Rocky Marciano sucks for not fighting 3 more times

[El Kabong]

I believe he was looking to make Johansson his comeback fight. He could have taken Ingmar and Floyd Patterson even if he was a step or two slower.

[Master]

Stop pretending that you do not rate Rocky as an ATG because we know you do. You are just trying to stop criticism that you are selectively picking on certain fighters like Joe Calzaghe, when your own hero was lucky to retire undefeated. I see it, we all see it so lets stop this nonsense, you know he was not able to beat Patterson because he was too old, management issues and back problems.

[brocktonblockbust]

I believe he was looking to make Johansson his comeback fight. He could have taken Ingmar and Floyd Patterson even if he was a step or two slower.

I quite agree. Even a glancing shot from "old" 32 year Rocky would KO Patterson into oblivion.

As for Johanssen, that would ve been a great fight, I think Rocky would crumple him with a body shot in about the 5th.

[bradlee180]

32 year old champ Rocky Marciano announced retirement in 1956.

Sonny Liston turned pro in '53,
was 14 wins and 1 loss(avenged) by '56,
jail and boxing ban mid-'56 to '57,
back to boxing in 1958.

What could have been?

I don't think the Rock would have been prime anymore in 1958 at 34 years old.
In 1956 the Rock had substantial lower back pain which was a major cause for his retirement (in addition to not having any real challengers anymore and no big money fight on the horizon.)

Some points to consider:
The Rock absolutely had the power in his right hand to put out even Sonny Liston if he hit him right on the chin. The Rock could take a helluva shot. The Rock did not get frustrated and kept working at cutting down his more skilled opponents late in the fight. Competitive heart and mentally TOUGH!
Marciano would NOT have been scared of Liston, and intimidation/fear were a big part of Liston's arsenal. There is the Rock's bad back by 1956 though, this for a crouching fighter.

It would've been a great fight.



No way in hell that a young 21 year old Patterson with no chin could have ever beaten a guy like Marciano. Patterson's much better than he's given credit for nowadays, and he's got an impressive highlight reel worth watching for any boxing fan, but there's no way he would have ever beaten Marciano.


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