Thread: Marciano vs Floyd Patterson 1956?? vs Sonny Liston 1957-8?

As far as I hear Marciano said the Archie Moore fight ruined his back for good. Moore's style to blame for that, all the mongoosing he was doing. Although Rocky said he felt he had 2 or 3 more good fights left in him, it sure woulda been interesting watching him fight a really young and up and coming Floyd Patterson. Do you think Floyd was too quick and leaping for the slower Marciano? Or would it have been like LIston destroying Patterson? Was Rocky over the hill at that point? And if he's beaten Patterson, who woulda been next? INgemaar Johannsen? That woulda been an interesting fight as well. But thats about as far as I can see Marciano going, like he said, 2 or 3 more good fights. He coulda fought well intto 1957, even to the start of 1958 but I think that's far enough. What do you think? Was Sonny LIston around to get a title shot in 1957-8??

Rocky wanted to fight Ingemaar in his comeback fight...that would have been tough but if he still had his power and stamina he would have taken it by KO IMO. Patterson had really fast hands and good pop, but he couldn't take a punch and I think that would have been his undoing vs Rocky...GREAT style matchup. Rocky's Suzy Q and Left hook, right uppercut combo along with his constant pressure would be prefect to use against Patterson who had the Cus D'Mato peek-a-boo style, but wasn't as physically strong or imposing as Tyson. Liston in 57-58 would have been just too big for Rocky and Rocky would have been too old to fight in his style effectively...I think at that point in time Liston bludgeons Rocky out in 5, maybe 7 due to Rocky being so damn tough. Prime for Prime I think Rocky-Liston is a much more fair fight.

The only problem Marciano would've had with either Patterson or Johannsson would have been ring rust; a prime Marciano gets Inegmar out in one or two rounds and Patterson in 5-6. About ten days ago I watched the Patterson/Ingo trilogy on ESPN Classics and, frankly, they sucked. Really sucked. I forget who it was that said they looked like two old women fighting over a clothesline, but he nailed it. Especially the third fight.
By the time Liston came around, Marciano was too old. In his prime, I think Marciano wins. I don't think the jab was the way to beat Marciano, and neither did three of the smartest fighters around (Moore, Walcott, Charles).

Liston is a bad fight for rocky , he is much bigger with massive reach advantages.
Rocky beats Floyd .

I don't know some one with warse reach than Rocky Joe Louises jab hasn't stopped him so why will Listons? For size Liston wasn't bigger than Joe he has only langer arms.
With his size and going that low to hit Marciano is really difficult task! The only weapon of Floyd, his left hook, will make him go in the power of Rocky... Plus as Archie Moore said it was almost imposiible to land a left hook on Rocky. I see the fight Floyd running the first round and the second when he tries something he gets KO fast!

Marcinao was tough to beat evn at age 45, ask Ali who said his arms were black and blue and shoulders sore for several ays after Marcinao simply toyed with him in the computr match.

Sonny beat Rocky so does Floyd.

Liston was too big and too powerful for Marciano.

Patterson was quick and a good boxer, but as others have said, he had a weak chin.

Ingemar Johanason was a bit of a one hit wonder, so gotta favor Marciano over those two.

liston was bigger thats true, and very powerful. but do you think liston could take it to the body the way Marciano would deliver the punishment? i think Rocky hit much harder than Liston.

I've never been that sold on Liston as a great fighter, maybe because I've really only seen his later career when he didn't look like much. He lost to Marty Marshall early on. I don't know if he could deal with being pressured by a guy that didn't believe that he could lose.

i agree. i am a huge Marcinao fan and i wish there wasnt this "Marciano never fought anybody good" crap. he wiped the floor with everybody he fought. what else do they expect him to do? as for listone, it would be a great fight and Rocky may even go down once, who knows even twice, but liston would tire and ROCKY WOULD NOT TIRE. and that is the icing on the sfogliatella---Marcinao just never got tired, i think he could wear down anybody.

Liston's record isn't exactly filled with household names, until the end, and then most of them beat him.

sonny is 1 of those guys that for me has this aura of sadness about him. i could picture his ghost haunting the hotel in vegas. sonny liston, damn damn good fighter and had a real tough life. always liked sonny.

brocktonblockbust i am with you on the subject! Sonny was really gifted physically and he boxed technikal. As Forman sayed he was the only one who could push him back!
The way Rocky is build makes him difficults to be overpowered. With this natural thik legs and short limbs i think he was extreamly powerful by nature.
For me this dream match would have reviewed the deffensive skills of thouse big bangers