Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Frazier

[Duch]

What do you think?

[Ezzard]

Similar strengths. Both men started slowly. Both men looked to overwhelm opponents.

Frazier had the better defence and was quicker of foot. Rocky probably hit a little harder with a single shot. Frazier was a bigger. Marciano seemed to recover quicker when hurt. I also think the styles favour Rocky a little. I think Joe was happiest when chasing down a boxer.

But if push comes to shove and I was asked to bet I’d put my money on Joe. They are evenly matched with Joe being a bigger version.

Then I went to check the weights and seems like Boxrec removed the weights of fighters????

[Duch]

Then I went to check the weights and seems like Boxrec removed the weights of fighters????

No, I see their weights.

Joe Frazier (89,4 kg - 103,9 kg; the whole career) (92,3 kg, 96,2 kg with Quarry; 93,2 kg, 94,8 kg 97,7 kg with Ali; 97,1 kg, 101,8 kg with Foreman)
Rocky Marciano (80,7 kg - 87,3 kg; the whole career) (83,5 kg with Louis; 85 kg, 84,8 kg with Charles)

[Ezzard]

Yes, they are back...

[polecateddy]

Evolution. Frazier in 3!

[yancey]

Evolution. Frazier in 3!

It goes longer than 3, but Frazier does turn small advantages into decisive ones and pulls away from Rocky after some early even rounds.

This match-up would be similar in how the first Frazier-Quarry fight played out.

I say Frazier in 8 or 9.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Frazier by late stoppage in a brawl. Two guys with unbreakable wills, one guy with more skill.

[SteveO]

Prime Marciano versus a prime Joe Frazier would have been a magnificent spectacle. I would fancy Joe to stop Marciano in the later rounds.

[Billyjoel]

Evolution is the reason that both would not have lasted 6 rounds with Tyson.

[Ezzard]

Evolution would also mean Tyson wouldn't last 2 rounds with Wlad

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Evolution is the reason that both would not have lasted 6 rounds with Tyson.

Frazier would have eaten Tyson alive. Mike wishes he could fight like that.

[BoxBuzz]

IN spite of Fraziers statement to the contrary, which is simply a mark of his humble nature, he would win a very tough fight.

He would beat Rocky in a similar fashion to how he beat Quarry. He takes a hell of a beating the first round or two, then he would smile, go back to his corner, and come back with the better work ethic and plan. He may knock him out, but short of that, he would win a sensational decision.


Any who liked either of these fighters, would not want to see them mix it up a second time.

[Cap]

In his day, Marciano was a wonder, but he never fought a guy like Frazier. Not even close. Frazier fought three guys who were similar to Rocky in Chuvalo, Quarry and Bonavena, and Chuvalo and Bonavena were bigger and stronger. Marciano gives up almost a stone and a half in weight to Joe. I think maybe it goes the distance only because of Rocky's incredible condition and heart, but Joe wins in the end and both are messed up.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't think either Chuvalo or Bonavena were stronger than Marciano. He was a powerhouse.

[drunkenpiper36]

I wouldn't put money down in this fight. But Joe's hand speed and upper body movement was off the charts for a heavyweight. He also spent time in the ring with a few heavy's who were better than the one's the rock was in with, albeit great fighters themselves. I'm also not sure I can see him losing to anyone who's giving up size against him. I'm leaning towards Frazier, but I say that with no real conviction.

[gilgamesh]

An all out brawl. Marciano comes out and jumps all over Frazier taking the first 2 or 3 rounds, Frazier starts to come on about halfway through the 3rd like he usually does and starts hammering the sh*t out of Marciano, and then we have a back and forth fight the rest of way.

I could see both men hitting the canvas a time or two, ultimately I think Frazier stops Marciano on his feet after ripping his eye open with those vicious left hooks and forcing a stoppage.

Frazier TKO 7 or 8

[deighan]

I reckon as both were big puncher swith good chins it would come down to heart and marciano possibly having a bigger punch. Marciano with a late stoppage
(this includes marcianos tendancy to cut and frazier to swell)

[gilgamesh]

Speaking of Marciano by the way. My Uncle was in here last night, and he mentioned how he loved Marciano and all that...so it lead me to look up a Rocky Marciano tribute video on youtube.

This is really cool, and the way it's set to Metallica's: For Whom the Bell Tolls. Makes it really, really badass!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQEL5sd2aOo

[Crease]

Frazier had the better defence and was quicker of foot. Rocky probably hit a little harder with a single shot. Frazier was a bigger. Marciano seemed to recover quicker when hurt. I also think the styles favour Rocky a little. I think Joe was happiest when chasing down a boxer.

Marciano's defence is often not highlighted - he had the knack of staying low when in close which, in effect neutralises jabs and straights. There's a video of it on youtube - a sort of a compilation of Rocky's in-fighting during various fights. The vid's pretty good.

[Crease]

In his day, Marciano was a wonder, but he never fought a guy like Frazier.

Just as, by the same token - Frazier never fought a guy like Rocky.

Frazier fought three guys who were similar to Rocky in Chuvalo, Quarry and Bonavena, and Chuvalo and Bonavena were bigger and stronger.

Comparing George, Jerry & Oscar to Rocky is unrealistic.

By that train of thought I suppose I could compare Muhammad Ali to Jimmy Young and thus, any man who defeats Jimmy Young could beat Ali.

Looking at it like that, I'm sure we can all recognise that Ali is more than Young - just as Rocky is more than the three other guys. You could draw a comparison because of their styles but that factor is not the be-all and end-all of these conversations. Granted, it does count for something, but it is far from the decisive factor.

It's just a different pedigree, really. Marciano & Ali are way ahead of those other guys... By miles and miles.

[Crease]

Evolution. Frazier in 3!

You know I have never really grasped way some boxing fans think that this "evolution" argument is important.

It's a really weird thought process, which would eventually lead us to believe that Nikolai Valuev is the biggest, strongest, meanest and GREATEST Heavyweight of all time!

It would also have us believe that the average Heavyweight today would beat the average Heavyweight of the 50s or the 70s - which is another thing I would dispute.

[yancey]

In his day, Marciano was a wonder, but he never fought a guy like Frazier.

Just as, by the same token - Frazier never fought a guy like Rocky.

Frazier fought three guys who were similar to Rocky in Chuvalo, Quarry and Bonavena, and Chuvalo and Bonavena were bigger and stronger.

Comparing George, Jerry & Oscar to Rocky is unrealistic.

By that train of thought I suppose I could compare Muhammad Ali to Jimmy Young and thus, any man who defeats Jimmy Young could beat Ali.

Looking at it like that, I'm sure we can all recognise that Ali is more than Young - just as Rocky is more than the three other guys. You could draw a comparison because of their styles but that factor is not the be-all and end-all of these conversations. Granted, it does count for something, but it is far from the decisive factor.

It's just a different pedigree, really. Marciano & Ali are way ahead of those other guys... By miles and miles.

I don't think Marciano was "miles and miles" ahead of Quarry. Not at all.

It would have been very interesting to see Rocky at his weight fight Chuvalo, Bonavena, and Quarry.

He would of had a tougher struggle than you might think, though I'm not necessarily saying he loses.

[Crease]

I don't think Marciano was "miles and miles" ahead of Quarry. Not at all.

Well we will have to disagree on that one. Quarry would never have achieved what Rocky did in his career if they swapped eras.

It would have been very interesting to see Rocky at his weight fight Chuvalo, Bonavena, and Quarry.

He would of had a tougher struggle than you might think, though I'm not necessarily saying he loses.

Marciano didn't exactly feast on bums, mate.

[Crease]

Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Frazier

I'm going with Marciano. I think Rocky hit harder, had a better chin and was more durable than Joe. So it's Marciano by late KO.

[yancey]

I don't think Marciano was "miles and miles" ahead of Quarry. Not at all.

Well we will have to disagree on that one. Quarry would never have achieved what Rocky did in his career if they swapped eras.

It would have been very interesting to see Rocky at his weight fight Chuvalo, Bonavena, and Quarry.

He would of had a tougher struggle than you might think, though I'm not necessarily saying he loses.

Marciano didn't exactly feast on bums, mate.

Study the won-loss records of many of Rocky's opponents leading up to his first fight with the past-it Walcott. It astounded me when I saw it.

As far as Quarry goes, sure he would have not gone 49-0, he was too inconsistent. But on his A game, he gives Marciano much, much more trouble than your "miles and miles" exaggeration would indicate. Quarry was a more technically proficient fighter than Marciano could think of being. Marciano was the one heavyweight champion that Quarry said consistently he was sure he would beaten. I think Quarry would have been a live dog against Rock.