Were all Marciano's fights on the level

**brocktonblockbust** · 11-01-2014 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

Originally Posted by IamInuit

Marciano arguably fought in the weakest era in heavyweight history not including the grappling era although Dempsey is right on the fringe of grappling and he ducked every black man of his era. The only prime heavyweight Marciano ever fought was Lastarza and he barely beat him the first time. He struggled with a Walcott who was about ten years out of his prime, almost got beat by a shop worn Charles and beat up grandfather Louis.

I don't know about Walcott. He was a better fighter later than he was in his prime, I think, and, for a guy that lost a bunch of fights, he was a pretty good fighter. Slick, tricky, and he could hit real well, too. It doesn't suprise me that he gave Marciano hell in the first fight. The educatinal difference would explain that. Walcott was a clever fighter with a lot of experince; Marciano started late and was winning on power and conditioning and heart.
Goldman was making him into a pretty good fighter but, by then, Marciano was no kid himself. I don' think that people take into account two things about Marciano. First, that he started late and advanced very quickly. His boxing smarts were not his own; they came from Charley Goldman and Marciano had to think as he implemented them. Second, he fought some brilliant guys. The boxing IQs of Charles (the best of all time, in my eyes), Walcott, and Moore were off the charts. Joe Louis was nobody's fool and he had Blackburn, like Marciano had Goldman.
ANY young guy with the limited experience/boxing background of Marciano fighting those guys is going to school. That he beat them is a testament to incredible will and conditioning, and some smarts of his own because he learned what Goldman taught pretty quick and was at least halfway slick himself by the time he retired.

how about a 50 year old with no wear and tear?

no smoking or drinking, eating only heavy vegetables and olive oil and fruits and drinking 3 liters of water a day? Could he have any chance? I just need to lose 40 pounds and learn how to step, I don't understand how to step. I dont understand how to step with my feet. If I could learn that, I can knock anyone out in my weight class.