse? He was too old for round one? But not too old to decapitate Marciano like he almost did.

Yea but they did not have the shit we have today that can prolong a fighters career and the nutrition as well 38 and 36 was old way back then dude. As for Charles i have heard accounts of him showing early signs of asl which would latter kill him so he was not in greatest of shape dude.

37 was very old in those days it was like being 103 now, listen to the barber!

It's not just the nutrition and training stuff, but the nature of boxing back then. None of those guys had the luxury of preserving their body and taking full training camps for every fight.. 38 in Walcotts case was clearly very old.

I have no idea how Marciano would have handled Michael Spinks, they both could have easily been great cruiserweights and that probably would have been a hell of a fight there. I don't think the Tyson fight has that much bearing, but I also feel Iron Mike would have pummeled and stopped Marciano.

Tyson at 222 vs Rocky at 186.

Seems a mismatch, 40 pounds difference.

Not to mention when fighters have had 50 to 100 bouts because they have to feed them and there families the wear and tear on guys in the 50's was rough. Now fighters after they become champs fight a few times a year and have a lot of time to recover from the fights before hand.

Originally Posted by Mr140

Not to mention when fighters have had 50 to 100 bouts because they have to feed them and there families the wear and tear on guys in the 50's was rough. Now fighters after they become champs fight a few times a year and have a lot of time to recover from the fights before hand.

Yeah that and more brutal habits in the ring: acceptable rabbit shits, karate Chops, back hands, elbows, "wrist bone" shots as @Andre called them, thumbing, no neutral corner rule, 15 plus rounds, no standing 8, no stopping a fight etc...

Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

Tyson at 222 vs Rocky at 186.

Seems a mismatch, 40 pounds difference.

As was Tyson vs Spinks.

Yes Brock we know. And in your world the Rock would fight crime, win a Noble Peace Prize, win an Oscar and cure cancer. But I believe Spinks would beat the Brockton Blockbuster by TKO on cuts.

Originally Posted by jon09

Yes Brock we know. And in your world the Rock would fight crime, win a Noble Peace Prize, win an Oscar and cure cancer. But I believe Spinks would beat the Brockton Blockbuster by TKO on cuts.

Spinks would bow out after a few crushing body shots. He would be wincing every time Marciano unleashed. Spinks would last until late, maybe Round 10, 11 but Marciano hunts his ASS DOWN AND LOWERS THE BOOM. NO ESCAPING IT. Granite chinned Rocky would withstand the light-hitting Spinks all night long.