Is Rocky Marciano relevant today...

[John Cameron]

With the advent of UFC and its offshoots, plus the lack of real talent in the heavyweight division today do you feel that Rocky Marciano is unknown or overlooked to all but the die hard boxing fan or at least known only to those over a certain age...

[imp]

With the advent of UFC and its offshoots, plus the lack of real talent in the heavyweight division today do you feel that Rocky Marciano is unknown or overlooked to all but the die hard boxing fan or at least known only to those over a certain age...

Rocky was a great undefeated heavyweight but there were many ties and rumours about his mafia connections so who knows how many fights he should have won or lost.
Obviously, he was a great fighter but prime for prime he would not have beaten johnson, lennox or tyson and he even tommy gun would give him problems.

[Dark Lord Al]

you can only be as good as your era.

[Mars_ax]

With the advent of UFC and its offshoots, plus the lack of real talent in the heavyweight division today do you feel that Rocky Marciano is unknown or overlooked to all but the die hard boxing fan or at least known only to those over a certain age...

Rocky was a great undefeated heavyweight but there were many ties and rumours about his mafia connections so who knows how many fights he should have won or lost.
Obviously, he was a great fighter but prime for prime he would not have beaten johnson, lennox or tyson and he even tommy gun would give him problems.

Please feel free to correct me if i'm wrong imp, but I've read tons of literature about Marciano, and other then him being an Italiano, I don't recall much of anything about Rocky having mob/mafia connections.

[greynotsoold]

With the advent of UFC and its offshoots, plus the lack of real talent in the heavyweight division today do you feel that Rocky Marciano is unknown or overlooked to all but the die hard boxing fan or at least known only to those over a certain age...

Rocky was a great undefeated heavyweight but there were many ties and rumours about his mafia connections so who knows how many fights he should have won or lost.
Obviously, he was a great fighter but prime for prime he would not have beaten johnson, lennox or tyson and he even tommy gun would give him problems.

I've read extensively about Marciano, several books, numerous magazine stories, from a variety of sources, written when he was champ, over the course of all the years since, and I have NEVER read of him having Mafia ties. I have NEVER read that any of his wins may have been 'fixed', and I cannot recall the suggestion ever having been made.

[El Kabong]

With the advent of UFC and its offshoots, plus the lack of real talent in the heavyweight division today do you feel that Rocky Marciano is unknown or overlooked to all but the die hard boxing fan or at least known only to those over a certain age...

You can fuck right off with that talk! "Lack of real talent in the heavyweight division"....horse shit! Lack of depth, yes, but the Klitschko's have plenty of talent.

No one ever in the history of MMA or UFC will EVER achieve anything close to what Rocky Marciano accomplished in boxing.

[Mars_ax]

With the advent of UFC and its offshoots, plus the lack of real talent in the heavyweight division today do you feel that Rocky Marciano is unknown or overlooked to all but the die hard boxing fan or at least known only to those over a certain age...

Marciano is one of those Heavyweight greats along with Johnson, Jefferies, Dempsey, Louis, Ali, et al, who will never be forgotten. As for the UFC, it's still "green" and unlike Pro Boxing, it remains to be seen if it will stand the test of time.

[Gandalf]

He was of his era and eras ultimately shape history. He isn't relevant today, but his mark in history is cemented.

[Spicoli]

Not sure if your asking if he's relevant or 'known' really, but I guarantee most mma types as well as boxing fans recognize the name. Nice tie in though

[Dia bando]

Of course Marciano is relevant, the man retired undefeated HW champion of the world not to many
people are undefeated so that is a feat in itself.

[BIG H]

Of course Marciano is relevant, the man retired undefeated HW champion of the world not to many
people are undefeated so that is a feat in itself.

Can't argue with that, but I would argue, that there are many other HWs through history that would also have finished 49-0 should they have fought Marciano's opposition at the stage in the careers of those he fought.