is Rocky Marciano over-rated?

[Neil Gee]

Do boxing fans make too much of Marciano's unbeaten record? Until recently I think there was an element of racism in some fans idolatry of Marciano but I think we can discount that these days. If you look at Marciano's record as a champion he didn't face a challenger who really deserved a shot at the title (Ezzard Charles may have put up a credible performance but his record leading up to the fight didn't warrant a title shot in my opinion).

Of course it's unfair to hold Marciano's small stature against him as compared to today's fighters because they were smaller in those days but still I think the computer decision that had Marciano beating Muhammad Ali was racially motivated (well, let's face it, it was) so I'm wondering what do other boxing fans of today think Marciano's credibility is amongst the great heavyweights of the past?

[gilgamesh]

He's both overrated and underrated depending on who you ask. I'd still say he's one of the Top 5 Heavyweights of all time regardless. You can only judge a fighter based on what he accomplished in his own era, and in his own era Rocky was the man.

I believe SEVERAL Heavyweights both before and after his era would've beaten him, but all that really matters is he always beat who was put in front of him.

[Controversial]

It's an age old question. Marciano fought in a weak era, no way would he be unbeaten if he started fighting in the 60s. Saying that he beat them all and he can do no more than that. On paper fighters like Charles and Walcott should have schooled the slow and clumsy Marciano, yet they couldn't outbox him long enough to win, which is testament to Marciano's fitness and will to win.

Personally I think Marciano would have beaten Ali.

[raylawpc]

49-0. Never done before; never done since. 'Nuff said.

[polecateddy]

I'm not starting a whole new debate. It's been done to death on other threads. 5'11'' and 188 pounds, face-forward style. In my opinion he would not have ruled either the heavyweight or cruiserweight divisions in modern times.

[gilgamesh]

49-0. Never done before; never done since. 'Nuff said.

It's one of those records that seems destined to stand the test of time too. We'll see. Ricardo Lopez did go 50-0-1 though, which is one better. You can count the draw as a blemish of sorts I guess, but its' still an unbeaten record.

[gilgamesh]

I'm not starting a whole new debate. It's been done to death on other threads. 5'11'' and 188 pounds, face-forward style. In my opinion he would not have ruled either the heavyweight or cruiserweight divisions in modern times.

I'd favor him over most Cruiserweights down through the years.

[evrenb]

I'm not starting a whole new debate. It's been done to death on other threads. 5'11'' and 188 pounds, face-forward style. In my opinion he would not have ruled either the heavyweight or cruiserweight divisions in modern times.

This is the difficulty of comparing eras at heavyweight...different sizes..rocky would be cruiseweight today...he was the greatest of his era..he was one of the greatest of all times based on his accomplishments. His record stands the test of time..a hero to many. Btw...i posed you a question on the kid gavilan thread...eb

[man]

i feel here on the board he is on average judged fairly
these days. as being exceptional but not been put on a
pedestal of invincibility either. an honored all time great
beyond any doubt.

then there is the "magic" of the 0. since no one could
manage to beat him in his time, there is this slight
possibility that on one in history could have done it.

i don't say this is any likely but in contrast to all other
champs with him there is that little piece of doubt that
it could be that way.

[yancey]

Rocky is somewhere around the #15 all-time heavy, to my way of thinking.

Some of the tactics he used make me cringe. That Cockell fight was disturbing.

[dempseyfire]

Walcott, Charles, and Moore clearly deserved their title shots, especially Moore.

[HomicideHenry]

Rocky is somewhere around the #15 all-time heavy, to my way of thinking.

Some of the tactics he used make me cringe. That Cockell fight was disturbing.

He used essentially the same tactics in every fight he had. He'd hit you wherever he could. Whether that was on the elbows, on top of the head, in the back, on your knee caps, etc. if you were there to be hit, he hit you and didn't stop. Old Don was a credit to Britain for lasting as long as he did. Had that fight taken place today, they probably would have stopped it in four or five rounds.