Marciano and Generational Bias

[Spicoli]

I dont think it's bias so much as being stuck in what you-we know,what you can put your finger on at the moment.Happens all of the time with past fighters.And in todays media we are a bit spoiled,everything is at the touch of a finger.When you see a fighter....live, his rise and fall and length of entire career,there is nothing like that in the world and every generation thinks that they are seeing the very best....it sticks with you.What we cannot see is whats down the road in relation to the sport.New rules,new divisions,etc etc.We get a general idea but have to wait on that good ol' hindsight.....Maybe I'm off the reservation but by saying Marciano is the best Cruiser its to blur what he was at the time.Cruisers literally did not exist.In stature and in weight,he would have been categorized as one by todays standards but we did not know then what we know now.Times change,we evolve as do sports.Compare ANY athlete of a major sport during the 40's 50's and there is quite a contrast to todays athletes?Shite,off on a ramble here.

[holmcall]

I dont think it's bias so much as being stuck in what you-we know,what you can put your finger on at the moment.Happens all of the time with past fighters.And in todays media we are a bit spoiled,everything is at the touch of a finger.When you see a fighter....live, his rise and fall and length of entire career,there is nothing like that in the world and every generation thinks that they are seeing the very best....it sticks with you.What we cannot see is whats down the road in relation to the sport.New rules,new divisions,etc etc.We get a general idea but have to wait on that good ol' hindsight.....Maybe I'm off the reservation but by saying Marciano is the best Cruiser its to blur what he was at the time.Cruisers literally did not exist.In stature and in weight,he would have been categorized as one by todays standards but we did not know then what we know now.Times change,we evolve as do sports.Compare ANY athlete of a major sport during the 40's 50's and there is quite a contrast to todays athletes?Shite,off on a ramble here.

I don't buy that. I'll concede the heavyweight point, but in a million years will I go so far as to say he was less than the elite when it came or comes to his weight today.

[holmcall]

Am I being truculent?

[jamiebhoy]

I try to keep away from some of the what if this guy fought that guy scenarios as it can drive you as mad as the is there a God question!
But this thread is a bit more of an open question than a direct comparison between two fighters.

I was watching Marciano on the train on the way home last night. I think he was a lot more clever than he often gets credit for , what he lacked in polish he doubled in balls, so he made up for fighting the more stylish fighters by not trying to match them but simply outwork them and by also doing the unexpected like mentioned before he could simply beat your arms to death to get you !

If you look at the usual things like training techniques and nutrition and even the ability to study oponents like you can in the modern era, then I think he holds his own with any of the Cruisers.

[Spicoli]

I dont think it's bias so much as being stuck in what you-we know,what you can put your finger on at the moment.Happens all of the time with past fighters.And in todays media we are a bit spoiled,everything is at the touch of a finger.When you see a fighter....live, his rise and fall and length of entire career,there is nothing like that in the world and every generation thinks that they are seeing the very best....it sticks with you.What we cannot see is whats down the road in relation to the sport.New rules,new divisions,etc etc.We get a general idea but have to wait on that good ol' hindsight.....Maybe I'm off the reservation but by saying Marciano is the best Cruiser its to blur what he was at the time.Cruisers literally did not exist.In stature and in weight,he would have been categorized as one by todays standards but we did not know then what we know now.Times change,we evolve as do sports.Compare ANY athlete of a major sport during the 40's 50's and there is quite a contrast to todays athletes?Shite,off on a ramble here.

I don't buy that. I'll concede the heavyweight point, but in a million years will I go so far as to say he was less than the elite when it came or comes to his weight today.

How'd you get there?My man I'm speaking to the bigger picture,not dismissing the man.What I'm saying is that don't we question him on a broader scale by just re categorizing him?The man was a heavyweight for his era,a great one....but could they ever imagine size wise the top hvys of the last 10 + years.I'm not dismissing him as a fighter on the intangibles but heavyweight are not what they once were.Hence the Marciano vs Holyfield at cruiser ehh?Remember...bigger is not always better

Oh and I like Holyfield by TKO late,many cuts