Ok I can appreciate some of those ideas. The will to get up may play a big part and on these occasions we've outlined age seems to be a recurring theme.

I think sometimes though, by no means all, an older version of a warrior can have better punch resistance than their younger self. Particularly big George and Muhammad Ali. I think 2nd career George can take a better punch than younger. Prime George was wobbled, dropped or KO'd by Lyle, Ali and Young. Old George took beatings from Holy and Moorer and Briggs and was not wobbled and took the bombs from Tommy Morrison, a very hard puncher and survived the entire fight without a KD.

Ali of the 60's was basically knocked out if you dis allow extra time by 185lb Henry Cooper. Ali of the 70's with beaten from pillar to post in nearly all of his 70's fights by stronger opponents than in the 60's and won most of them.

The reason I believe is they were both much heavier in their returns than before.

Anyway we cannot reach agreement on Wlad's opponents. I think they are on the whole good oppoenents. Wlad just happens to be so good he can dominate. I see no opponent on Wlad's list since early times that Marciano would be able to survive let alone beat. I don't rate Marciano at all in this era. Of course others share a different view.