Marciano vs. Holyfield (cruiserweight limit) over 15 rounds

[Controversial]

A very tough fight to call but personally I think Holyfield's superior boxing ability, granite chin and solid punch power would wear the Rock down. I can't see Marciano sparking Holyfield with one punch so he would need to wear Holyfield down but Marciano would take a battering along the way.

People will no doubt point to the battle the shorter and lighter punching Qawi gave Holyfield in their first fight but Holyfield only had 11 fights before fighting Qawi and had never been past 8 rounds, to beat a tough fighter like Qawi over 15 rounds in only his 12th fight is pretty remarkable.

How do you see it going?

[Rocky Balboa]

Holyfield was a monster at Cruiserweight & see him out boxing Marciano.

[gilgamesh]

Holyfield wins a hard fought decision in a war.

[Rover]

Holyfield wins a hard fought decision in a war.

Agreed.

[muray]

This fight would be similar to Marciano-Charles with Rocky taking the decision or scoring a TKO

[zojo]

If the cruiser limit was what it was when Holyfield was champ (190 lbs.)
I see a weight drained Holyfield being stopped by Marciano in the 14th.

If the cruiser limit is what it is now, (200 lbs.)
I see Holyfield winning by decision.

[thunderfromdownunder]

One of the better fantasy fights...
It's a pick em. But I lean towards Evander, slightly, by a split decision in a fan friendly bruiser.

[hurlock]

Can Marciano use steroids aswell??

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Holyfield by decision or late stoppage on cuts.

[max hord]

Marciano stops Holyfield. Don't say nothin bad about my Marciano !!

[Recycle]

Can't believe pple think modern fighters can hang with the old real fighters so much overrating rocky ko Holyfield r6

[Controversial]

Can't believe pple think modern fighters can hang with the old real fighters so much overrating rocky ko Holyfield r6

So pretty much every world class fighter Marciano fought lasted more than 6 rounds yet Holyfield who had one the best chins in boxing gets knocked out in 6, how did you come to that conclusion?

[keithmoonhangover]

Holyfield got all he could handle from Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the first fight. It's a war and a very good fight that could go either way, but I think Marciano wins by late stoppage after being dropped at least once on the way.

[Controversial]

Holyfield got all he could handle from Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the first fight. It's a war and a very good fight that could go either way, but I think Marciano wins by late stoppage after being dropped at least once on the way.

Your forgetting Holyfield was practically a novice when he fought Qawi, he first true test. You could argue that Marciano got all he could handle against Lastarza in their first fight.

[keithmoonhangover]

Holyfield got all he could handle from Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the first fight. It's a war and a very good fight that could go either way, but I think Marciano wins by late stoppage after being dropped at least once on the way.

Your forgetting Holyfield was practically a novice when he fought Qawi, he first true test. You could argue that Marciano got all he could handle against Lastarza in their first fight.

I'm not forgetting anything.

[Rover]

Holyfield got all he could handle from Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the first fight. It's a war and a very good fight that could go either way, but I think Marciano wins by late stoppage after being dropped at least once on the way.

Your forgetting Holyfield was practically a novice when he fought Qawi, he first true test. You could argue that Marciano got all he could handle against Lastarza in their first fight.

You're dealing with someone who's picking Povetkin to stop Wlad, just so you know.

[rightsideup]

If the cruiser limit was what it was when Holyfield was champ (190 lbs.)
I see a weight drained Holyfield being stopped by Marciano in the 14th.

If the cruiser limit is what it is now, (200 lbs.)
I see Holyfield winning by decision.

This fellow makes the most sense to as holyfield picked up weight he gained experience and strenght.
This is a very close fight and all these intangbles need to be considered.

[keithmoonhangover]

Holyfield got all he could handle from Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the first fight. It's a war and a very good fight that could go either way, but I think Marciano wins by late stoppage after being dropped at least once on the way.

Your forgetting Holyfield was practically a novice when he fought Qawi, he first true test. You could argue that Marciano got all he could handle against Lastarza in their first fight.

You're dealing with someone who's picking Povetkin to stop Wlad, just so you know.

Have you got nowt better to do than stalk me over different threads. You're acting like a twelve year old mate.

[Rover]

"stalk" you?

You might want to look up the term "hypersensitive." I read all the threads now in this section. You're vastly overestimating your importance to me.

[dempseyfire]

If the cruiser limit was what it was when Holyfield was champ (190 lbs.)
I see a weight drained Holyfield being stopped by Marciano in the 14th.

If the cruiser limit is what it is now, (200 lbs.)
I see Holyfield winning by decision.

Evander was never drained at 190; if so why did he hire nutrition/strength training experts to get above 200? He went up to HW for the money plain and simple.

That said Marciano beats him at any weight. Too much activity and pressure with a crippling body attack for Evander, who over a long fight would simply get hit too much.

[CliSwe]

Two factors to consider here: 1. Modern training methods, diet, lifestyle etc. would probably favour Holyfield. (This is usually my default position in debates like this.) 2. Marciano was a freakish fighter, with incredibly high power-to-weight ratio. At not much more than light-heavyweight (13st 2lbs or 184lbs), he generated amazing power against technically-superior boxers. It was said that even deflecting his punches led to soft-tissue damage. I wouldn't like to pick a winner, but I suspect the Rock would just keep moving forward & throwing leather. Don't think he'd knock Evander out, but he'd probably win a real close, bruising fight on points.

Cheers,
Cliff

[dempseyfire]

Regarding the advantages of 'modern' training methods, I'll take Rocky's workrate and stamina any day over Evander's. Holyfield had amazing recuperative powers and heart but he always had lulls in fights where his energy tank just seemed to deplete and he'd start taking unnecessary punishment. Marciano, one of the hardest working and most dedicated boxers in history, and that's not an exaggeration, never had moments where he'd suddenly "stop" and start taking bombs from his opponent like Evander did.

[Jaclem]

..two very determined fighters. rocky would be in against a young quality opponent in his prime...mostly uncharted territory for marciano and holyfield would beat him....either by a clear decision or on a weakening loss of blood by the rock due to his many cuts and being stopped by a kindly referee.. i don't see marciano being counted over for a ten count knockout.

[Ezzard]

Two factors to consider here: 1. Modern training methods, diet, lifestyle etc. would probably favour Holyfield. (This is usually my default position in debates like this.) 2. Marciano was a freakish fighter, with incredibly high power-to-weight ratio. At not much more than light-heavyweight (13st 2lbs or 184lbs), he generated amazing power against technically-superior boxers. It was said that even deflecting his punches led to soft-tissue damage. I wouldn't like to pick a winner, but I suspect the Rock would just keep moving forward & throwing leather. Don't think he'd knock Evander out, but he'd probably win a real close, bruising fight on points.

Cheers,
Cliff

Hi Cliff

It’s a fair point but Marciano was a great trainer no matter what period he fought in. And I think we should give them access to the same facilities etc…

Having said that I still lean towards Holyfield. But not by much. Jaclem makes a good point about Holy not being over the brow of the hill so he would be there until the bitter end, and it would be bitter… My concern would be that Holy always took rounds off and he can’t afford to do that too often. Very close fight.

[keithmoonhangover]

Two factors to consider here: 1. Modern training methods, diet, lifestyle etc. would probably favour Holyfield. (This is usually my default position in debates like this.) 2. Marciano was a freakish fighter, with incredibly high power-to-weight ratio. At not much more than light-heavyweight (13st 2lbs or 184lbs), he generated amazing power against technically-superior boxers. It was said that even deflecting his punches led to soft-tissue damage. I wouldn't like to pick a winner, but I suspect the Rock would just keep moving forward & throwing leather. Don't think he'd knock Evander out, but he'd probably win a real close, bruising fight on points.

Cheers,
Cliff

Hi Cliff

It’s a fair point but Marciano was a great trainer no matter what period he fought in. And I think we should give them access to the same facilities etc…

Having said that I still lean towards Holyfield. But not by much. Jaclem makes a good point about Holy not being over the brow of the hill so he would be there until the bitter end, and it would be bitter… My concern would be that Holy always took rounds off and he can’t afford to do that too often. Very close fight.

I've read loads over the years about Rocky's training, but this sums it up nicely.

Rocky trained doggedly. Instead of training 6 weeks before a bout like most fighters do, he would train 10 months out of the year. He would run up to 50 miles a day, run backwards up a hill, throw a multitude of punches while shoulder deep in a swimming pool, punch a self-made canvas bag weighing 300 pounds filled with rocks. Nothing would stop his relentless desire to win. He could also absorb unbelievable punishment. When trying out before Al Weill, he let his sparring partner pound him in the midsection while his arms were at his side. Upon Weill asking him what his purpose was for this, Marciano replied, " this toughens up your gut for a fight."

People talk about modern training methods, but Holyfield broke some of 'the rules' regarding training, like weight lifting etc.