What was Marciano's best performance?

[brocktonblockbust]

from 1953 (Liston's 1st fight) til Marciano retired, Sonny Liston fought opponents with a combined record of 131-77-23. I wouldnt call that great enough competition to be able to deal with the Rock. Then from 1956 til the end of 1958 (Marciano would never have fought beyond Fall 1956/Spring 1957) Sonny Liston's opponents' records were 153-89-12. He didnt fight anybody decent until April 1959 in Cleveland Williams. So if he had fought Marciano say in Spring 1956, he would have had a very poor chance of winning. He wasn't ready to face the Rock, nor was Floyd Patterson.

[CutMeMick]

For my likings the 1st LaStarza fight was amazing.

[brocktonblockbust]

yeah some people swear Roland won it.

[CutMeMick]

yeah some people swear Roland won it.

It was pretty damn close...
I felt Rocky closed off the fight slightly better than LaStarza.

[rjj tszyu]

from 1953 (Liston's 1st fight) til Marciano retired, Sonny Liston fought opponents with a combined record of 131-77-23. I wouldnt call that great enough competition to be able to deal with the Rock. Then from 1956 til the end of 1958 (Marciano would never have fought beyond Fall 1956/Spring 1957) Sonny Liston's opponents' records were 153-89-12. He didnt fight anybody decent until April 1959 in Cleveland Williams. So if he had fought Marciano say in Spring 1956, he would have had a very poor chance of winning. He wasn't ready to face the Rock, nor was Floyd Patterson.

Liston VS Marciano could have been great BUT, I think too many read too much into Liston from his domination of Patterson. Patterson was tailor made for Liston and I think he would have been the same for Rocky too. I think Rockys ability to take a shot would have broken Listons heart and I think his power would have hurt Liston too.

I remember seeing an old clip of Liston on Rockys old TV program and it looked like they were on the verge of scrapping on the set. Rock certainly didn't look in the slightest bit worried about Liston like many of his opponents seemed to be.

[brocktonblockbust]

would have loved to see that man. I say if Ali could smoke Liston with that backward-moving anchor punch, then Marciano would KILL him with even a glancing Suzie-Q!!

[rjj tszyu]

would have loved to see that man. I say if Ali could smoke Liston with that backward-moving anchor punch, then Marciano would KILL him with even a glancing Suzie-Q!!

I don't know about you but I think Tyson and Liston had similarities in the fact that when things were going well for them they seemed virtually invincible, but if a talented fighter stood up to them and showed they weren't afraid they just seemed to fold as the fight went on.

[brocktonblockbust]

absolutely, rjj tszyu. I agree. Its called the Bully Syndrome. Once you crack their delicate ego, they collapse like the WTC buildings which, by the way, WAS AN INSIDE JOB.

The Rock would take Liston's shots and return fire. Sonny would be puzzled for sure, I can see him in the 3rd or 4th round start to mentally unravel. Rocky would devastate him to the body. Marciano KO5. For a short bit it may have been a precursor to Foreman/Lyle.

[Master]

I heard the rumour that Rocky could have carried on but wanted to retire because of contractual issues, wife nagging and not the bad back.

[brocktonblockbust]

screw that wife then, that Goombah shoulda known better than to marry an Irish
just joking okay fellas

He DID have a fucked up back though. Charlie Goldman said : "After the Moore fight, Rocky was at his hotel in Manhattan and around midnight he calls me up and he says 'Charlie, I'm done. My back is shot. I can't even bend it.' So I told him to get some sleep and we'd talk about it the next day."

No doubt Archie Moore had Marciano bobbing and weaving so much his back simply gave out. You know that style of fighting like Marciano of Frazier, those motherfuckers don't last too long, there's too much work to constantly get inside, ducking and getting low to the floor, it must tear the fuck out of their lower back after a few years. Archie had a lot to do with it. Rocky was throwong like 110 punches a round in that fight from the 6th round to the 9th. And he was missing like 70% of the shots because of Moore's defense.

I truly believe his back may indeed have suffered a setback in that fight. But Goldman demanding 50% of everything surely discouraged him as well from continuing.

Would have loved to see him fight a 1956 Liston. By 1957 I think Patterson would have been too quick and too much for him, since he woulda been 34 almost at that point. I dont see a 34 year old Marciano beating what, a 23 year old Floyd Jumpin' Patterson.