İ am angry at Rocky Marciano

[TitoFan]

In his prime of course you would have to favor Rocky to whup them all, but at his age at the time it makes the fights a little harder to judge. I think he would stop Patterson & Johanssen. Floyd was quick and powerful, but never durable and the style he used (D'Amato's famous peek-a-boo) was ill equipped to handle a stronger fighter that would bore his way through the defense and back him up (look at how he fared vs Liston twice). Johanssen was a lesser Marciano, he had a good right hand and was a solid fighter and all but he was suseptible to the left hook and if Rocky caught you numerous times with that you were done for. Now Liston was bigger and stronger than Rocky and it would be very difficult for an older Rocky to handle the physicality of Sonny, but remember Sonny's attitude and psyche, he was a bully and when guys stood up to him (and Rocky would do just that) his confidence would start to crumble....I don't know if Rocky could stop Liston or if Sonny would start looking for a way out but it's one of the more interesting fights to think about.

A hypothetical bout between Louis and Liston is also something I think would have been a monumental scrap (Prime vs Prime)

Interesting thread and some very good posts, but I have to question this statement. What on Liston's record leads you to believe this? Other than a loss early in his career... and his two losses to Ali... Liston won every one of his fights, save for his second to last fight, when he lost by KO to Leotis Martin in 1969. Liston was almost 40 by then.

Liston lost to Ali because he had no answer to Ali's boxing prowess and speed. And of course, there are those who think he took a dive in their famous second fight... the one with the "phantom punch". Many think the mob was involved in that one.

Regardless, Marciano had neither Ali's boxing skills nor speed. It would have been a war while it lasted. And while I'm not saying it's 100% sure that Liston would've won (Marciano would always have the puncher's chance).... there's a high probability that the combination of Liston's size, power, and Marciano's age would've done in the great Rocky. Prime against prime.... it may have been a different story.

[El Kabong]

There was no "Phantom Punch"



Right cross on the jaw and down goes Liston


Liston was a bully and bullies don't like the tables turned its just a fact of life

[TitoFan]

....but remember Sonny's attitude and psyche, he was a bully and when guys stood up to him (and Rocky would do just that) his confidence would start to crumble.....

Interesting thread and some very good posts, but I have to question this statement. What on Liston's record leads you to believe this? Other than a loss early in his career... and his two losses to Ali... Liston won every one of his fights, save for his second to last fight, when he lost by KO to Leotis Martin in 1969. Liston was almost 40 by then.

Liston lost to Ali because he had no answer to Ali's boxing prowess and speed. And of course, there are those who think he took a dive in their famous second fight... the one with the "phantom punch". Many think the mob was involved in that one.

Regardless, Marciano had neither Ali's boxing skills nor speed. It would have been a war while it lasted. And while I'm not saying it's 100% sure that Liston would've won (Marciano would always have the puncher's chance).... there's a high probability that the combination of Liston's size, power, and Marciano's age would've done in the great Rocky. Prime against prime.... it may have been a different story.

There was no "Phantom Punch"



Right cross on the jaw and down goes Liston


Liston was a bully and bullies don't like the tables turned its just a fact of life

Forget the "phantom punch". What in Liston's record or past behavior leads you to believe that "....he was a bully and when guys stood up to him (and Rocky would do just that) his confidence would start to crumble...."? And don't give me the standard bully definition..... it wouldn't stand up in court. I would prefer some facts on this one.

[brocktonblockbust]

well hıs demeanor ın the fırst fıght wıth Clay that he threw out hıs sh9oulder seemed lıke a bıt of a quıtter sınce Clay stood up to hımn so well

[TitoFan]

Ali was a totally different fighter than Rocky. Ali baffled and frustrated Liston with his speed and movement. Rocky had no such weapons. It would be a slugfest. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what in Liston's record suggests he would've backed off from a fellow slugger.

[Master]

I think it is agreed then that Rocky probably made the right decision and retired at the time he did because if he fought a Liston then he probably would have been beaten and maybe even stopped.

So Brock you can stop being angry with Rocky.

[TitoFan]

I think it is agreed then that Rocky probably made the right decision and retired at the time he did because if he fought a Liston then he probably would have been beaten and maybe even stopped.

So Brock you can stop being angry with Rocky.

Yes..... because @El Kabong (alias Lyle) was not able to prove that Liston's "confidence would start to crumble" if Rocky were to "stand up to him."