What would have happened to Marciano's legacy if he had continued his career. . . .

[actjac]

. . . .for another decade and fought Floyd Patterson, Cassius Clay, Sonny Liston, Jimmy Ellis, George Chuvalo, Oscar Bonevena and even Joe Frazier and Jerry Quarry?

[Controversial]

He didn't have another 10 years in him, he retired at the right time.

[DrDuke]

Too long. Patterson was a realistic matchup, Floyd won the championship right after Rocky's retirement. Marciano would have been an aging boxer of 36-37 by the emerging of Johansson, he would have been about 40 y.o. by the emerging of Liston. He would have probably had real chances against Ingo, but even in the later years he wouldn't be likely to handle prime Liston. How could it be possible to win top guys, who competed after Liston?

[Controversial]

Marciano would have been an aging boxer of 36-37 by the emerging of Johansson

Marciano went into a secret training camp in 1959 to get into shape to fight Johansson but soon discovered he no longer had the hunger or desire he once had so knocked his comeback plans on the head, he would've been 35 or 36 at that point.

[HomicideHenry]

Another decade? He'd of ended up losing had he fought till '66, he'd of been in his 40s by then. However, I do believe he'd of beaten the Tommy Jackson's, Floyd Patterson's, Ingemar Johansson's, and would have hit a brick wall with Liston.

Personally, I think he could have fought onwards until '59-'60 because I do believe had he made his come back against Johansson he'd of won. But whether he could have kept up with the grind of training, etc I'm not certain.

There's no way the Rademacher's, McNeeley's, etc would have been a problem for Marciano. So he potentially could have made it nearly 59-0 because after all who was really out there?

We'll never know though. Had Al Weil just walked away or someone bought out Marciano's contract he would have kept on fighting. I do know that he did try to arrange an exhibition fight with Patterson on Gillette Cavalcade of Sports--- just before Floyd made his Heavyweight debut--- but the network's didn't want it unless it was for the title.

[gilgamesh]

Floyd Patterson might've beaten him as early as 1956 or '57, Sonny Liston DEFINITELY would've beaten him.

[oogiebe]

Floyd Patterson might've beaten him as early as 1956 or '57, Sonny Liston DEFINITELY would've beaten him.

Not so sure Patterson beats the Rock, but Liston was all so very wrong for Marciano and would have beaten him brutally.

[gilgamesh]

Floyd Patterson might've beaten him as early as 1956 or '57, Sonny Liston DEFINITELY would've beaten him.

Not so sure Patterson beats the Rock, but Liston was all so very wrong for Marciano and would have beaten him brutally.

I don't think Patterson would've beaten Marciano at his best, but I don't think a Marciano of late '56 or '57 is at his best, and Patterson is definitely fast, and hard to handle.

Liston beats any Marciano.

[Ambling Alp II]

Had he fought Patterson in in 1956 it may have been interesting. Marciano would not be that old and would not be rusty. Sooner or later Patterson's chin would have let him down. Can't see him going 15 rounds.
There are versions of Liston that Marciano could have beat.

[Abradolf Lincler]

There was no blueprint.

[DrDuke]

Had he fought Patterson in in 1956 it may have been interesting. Marciano would not be that old and would not be rusty. Sooner or later Patterson's chin would have let him down. Can't see him going 15 rounds.
There are versions of Liston that Marciano could have beat.

I agree on Patterson, but if Rocky continued his career until Liston, he would have most likely been too old to handle rising Sonny. However, in a prime vs prime matchup I'd favour Rocky over Liston.

[actjac]

Marciano was 29 years old in 1956. . . . Had he continued and fought Patterson and then perhaps a few somewhat less than challenging fights like Pat McMurtry, Zora Foley and maybe Henry Cooper and Ingemar Johanssen. . .that would put him into the 60's and eventually Sonny Liston and even Cassius Clay. By 1962 he would have been 35 and probably at the very end if he had not lost by then.. . . . If he had been beaten his legacy would have been in a category lesser than a top 10 heavyweight.

[tiny_acres]

Marciano was 29 years old in 1956. . . . Had he continued and fought Patterson and then perhaps a few somewhat less than challenging fights like Pat McMurtry, Zora Foley and maybe Henry Cooper and Ingemar Johanssen. . .that would put him into the 60's and eventually Sonny Liston and even Cassius Clay. By 1962 he would have been 35 and probably at the very end if he had not lost by then.. . . . If he had been beaten his legacy would have been in a category lesser than a top 10 heavyweight.

Marciano was 33 years old in 1956.
He was born in 1923

[Onetimeonly]

Beating 2 more champions and a few solid fighters would have enhanced his legacy. You're just as terrible in this section.

[gilgamesh]

Had he fought Patterson in in 1956 it may have been interesting. Marciano would not be that old and would not be rusty. Sooner or later Patterson's chin would have let him down. Can't see him going 15 rounds.
There are versions of Liston that Marciano could have beat.

I agree on Patterson, but if Rocky continued his career until Liston, he would have most likely been too old to handle rising Sonny. However, in a prime vs prime matchup I'd favour Rocky over Liston.

I'd pick Liston with 100% confidence. I just think Liston would've been all wrong for him.

[HomicideHenry]

Mind you in '56 Liston was only 14-2 as a pro. He had beaten Johnny Summerlin and split wins with Marty Marshall. For whatever reason he didn't fight in '57, but in '58 went 8-0-0 (6) and the guy he couldn't kayo was Bert Whitehurst.

In '59 he finally proved he was no longer a prospect going 4-0-0 (4) beating Mike DeJohn, Nino Valdes, Cleveland Williams and Willi Besmanoff. All of those men back in '55-'56 were top contenders.

It wouldn't be until 1962, though, he got a shot at the title--- but it was common knowledge that D'Amato wanted no part of Liston as early as '59. So, if Marciano were to beat Sonny it'd have to be '57-'59. I think maybe Marciano could have done it because he was struggling with guys like Whitehurst and Summerlin.

I also think Marciano would have because I have little doubt Marciano would have beat Valdes, etc so it's an even matchup at that point. Now '60 onwards, no way. Marciano would have been too old and "The Bear" would have been too good.

[Duran1970]

Patterson gets destroyed by Marciano no matter what age...

[elmersalsa]

Regardless of the outcome, Rocky would have been retired by 1960 if he would have continued after the year that he retired in 1955

[sweetviolenturge]

Patterson gets destroyed by Marciano no matter what age...

I completely disagree. Patterson's youth, speed & underrated power would have been too much for Marciano IMO. I believe that he'd have busted Marciano's eyes up & eventually dropped "The Rock" later on en route to a stoppage in about eleven rounds.

[Duran1970]

Floyd didn't have the beard to withstand the Rock...

[oogiebe]

Floyd didn't have the beard to withstand the Rock...

LMFAO!!! I love travelling threads! Brilliant!

[Duran1970]

?

[oogiebe]

?

I.E. Reference to ridiculous other posts about beards cushioning blows.

[actjac]

Marciano was 29 years old in 1956. . . . Had he continued and fought Patterson and then perhaps a few somewhat less than challenging fights like Pat McMurtry, Zora Foley and maybe Henry Cooper and Ingemar Johanssen. . .that would put him into the 60's and eventually Sonny Liston and even Cassius Clay. By 1962 he would have been 35 and probably at the very end if he had not lost by then.. . . . If he had been beaten his legacy would have been in a category lesser than a top 10 heavyweight.

Marciano was 33 years old in 1956.
He was born in 1923

You are right. . . . I stand corrected. . . He retired prior to his 33rd birthday.. . . . He probably could have withstood only a few more fights. . . .Patterson being one.

[Ambling Alp II]

Mind you in '56 Liston was only 14-2 as a pro. He had beaten Johnny Summerlin and split wins with Marty Marshall. For whatever reason he didn't fight in '57, but in '58 went 8-0-0 (6) and the guy he couldn't kayo was Bert Whitehurst.

In '59 he finally proved he was no longer a prospect going 4-0-0 (4) beating Mike DeJohn, Nino Valdes, Cleveland Williams and Willi Besmanoff. All of those men back in '55-'56 were top contenders.

It wouldn't be until 1962, though, he got a shot at the title--- but it was common knowledge that D'Amato wanted no part of Liston as early as '59. So, if Marciano were to beat Sonny it'd have to be '57-'59. I think maybe Marciano could have done it because he was struggling with guys like Whitehurst and Summerlin.

I also think Marciano would have because I have little doubt Marciano would have beat Valdes, etc so it's an even matchup at that point. Now '60 onwards, no way. Marciano would have been too old and "The Bear" would have been too good.

When Liston was 14-2, who were the two guys that had beat him?